American Cricket: The NCL (National Cricket League) Sixty Strikes Tournament at the University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) Reaches Global Stage.
DALLAS, September 24, 2024 — The National Cricket League (NCL) has achieved three significant milestones for the upcoming 2024 Sixty Strikes Tournament: approval from the International Cricket Council (ICC), the appointment of Haroon Lorgat as Commissioner, and the backing of SEE Holdings, a Dubai-based leader in sustainability.
These achievements propel American Cricket forward, elevate the NCL to an international stage, and solidify American Cricket’s position as a prominent sport in the global cricket community.
To bolster its momentum, the NCL has appointed cricket luminary Haroon Lorgat as its Commissioner, bringing exceptional leadership to the league. Lorgat’s extensive career in cricket administration, including his tenures as CEO of the ICC and Cricket South Africa, positions him as the ideal figure to guide the NCL’s launch in the United States.
Under Lorgat’s stewardship, the Sixty Strikes format will premiere from October 4 to 14 at UT Dallas (The University of Texas at Dallas), marking the first national sports league partnership with a university. The NCL anticipates a daily audience of approximately 4,000 attendees.
Haroon Lorgat has had a diverse career in both cricket and corporate leadership. He was a top-performing first-class cricketer and later served as CEO of the ICC, where he oversaw three Cricket World Cups and played a crucial role in implementing initiatives such as the Decision Review System (DRS). He also provided consultancy services to Sri Lanka Cricket and the Pakistan Cricket Board, contributing to the design of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Lorgat’s leadership as CEO of Cricket South Africa earned him the S.A. Sports Industry’s Business Leadership Award in 2016. In 2020, he joined T10 Sports Management to promote the T10 format of cricket globally.
The National Cricket League has partnered with SEE Holdings, a Dubai-based leader in sustainability and innovation. Through this collaboration, the NCL integrates renewable energy at venues and encourages sustainable behaviors among fans. The league aims to become carbon-neutral by 2030, using solar energy to power critical areas of the stadium and pledging to plant a tree for every boundary and six runs scored. This initiative demonstrates the NCL’s leadership in both sports and environmental responsibility.
“We have established the National Cricket League as a premier force in the global cricket arena,” said Arun Agarwal, Chairman of the NCL. “With the prestigious ICC approval, Haroon Lorgat’s visionary leadership, and our strategic partnership with SEE Holdings championing sustainability, we are already reshaping the future of cricket in America and setting a new global standard for the sport.”
The NCL tournament starts with Bollywood superstar Mika Singh and includes themed nights bringing Coachella-like energy. This season, NCL brings together cricket legends known worldwide, including Zaheer Abbas, Wasim Akram, Dilip Vengsarkar, Sir Vivian Richards, Venkatesh Prasad, Sanath Jayasuriya, Moin Khan, and Blair Franklin. These cricketing heroes will mentor and coach the next generation of players.
The league will also showcase top-tier players from around the world, such as Shahid Afridi, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Karthik, Shakib Al Hasan, Robin Uthappa, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi, Chris Lynn, Angelo Mathews, Colin Munro, Sam Billings, Mohammad Nabi, and Johnson Charles.
The NCL has partnered with ESPN, Pluto TV, SKY, TNT, and Fox Sports to bring live coverage to a global audience so fans can catch all the action. With over 2.5 billion fans worldwide, cricket is one of the most watched sports in the world.
Tickets are available now at NCLCricket.com or SiTickets.com for the upcoming tournament at the UT Dallas (The University of Texas at Dallas) Cricket Stadium. The game dates are scheduled for October 4th-14th, 2024.
Leading up to the tournament, the NCL is hosting a tutorial cricket event on the UT Dallas campus on September 24 to engage with students and the local community. This event will offer hands-on experiences and introduce new fans to the sport, building excitement for the upcoming matches. The NCL’s mission is to grow cricket in the U.S. while uniting people through sport.
Based in Dallas, the National Cricket League (NCL) USA is revolutionizing cricket in the United States with its innovative Sixty Strikes format, a fast-paced game version endorsed by the prestigious International Cricket Council (ICC).
Source: National Cricket League (NCL) USA
CitiTimes 