Cricket

Suresh Raina Lights Up Sixty Strikes Tournament with Fifty and CompassionFormer Indian cricketer Suresh Raina has made a grand entrance into the inaugural Sixty Strikes tournament, organized by the National Cricket League (NCL) in the USA. Captaining the New York Lions in the 10-over blast, Raina showcased his batting prowess with a blistering half-century in his team's opening match.Beyond his on-field exploits, Raina has also displayed a heartwarming side. Along with his teammates, he welcomed Afghan refugees, including many children, to the tournament. Raina took time to interact with the families, posing for pictures and sharing moments of joy.The Sixty Strikes tournament is a testament to the growing popularity of cricket in the United States. Featuring a star-studded lineup of current and former players, the tournament aims to further ignite the passion for the sport in the country.Raina's 53-run knock off just 28 balls propelled the New York Lions to a 19-run victory over the Los Angeles Waves in their tournament opener. The Indian batter's innings was a reminder of his exceptional talent and the excitement he brings to the game.Other notable players in the tournament include Dinesh Karthik, Shakib Al Hasan, Shahid Afridi, Sir Vivian Richards, Wasim Akram, and Sanath Jayasuriya. Even the legendary Sachin Tendulkar is involved as part of the ownership group.The Sixty Strikes tournament is a unique opportunity for cricket fans in the USA to witness some of the greatest players in the world up close. With its fast-paced format and star-studded lineup, the tournament promises to deliver thrilling action and unforgettable moments.

The National Cricket League's (NCL) Sixty Strikers has taken the United States by storm, captivating fans with its star-studded roster and thrilling T10 format. Former Indian batter Suresh Raina has showcased his brilliance on the pitch, while other international stars have unleashed their explosive power.Behind the scenes, Pakistan's legendary paceman Wasim Akram revealed the genesis of the league. Organizer Arun Agarwal approached Akram during the 2024 T20 World Cup, held in the USA and West Indies. Initially skeptical due to the tight timeframe, Akram was impressed by the organizers' execution."This is amazing," Akram said. "When Arun Agarwal met me during the T20 World Cup, he asked me to join this tournament. I was not sure if such a league could be organized in such a short time, but I must say he has done a fantastic job."Akram praised the facilities provided to players and the high-quality cricket on display. "This gives fans another chance to see their favorite players in action," he said.The Sixty Strikers tournament has adopted the drop-in pitch concept used in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Akram expressed hope that the wickets would continue to hold up well."I congratulate the organizers for starting the league with such renowned players," Akram said. "I hope the drop-in pitch remains in good condition for the next 10 days."Cricket's popularity in the USA has surged since the 2024 T20 World Cup. "After the World Cup, there has definitely been an interest in cricket here," Akram said. "Cricket has got a boost. People here are now more aware of the game and its nuances."With the addition of cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar to the league, Akram believes its popularity will skyrocket. "Sachin's presence will give this tournament immense recognition and credibility," he said. "I am excited to meet him and relive our on-field rivalry."

'Sixty Strikes' Tournament Receives ICC Approval, Haroon Lorgat Appointed CommissionerThe National Cricket League (NCL) of the United States has received the prestigious approval of the International Cricket Council (ICC) for its upcoming 'Sixty Strikes' tournament. This significant development marks a major milestone in the growth of cricket in the United States.In addition to the ICC approval, the NCL has announced two other key developments: the appointment of South African businessman Haroon Lorgat as commissioner and the partnership with Dubai-based SEE Holdings to ensure the tournament's sustainability.Lorgat, a renowned cricket administrator, played a pivotal role in developing the Decision Review System (DRS) in cricket. His appointment as commissioner is expected to bring valuable expertise and leadership to the NCL."I'm privileged to take on this role with the National Cricket League at such a transformative moment," said Lorgat. "Cricket is a sport with the power to inspire new players and connect fans across the U.S. We're bringing something fresh, and with our focus on sustainability and global access, we are laying the groundwork to reshape American sports for future generations."The 'Sixty Strikes' tournament, scheduled to run from October 4 to 14, is expected to attract around 4,000 attendees per match. The tournament will feature mentorship from cricket legends such as Wasim Akram, Sir Vivian Richards, and Sanath Jayasuriya.The NCL has also partnered with SEE Holdings to promote sustainability at the tournament. The partnership aims to integrate renewable energy at match venues and encourage sustainable behavior among fans.The 'Sixty Strikes' tournament is poised to further accelerate the growth of cricket in the United States, following the nation's impressive performance at the T20 World Cup 2024. The tournament's ICC approval, Lorgat's appointment, and the focus on sustainability demonstrate the NCL's commitment to developing cricket in the United States and making it a global force.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised the performance of the United States men's cricket team during the ICC T20 World Cup held in the United States and West Indies earlier this year. Addressing an Indian diaspora event at the Nassau Coliseum in New York, PM Modi said, "Some days back here, the T20 World Cup took place. The USA team played so well in that competition. That team had so many Indian people who are living here and their contributions were witnessed by the whole world."The USA hosted 16 matches during the T20 WC 2024, which was held from June 1 to June 29. Matches took place in New York's Nassau County Stadium, Texas's Grand Prairie Stadium, and Florida's Central Broward Park. The USA team performed admirably, finishing second in the Group Stages with two wins and a loss. They defeated Pakistan in a thrilling Super Over and gave India a tough fight while defending a low total of 111 runs.In the Super Eights, the USA lost all three of their matches but gave a strong performance against finalists South Africa, losing by 18 runs while chasing 195. This was the USA's first World Cup appearance in either the 20 or 50-over formats.Several players who represented India at the U19 level had strong performances for the USA in the tournament. Saurabh Netravalkar took six wickets, including those of Indian stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammed Rizwan, and South African captain Aiden Markram. Harmeet Singh, an Indian U19 bowler who played for India in the 2012 U19 WC and domestic cricket for Mumbai, also played for the USA, taking four wickets and scoring 69 runs in four innings.USA captain Monank Patel scored a crucial half-century against Pakistan, helping his team reach 159/3. India won the tournament, ending their 11-year ICC trophy drought.PM Modi's praise for the USA cricket team highlights the growing popularity of cricket in the United States and the contributions of Indian-American players to the sport.

Rahul Dravid, former head coach of the Indian cricket team, has defended the controversial US leg of the recent T20 World Cup, arguing that the "odd hours" and "challenging" facilities were necessary compromises to bring cricket to a wider audience.Dravid, who led India to their first ICC title in 11 years during the tournament, said he had no problem with the 10:30 a.m. (local time) starts and the infrastructure used for the games in New York, Florida, and Texas."Yes, in terms of facilities, it's challenging. But if you want to grow the sport and make it a global game, then you have to be at events like this and make compromises, even if it means playing at odd hours in conditions that might not necessarily be perfect," Dravid said.He added that the early start actually ensured that the game was "even-steven" for both teams, as dew becomes a factor in many day-night games.Dravid also praised the ICC for its bold decision to bring the World Cup to the United States, saying it was a great effort to expose a new audience to the game."There is a huge passion for the game in the USA. It was really nice to play in the USA; some of the games were packed," he said.Dravid's comments come amid criticism of the US leg of the tournament, with some arguing that the early start times and lack of top-quality facilities were unfair to the players and fans.However, Dravid believes that the compromises made were necessary to grow the game in the United States and bring it to a wider audience.

The United States cricket team has made history by reaching the Super 8s of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Their remarkable journey has captured the attention of the White House, with National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby sending a special message of encouragement.The USA's debut in the tournament began with an impressive victory over Canada. However, it was their stunning upset of Pakistan that truly shocked the cricketing world. Despite being underdogs, the USA bowlers restricted Pakistan to a modest total and then chased it down in a thrilling Super Over.Captain Monank Patel attributed their success to their disciplined bowling and aggressive batting. "We knew we were in the game with 160 to chase, just needed a partnership," he said.The USA's progress to the Super 8s was secured despite their final group match against Ireland being washed out. They finished second in Group A with 5 points from 4 matches, behind India who topped the group with 7 points.The White House's message of support has further boosted the team's morale as they prepare to face South Africa in the Super 8s. "We'll be sure to use your encouragement as motivation for our upcoming matches in the West Indies!" USA Cricket tweeted.The USA's success is a testament to the growing popularity of cricket in the United States. The team's performance has inspired a new generation of young cricketers and has helped to raise the profile of the sport in the country.

The United States Cricket team's remarkable journey to the Super 8 stage of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 has ignited a surge of support for the national side among Americans. The Major League Cricket (MLC), a US-based T20 league, has lauded the team's achievement, highlighting the contributions of its players who are also members of MLC teams.Team USA's impressive run began with a resounding victory over Canada in their opening match. They then emerged victorious in a thrilling super-over encounter against Pakistan, securing their position as runners-up in Group A of the main event. Their fortune continued when their match against Ireland was canceled due to weather conditions.The team's success has been attributed to the presence of several MLC players, including Ali Khan, Nitish Kumar, Shadley Van Schalkwyk, Steven Taylor, Nosthush Kenjige, Monank Patel, Shayan Jahangir, Corey Anderson, Harmeet Singh, Milind Kumar, Andries Gous, Saurabh Netravalkar, and Yasir Mohammad.Vijay Srinivasan, CEO of Cognizant Major League Cricket, expressed his elation at the team's advancement to the next round. "This is a historic moment for the sport, especially for our players from Major League Cricket who are representing the USA," he said. "We hope this inspires boys and girls around the country to pick up a bat and ball this summer."Srinivasan also emphasized the significance of Team USA's qualification for the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, which will provide MLC with a platform for continued growth.The MLC, which features six teams—the Los Angeles Knight Riders, MI New York, San Francisco Unicorns, Seattle Orcas, Texas Super Kings, and Washington Freedom—boasts some of the world's top domestic and international players. These players are eager to represent their nations in the World Cup.The inaugural 2023 MLC season was a resounding success, with sold-out matches attracting millions of viewers worldwide. This momentum is expected to continue with the upcoming T20 World Cup and the MLC's second season, which kicks off on July 5.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 World Cup has witnessed several thrilling matches, but former Australian cricketer Ian Chappell believes that the tournament's success in the United States is hindered by the poor quality of pitches.The Nassau County International Stadium in the USA has come under fire for its inconsistent bounce and subpar performance, making batting extremely challenging. Scores of 100-120 runs have proven to be match-winning totals, with boundaries being a rarity. The sluggish outfield has also drawn criticism for limiting run-scoring, which is a key element of T20 cricket's entertainment value.Chappell, writing for ESPNCricinfo, expressed his concerns about the pitches in the USA, particularly the New York venue. "The pitches in the USA again generated controversy, particularly the New York venue, which attracted a lot of negative publicity and proved to be difficult for batters," he wrote.Chappell pointed out that the USA's reputation for "dodgy pitches" is not new, citing a five-match series in Los Angeles in 1999 between India A and Australia A. "The pitches on that occasion could only be described as 'ropey', especially when genuine pacemen like Brett Lee operated," he said.While Chappell acknowledges that no pitches should totally favor batters, he believes that dangerous surfaces are unacceptable. "There is a highly competitive cricket rivalry still to be played in the Super Eight - India vs Australia. This has become a blockbuster contest in recent years. Even if these two teams provide yet another exciting contest, it should not camouflage the USA problem," he added.Chappell emphasized that if cricket wants to make headway in the USA, it must improve its administration and pitches, while also convincing locally-born players that it's a game worth playing.

The Legends Intercontinental T20 (LIT20), scheduled to be held in Texas from August 16 to 28, 2024, has partnered with Fan Controlled Cricket (FCC) to amplify cricket's popularity in the USA and globally. This collaboration aims to capitalize on the growing enthusiasm for cricket in the USA, fueled by the success of the USA cricket team in the ongoing T20 World Cup.LIT20, owned by Brosid Sports LLC, will feature seven participating teams: Indo Kings, Asian Avengers, Euro Rangers, American Mavericks, Trans-Tasman Titans, African Lions, and Caribbean Vikings. FCC will provide LIT20 with innovative digital fan engagement activities, including player-based video games, to attract a global fanbase.Saurabh Bhambri, Director of Brosid Sports LLC, expressed optimism about the USA's potential as a cricket market, given the team's strong performance in the T20 World Cup. He believes the partnership with FCC will help LIT20 reach millions of passionate cricket fans worldwide.Bhavik Kothari, Chief Advisor of FCC, emphasized the excitement surrounding cricket in the USA and the league's commitment to cultivating a global fanbase through innovative digital initiatives.The LIT20 league will feature legendary cricketers like Graeme Swann, TM Dilshan, and Liam Plunkett, among others. It will be played in a single round-robin format, with the top four teams advancing to the knockout stage. A total of 24 matches will be played, with each day featuring double-headers.This partnership between LIT20 and FCC is expected to significantly boost cricket's popularity in the USA and beyond, connecting passionate fans with the sport and its legendary players.