New sports league and cricket team launched in Dallas
Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson announced the launch of a new sports league and another cricket team for the city as part of the new venture, National Cricket League (NCL).
He was joined by Azhar Qasmi, NCL CEO, Dallas business executive Arun Agarwal who is serving as NCL chairman and advisor, Haroon Lorgat, former chairman of the International Cricket Council, as well as cricketers and Lollywood and Bollywood celebrities to celebrate the impending Dallas team launch.
The NCL also announced the new Dallas headquarters and the league’s first event, a nine-day nonstop cricket tournament taking place in December, according to a media release.
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The NCL is an exciting new venture that aims to introduce the short, fast-paced form of cricket, called “sixty strikes,” to the United States. It includes six teams with international players, coaches and mentors from all over the world.
Cricket is the second most popular sport in the world after soccer. In the US alone, there are over 30 million cricket enthusiasts, with 4.4 million subscribers paying to watch cricket on various TV channels. It has rapidly gained popularity, especially the “sixty strikes” format.
READ: Major League Cricket brings T20 competition to America (July 14, 2023)
“It is my hope that we will be able to cheer on our city’s team in a stadium in Dallas soon. The National Cricket League has my full support as it works to bring the first dedicated cricket stadium to Dallas,” said Johnson.
The mayor and NCL leadership stressed that the new Dallas team and stadium location will be announced very soon.
“This will be a Dallas team. When we say Dallas, we mean Dallas – not Arlington, not Frisco. We’re proud to create another team to represent our city,” said Agarwal.
The first league tournament will be Dec 19-29 at Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida. In addition to cricket, this nine-day nonstop tournament will feature 30+ performances from celebrities around the world.
READ: Cricket Hall of Fame launches American Cricket Education Council (March 3, 2023)
In 2022, sporting events in Dallas produced more than $647 million in economic impact for the city, supported more than 4,000 jobs and generated $16 million in local tax revenue, the release stated.
And more major sporting events are coming soon to Dallas, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 2030 NCAA Men’s Final Four, and the 2031 NCAA Women’s Final Four.
“If you aren’t already one of the 30 million cricket enthusiasts in America, now is the time to familiarize yourself with the sport,” said Johnson.
“Sports present unique opportunities to bring together people of all backgrounds under one roof. They strengthen communities. They generate excitement. And they foster civic and national pride.”
More details about the Dallas team and stadium location will be revealed in the coming weeks. The names of the six league team owners are also forthcoming, and the drafting of players is expected to take place in October.
