The Collegiate Cricket League (CCL) is proud to announce its official launch as the premier organization for collegiate cricket in the United States. As a 501(c)(3) organization, the CCL is set to transform college sports by uniting cricket clubs nationwide, creating opportunities for student-athletes, and building a pathway to professional cricket. With cricket set to become an Olympic sport in 2028 and recognized as the second most popular sport in the world, the CCL is making cricket a household name on American campuses.

The CCL is supported by USA Cricket, the official governing body for cricket in the United States, which will act as an affiliate partner. It is also partnered with the National Cricket League (NCL), renowned for its association with international cricket legends, including Sachin Tendulkar, Sir Vivian Richards, Sunil Gavaskar, Haroon Lorgat, Wasim Akram, Zaheer Abbas, and Dilip Vengsarkar.

“There is nothing quite like college sports in America, and the excitement surrounding cricket is unmatched. Combining these two creates a perfect synergy, and the launch of a vibrant, visible college cricket competition like the CCL will accelerate the growth of our sport,” said USA Cricket CEO Johnathan Atkeison.

“Cricket has the power to bring people together and create opportunities like no other sport,” said Arun Agarwal, Chairman of the National Cricket League. “The Collegiate Cricket League is making a transformative impact by introducing cricket to U.S. campuses in ways never seen before. This is not just about playing the game-it’s about building a movement that connects student-athletes, universities, and global fans.”

The inaugural season begins in Spring 2025 and will feature student cricket clubs from top universities across the United States and Canada, including the University of Pennsylvania, University of Rochester, University of Texas at Dallas, University of Michigan, Drexel University, University of Waterloo, Texas A&M, West Virginia University, Rice University, University of Washington, University of Minnesota, University of Texas at Arlington, University of California San Diego, UCLA, Georgetown University, George Washington University, DePaul University, University of Louisville, Arkansas State University, University of California Berkeley, and the University of Wisconsin. Many more student clubs are expected to join in the coming months. These teams will compete in a dual-conference format, culminating in the first-ever CCL National Tournament with a $50,000 prize and the coveted CCL Trophy.

“Being part of the Collegiate Cricket League is about more than representing Georgetown; it’s about pioneering a movement. We’re thrilled to see college cricket finally receiving the structure it deserves in the U.S. As founding members of the CCL, we’re excited to showcase what cricket brings to college sports,” said Ashrav Paul and Siddharth Myadam, Presidents of the Georgetown Cricket Club.

Cricket has a long and storied history in the United States, dating back nearly 320 years, with the first organized collegiate cricket match played in 1864 between Haverford College and the University of Pennsylvania. While the sport has taken a backseat to others over the past century, the CCL is bringing cricket back to the forefront with a modern format: a 10-over (60-ball) match lasting just 90 minutes. This fast-paced version of the game has captured global attention and is now engaging audiences across the U.S. With broadcast opportunities through the National Cricket League’s (NCL) partners, CCL games will reach billions of fans worldwide, sparking new interest in college cricket and boosting visibility for participating universities.

“The Collegiate Cricket League is a critical step in introducing cricket to a country ready to embrace it,” said Haroon Lorgat, NCL Commissioner and former ICC CEO. “With its innovative format and focus on college-level development, the CCL provides an outstanding opportunity to grow the sport in the U.S. A solid foundation is essential for lasting success, and the CCL is uniquely equipped to deliver.”

The CCL is set to establish cricket as a varsity sport at U.S. universities. By uniting college cricket clubs under one league and leveraging its broadcast reach, the CCL will secure sponsorships and funding, enabling schools to elevate cricket programs, offer scholarships, and invest in state-of-the-art facilities. This initiative positions cricket to rival the global exposure of NCAA sports like football and basketball.

“Our vision is to see cricket stadiums on every campus, scholarships for student-athletes, and cricket clubs evolving into varsity teams,” said Steven M. Smith, Executive Director of the CCL. “With cricket now an Olympic sport and the second most popular globally, universities have a unique chance to gain international exposure.”

The Collegiate Cricket League (CCL), a 501(c)(3) organization, is committed to advancing and promoting cricket at the collegiate level across the United States. Supported by the National Cricket League (NCL) and legendary figures in the sport, the CCL serves as a premier platform for college cricket clubs, empowering student-athletes to excel and establishing cricket as a key collegiate sport in the U.S.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the performance of the United States men’s cricket team during the ICC T20 World Cup held in the United States and West Indies this year. PM Modi was addressing an Indian diaspora event at the Nassau Coliseum in New York. “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.”

During the T20 WC 2024 held from June 1 to June 29 this year, the USA hosted a total of 16 matches, with matches taking place in New York’s Nassau County Stadium, including the contest between arch-rivals India and Pakistan, Texas’s Grand Prairie Stadium and Florida’s Central Broward Park.

USA delivered a fine performance in the tournament, finishing second in Group Stages with two wins and a loss. This included a win in Super Over over Pakistan in a thriller. They also gave a tough fight to India while defending a small total of 111 runs on a tricky surface.

Later in Super Eights, the USA lost all their three matches, but gave a good fight to finalists South Africa and lost by 18 runs while chasing 195. This was USA’s first World Cup appearance across 20 and 50 over formats.

Some big performers in the tournament for the USA included players who represented India in U19 level cricket. Saurabh Netravalkar took six wickets, including prized wickets of Indian stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammed Rizwan and South African captain Aiden Markram.

Indian U19 bowler Harmeet Singh, who played the 2012 U19 WC for India and played domestic cricket for Mumbai, also played for the USA, taking four wickets and scoring 69 runs in four innings.

USA captain Monank Patel also scored a crucial half-century against Pakistan, taking his team to 159/3.

India won the tournament ending their ICC trophy drought after 11 years.

PM Modi arrived in New York in the second leg of his three-day visit to the United States. He attended Quad Summit on Saturday and had bilateral meetings with US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Japan PM Fumio Kishida.

Remember Paul Valthaty? The Indian batter had burst onto the scene in IPL 2011 for Kings XI Punjab, most notably scoring a brilliant century against Chennai Super Kings in just the ninth match of the season. After that season, Valthaty quickly faded into obscurity, and last played in the IPL in 2013. However, Valthaty is now in the news, having taken up a new coaching role. But it’s not in India, it’s in the USA, the country that is seemingly making a rapid rise in international cricket.

Now 40, Valthaty has been appointed the head coach of Minor League Cricket franchise Seattle Thunderbolts.

Valthaty broke through with a 63-ball 120 against CSK in IPL 2011; at that time, the second-highest individual IPL score by an Indian. He would go on to finish as the sixth-highest run-getter of IPL 2011, as Punjab narrowly missed the play-offs.

Valthaty had suffered an eye injury during the 2002 U19 World Cup. He announced his retirement from first-class cricket on 18 June, 2023.

What is Minor League Cricket?

Alongside the launch of Major League Cricket (MLC), USA Cricket opted to launch a developmental T20 league Minor League Cricket (MiLC) in 2021. MiLC is spread across many cities and states, with 26 teams divided into the northern, southern, central and western conferences.

Valthaty’s side, Seattle Thunderbolts, won the second season of MiLC in 2022. They play in the Western Conference.

“Seattle Thunderbolts have just added a big hitter to their lineup-off the field! We’re thrilled to announce that Paul Valthaty, the former Kings XI Punjab sensation, is now steering our ship as the Head Coach,” captioned the team in their announcement post on Instagram.

“With 3 half-centuries and a century in his kit bag, Valthaty knows how to turn singles into boundaries and sixes. Get ready for a power-packed season as we aim to knock it out of the park with Paul at the helm!” they added.