Historically, cricket has failed to gain traction in the United States; what potential does the T20 World Cup have to change the tide?
As the United States prepares to host 16 matches of the latest ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, there is optimism that cricket can finally establish a foothold in this lucrative and populous market.
The timing seems ideal: Following the T20 World Cup, the second edition of the privately run Major League Cricket franchise tournament will attract some of the game’s biggest stars to the US. Additionally, cricket will make its return to the Olympics at the LA 2028 Games for the first time since 1900.
However, cricket in the US has historically struggled with governance issues, factionalism, and financial mismanagement. The sport’s expansion has been hindered by the country’s vast size and the diverse cricketing cultures present—factors that are also seen as potential strengths.
Here’s a look at cricket’s past in the US and what might lie ahead:
Does a cricket culture exist in the USA?
When the USA and Canada face off in the opening match on June 1, it will be a reminder that these two countries played the first international cricket match in 1844, which Canada won after two days of play.
However, the sport receded in prominence until the latter half of the 20th century. Increased immigration, particularly from the Indian subcontinent, saw cricket grow within communities from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the Caribbean, albeit without much cohesion.
The United States of America Cricket Association (USACA), a national governing body, was established in 1965, but over the following thirty years it battled to bring the disparate and divided cricket communities together.
