The forthcoming T20 World Cup, slated for next month in a suburban New York stadium, marks a significant milestone for cricket in the United States, potentially elevating its popularity in the country, as per an Associated Press report. The stadium, with a capacity of 34,000 seats and a meticulously maintained field of Kentucky bluegrass, is under construction in a suburban New York park designated to host the tournament.
Cricket, a game with roots tracing back centuries in England, has been thriving in various pockets of metro New York, particularly fueled by waves of South Asian and Caribbean immigrants. Recreational leagues spring to life each spring in parks across the Bronx, Queens, Long Island, and New Jersey, hosting weekend competitions.
The anticipation surrounding the June competition is high, with American cricket organizers aiming to propel the sport’s popularity to new heights, akin to the enduring impact soccer experienced when the U.S. hosted its inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1994. Usain Bolt, the retired Olympic sprinter and honorary ambassador of the T20 World Cup, recently visited the nearly completed Eisenhower stadium, alongside members of the U.S. cricket team and former New York sports legends.
Parmanand Sarju, founder of the Long Island Youth Cricket Academy, expressed profound joy witnessing the stadium’s construction atop the ball field where his academy originated, symbolizing the sport’s remarkable progress over the years.
While cricket initially took root in the outer boroughs of New York City, it has gradually spread to the suburbs as immigrant families settled, reshaping communities along the way. Ahmad Chohan, president of the New York Police Department’s cricket club, views the World Cup as a historic moment for the sport.
Despite cricket being the world’s second most-viewed sport, with India’s Virat Kohli boasting a massive Instagram following, its participation in the U.S. remains limited, with just over 200,000 players across more than 400 local leagues. However, initiatives like Major League Cricket, launched last year with six professional T20 teams, aim to change the landscape.
Venu Pisike, chairman of USA Cricket, believes the T20 World Cup signifies a turning point for the sport in the U.S., especially with its inclusion in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The tournament, featuring a modern variant of cricket known as “Twenty20,” promises an exhilarating experience for fans.
Eisenhower Park will host half of the tournament’s matches in the U.S., including a highly anticipated clash between cricket giants Pakistan and India. With a rich cricketing history, especially in New York, the sport’s resurgence signifies a potential for future growth and development in the country.
