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The sport of cricket is starting to take its roots in the United States, a country where football, baseball and basketball used to rule. Even though the football World Cup still constantly receives world attention, Major League Cricket (MLC) is bringing the sport to the crossroads of America.

 

In its 4 th season now, the MLC has emerged as the nation's first-ever professional 20-20 cricket league. The league has witnessed many international big names along with players from cricket crazy nations, besides providing a platform to Kenyan players to pit their wits against the world's best.

 

Olympics and Better Infrastructure Bring New Hope

 

The reintroduction of cricket to the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028 should give cricket a significant boost in the US. It will be 128 years since it was last played at the Olympics, and the USA will also have a team due to being the host nation.

 

Seattle Orcas all-rounder Harmeet Singh feels the Olympics could transform the way Americans view cricket.

 

Harmeet said:

 

"Cricket entering the Olympics will bring in huge eyeballs from the Americans -more so by the locals themselves. Maybe they will start accepting the sport. That will happen."

 

Harmeet also pointed out that almost all young cricketers in the US so far are from immigrant families. He hopes that will change as the game develops.

 

Currently, the children of immigrants play a crucial role in the game. However, as Cricket develops in the USA, the native players will also be enticed to join. They are going to be included in the 2028 Olympics if it remains played till then, which might lead to getting scholarships in schools and colleges for athletes.

 

Unmukt Chand, the former India Under-19 World Cup-winning captain, who migrated to the United States in 2021, has also made significant improvement in the last few years.

 

The game has certainly grown since I have been here for the last five years. Every year something new is happening. This year we have got our own cricket stadium in Los Angeles.

 

This past week, the LA Knight Riders revealed a new permanent cricket venue in Pomona, California. The new stadium has eight wickets and is built to meet standard ICC measurements and has six 120-foot floodlight towers. The 2028 Olympic Games are likely to use the venue for all of the cricket matches.

 

Also Read | Why India Dropped Sanju Samson After T20 World Cup Glory: Selection Call Decoded

 

Building the Future of Cricket in America

 

Currently, six teams are participating in the MLC and the number will go up to eight in the next edition, further testament to the tournament's rising profile. Several high-profile international players are part of the league, including Ravichandran Ashwin, Marcus Stoinis, Sunil Narine, Faf du Plessis, Rachin Ravindra, Haris Rauf, Jason Holder, Kusal Perera, Keshav Maharaj and Unmukt Chand.

 

However, Harmeet and Unmukt both agree the biggest problem was defining a clear pathway for young American players to follow.

 

But in India, everyone knows about cricket, everyone speaks the language, and here it was a completely different world. It is a very niche sport for a very niche audience.

 

He added :

 

"I think we need more incentive to build infrastructure because the long-term result is not incremental but parabolic. We now have 3-4 stadiums, but we need more, in various cities, more grounds, not just for the games, but we need more outdoor training facilities"

 

He is also of the opinion that schools and colleges must be a part of development.

 

There is a need for clarity when a 10-year-old child picks up a bat in the US. I should know that following this path, I will be part of the US team. That's not yet clear"

 

This generation of USA players, when they retire, the next generation should be as competitive. So, that is the bigger challenge which, let's say in five years, the US will have to solve.

 

The 2026 MLC season launched on the 18 th of June, with 6 teams competing in 34 games at different locations in California and Dallas, Texas. The final was due to be played on the 18th of July at the Oakland Coliseum, California. With the Olympics just around the corner and the league continuing to expand, it looks like cricket's future in the United States has never been more promising.