YANKS OUT FOR A DUCK
Americans want to jazz up our great game
AMERICA wants to “do a Beckham’ and turn cricket into the next big sport across the pond.
It is campaigning to become the 13th full member of the elite International Cricket Council by 2030.
Bosses behind the push reckon they can jazz up the game to make it a successful “mainstream” cash cow in the US.
It comes after former England captain David Beckham, 45, ignited an interest in football – soccer to the Americans – with his £ 128million move to LA Galaxy in 2007.
That game has since seen a surge in growth Stateside, with Becks himself even setting up his own team – Inter Miami. US sporting bosses reckon they can take cricket, give it a brash American makeover, and make it a hit with TV and sponsors.
Iain Higgins, the chief executive of USA cricket, said: “Our ambition is very high but reflects the potential to grow the sport in this country.”
USA Cricket announced last year a massive long- term deal with American Cricket Enterprises resulting in more than £ 770m invested, , underpinned by a Twenty20 domestic cricket league.
They even want to co- host a Cricket World Cup with the West Indies.
There are already estimated to be more than 10million people in the US who follow cricket. And around 150,000 already play some form of the game. Mr Higgins added: “We want USA Cricket to take its place at the forefront of international cricket. “In cricketing parlance, that effectively means becoming a full member of the ICC. So we set ourselves a target of 2030.”