INDIANAPOLIS — The United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) recently announced that the 2014, 2015 and 2016 U.S. National Men’s Cricket Championships will be held at the Indianapolis World Sports Park.
Teams representing the eight U.S. regional cricket divisions will compete in the four-day National Cricket Championships not only for the title, but also for a chance to play on the U.S. National Team. 2014 will mark the return of a U.S. National Championships — the first in three years.
The 2014 tournament, set for late August, is scheduled to be the first high-profile event played on the new grounds of the Indianapolis World Sports Park on the city’s east side. The park, currently called the Post Road Community Park, is undergoing transformation to create a multi-sport complex capable of hosting elite level play for many of the world’s popular field sports, including rugby, lacrosse, Gaelic sports, soccer, Australian rules football, and cricket. Talks began about hosting this tournament in 2009.
“For over 30 years, Indianapolis has billed itself as the amateur sports capital of the world. This facility and this tournament put Indianapolis in a leadership position as the second most popular sport in the world grows in this country,” said Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard.
“Indianapolis and the surrounding areas are home to many residents, like me, who grew up playing cricket and love the sport the same way many people love baseball,” said Parag Pandya, President of the Indy Legends Cricket Club. “News of a national tournament coming here is exciting, and I look forward to the opportunity to be involved in this event in any way that I can.”
“Indy Eleven welcomes USACA’s national tournament. Along with the recent additions of our North American Soccer League team and the International Champions Cup match featuring Chelsea and Inter Milan, this elite cricket event expands Indianapolis’ position as a global sports market,” said Peter Wilt, President and General Manager of Indy Eleven.