America’s win over Pakistan may boost cricket in the country

The T20 World Cup, till now, was riding piggyback on Indian eyeballs, both in the US and the subcontinent. But going ahead, the impact of the co-hosts making a big splash must not be under-estimated

The T20 World Cup, till now, was riding piggyback on Indian eyeballs, both in the US and the subcontinent. Even the match timings cater to the Indian market.

Upsets are more frequent in the T20 version of cricket, with weaker teams having to match their stronger counterparts over a shorter duration. Still, Thursday’s World Cup result in Dallas — hosts USA defeating former world champions Pakistan — can prove to be a significant watermark in the popularity of the game in the biggest sports market in the world. Cricket has been less than a fringe sport in America, of interest mostly to first- and second-generation immigrants from the subcontinent and the Caribbean. But America loves a winner, especially one who prevails against the odds. The home team’s unexpected win over Pakistan, which has won both the T20 and ODI world titles in the past, could give a big fillip to the game in the US. Breaking into the most affluent sports market in the world may reduce the ICC’s financial dependence on India.

The team representing the Star and Stripes at the World Cup doesn’t have a single player who has learnt the ropes of the sport in the country. The next step in the growth of the sport would be to introduce cricket in schools and colleges, which are the breeding grounds for future stars of basketball, baseball and gridiron. Here, cricket could follow the example of football, which was once a preserve of Hispanics, but has since developed a much wider following. The American women’s team have been world champions while their male counterparts are regulars at FIFA World Cups and often punch above their weight. The sides have a large proportion of players who may not have roots in traditional football-crazy countries.

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