The Collegiate Cricket League (CCL), an ambitious new initiative aimed at embedding cricket into the fabric of American sports culture, launched its inaugural National Championship yesterday in Austin, Texas. The tournament, which runs from April 17 to 20, marks a significant milestone in the sport’s grassroots development and has drawn praise from USA Cricket leadership and international legends alike.
Founded by a group of Georgetown University students, the CCL is a student-led, student-operated, and nonprofit initiative. The league has received support from USA Cricket and the National Cricket League (NCL), and is aiming to establish a permanent home for cricket at the collegiate level in the United States.
A uniquely American path for cricket
Johnathan Atkeison, CEO of USA Cricket, highlighted the importance of the college system in helping cricket break into the American mainstream.
“The college sports sector is not only something that Americans recognize, but it’s something that’s uniquely American – it doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world in the way that it does here,” he said. “And if you lean into it with your sport, you can use it to your advantage. And for cricket, I think college is an amazing opportunity to get a foothold in the population that are not already fans.”
Twelve universities will participate in the CCL’s inaugural National Championship, including UCLA, Georgetown, Rice, USC, and the University of Texas at Austin. Matches will follow an innovative 10-over format called “Sixty Strikes” and will be streamed live on the NCL Cricket app, with broadcasting partners around the world picking up the feed for prime-time audiences, especially in South Asia.
“This weekend is just the beginning,” said Steven M. Smith, Executive Director of the Collegiate Cricket League. “American universities are the gold standard of education worldwide, and when paired with cricket—the second most popular sport on the planet—the potential is extraordinary.”
Smith envisions the CCL not just as a series of tournaments, but as a platform to fundamentally elevate cricket within the American university system.
“If we’re successful in delivering strong broadcast viewership numbers, we’ll begin working with universities to formally recognize the sport, elevate their club teams to varsity status, and invest in scholarships, facilities, and dedicated cricket programs,” he said.
“Within ten years, we believe the CCL could have the potential to become the most-watched collegiate sport globally, tapping into the sport’s global 2.5 billion fans and ultimately serving as a development league for the Indian Premier League, the National Cricket League here in the States, and Team USA. That’s our vision.”
USA Cricket’s backing and the path ahead
Atkeison praised the league not only for its structure but also for its broader strategic vision.
“It’s really exciting to work with the CCL,” he said. “They have a vision of expanding cricket, not just from being a tournament… but the way in which they go back and work with the institutions to drive greater facilities development, to drive more opportunities… to be an elevated club sport or potentially varsity sport in some models at the institutions.”
“This year and this set of schools is the first test out of the gate to show that they are serious about it, which I know that they are,” Atkeison added. “Next year, as they look to grow, they could potentially go from 12 to 50 teams quite quickly.”
The vision is ambitious, but it aligns with the need to grow the game at the grassroots level—a sentiment echoed by cricket legend Wasim Akram.
“I’ve seen cricket evolving in America in front of my eyes in the last 4-5 years,” said Akram. “However, if a real fan following needs to be developed, the game needs to grow at the grassroots level for sure. The Collegiate Cricket League is an excellent initiative towards the same.”
According to former India captain, 1983 ICC World Cup winner, and India National Selector Dilip Vengsarkar:
“It’s a great initiative to start the Collegiate Cricket League in America. I’m sure it will be a great platform for young cricketers in America. I believe that collegiate cricket can provide mental toughness and skills – all of these things are very important for the improvement of a cricketer.”
Building a collegiate cricket ecosystem
The CCL’s first championship is free and open to the public and will be hosted at 24609 Ronald Reagan Blvd in Liberty Hill, Texas. In addition to building a strong competitive structure, the league is also focused on inclusivity. Plans are already in motion to launch both men’s and women’s full seasons, with long-term goals to offer scholarships and formal varsity opportunities.
As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the CCL encourages donations and partnerships through its website, www.collegiatecricket.com, where supporters can contribute to building the future of American cricket.
This weekend in Austin may be just one tournament, but it could mark the beginning of a transformation for cricket in the United States—one led not by governing bodies or broadcasters, but by students themselves.
Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
