American cricket ready to roll
2004-06-29 12:06
Washington - Hold onto your bats, purists. Here comes cricket American style - complete with designated hitters, non-batting bowlers, five deliveries an over and matches about as long as an American football game.
Nearly 30 years after Pele came to the United States in a similar bid to boost soccer fortunes, American Pro Cricket (APC) will bring about 40 global standouts to US cities during a two-month debut season that begins on Friday.
"This is going to be an action-packed game. We're going to see a lot of fours and sixes," promises Kal Patel, commissioner of the eight-team league.
"There are 7.5 million people watching or playing cricket in America. There is definitely room for growth to take the game to the next level."
Australian Colin Miller, India's Ajay Jadeja, Nikhil Chopra and Rahul Sanghvi and West Indies stars Darren Ganga and Mervyn Dillon from Trinidad and Tobago will be featured in the first matches using an adapted Pro20 format.
The New York Storm, New Jersey Fire, DC Forward, Florida Thunder, Chicago Tornadoes, Los Angeles Unity, San Francisco Freedom and Texas Arrowheads field US talent augmented by a rotating lineup of three or four global guest stars.
"They will be elevating the level to play for all teams," Patel said. "The focus is fair and square on Americans."
Hong Kong national team coach Robin Singh of India, Kenyans Steve Tikolo and Brij Patel, Aussies Simon Cook and Greg Matthews and Curtly Ambrose, Richie Richardson, Wavell Hinds, Cameron Cuffy, Franklyn Rose, David Williams and Dinanath Ramnarine of West Indies are set for appearances during the season.
"They are by no means has-beens," Patel said. "Look at India. India have tremendous talent. India support a (touring) team of 20 people. The next 80 are going to be phenomenal and they are the type of players we will have."
Former England Test players Andy Caddick and Alec Stewart were thought to be on board but are no longer expected.
"APC believed it had a deal in place with these two players, having gone through an intermediary," Patel said. "This no longer appears to be the case as these gentlemen have quotes in the media suggesting otherwise."
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has not sanctioned the league but the ICC stands to gain most of all if APC brings cricket greater US attention.
The Fort Lauderdale area, home of APC's Florida team, is under consideration by the ICC to stage some 2007 World Cup matches when the West Indies serve as hosts. An assessment team visited the area earlier this month.
The ICC is expected to name eight World Cup 2007 sites on Sunday and assign 51 matches on July 13.