Cricket

Cricket stadium in Oswego? Developer proposes massive pitch and open air stadium complex

November 14, 2023 by Tara S

By: John Garcia | ABC7 Chicago

OSWEGO, Ill. (WLS) — It may be relatively unknown in the United States, but cricket is actually the second most popular sport in the world after soccer. Now a developer wants to bring a pitch and stadium to a large plot of vacant land in Oswego.

Developer Paresh Patel has released drawings of the 24,000 seat, open-air stadium he has planned for the western suburb.

“It certainly was an impressive looking facility and one that would bring a lot of attention to Oswego,” said Village Administrator dan Di Santo.

Cricket is growing in America. Illinois State Rep. Jennifer Sanalitro has sponsored a resolution asking the Illinois High School Association to recognize the sport.

“I know there is a demand for it. They’ve got cores of people and it’s growing. It’s very popular,” she said.

The proposed stadium, however, is not popular with some Oswego residents, many of whom will speak at a zoning board meeting Thursday night. Some are also circulating a petition in opposition. They cite concerns including noise from the crowds, lights during evening events, a big increase in traffic on area roads and limited parking, as well as the possibility of an increase in crime near the facility.

“With a stadium of that magnitude coming here in our back yard, the quality of life will be impacted greatly,” said resident David Fisher.

“We share some of those concerns,” said Di Santo. “We’re very early in the process and how we address some of the issues and concerns.”

According to the city, the developer expects there to be a professional cricket league in this country and Oswego would be the Chicago area franchise.

After Thursday night’s meeting, it could still be several months before the full city council considers the proposal.

IOC Session approves LA28’s proposal for five additional sports

October 18, 2023 by Tara S

By: International Olympic Committee

Baseball/softball, cricket (T20), flag football, lacrosse (sixes) and squash have been officially included as additional sports on the programme for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 (LA28). The decision has been taken by the 141st Session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The five sports were proposed by the LA28 Organising Committee as a package for their edition of the Games only, and were reviewed and supported by the IOC’s Olympic Programme Commission (OPC) and Executive Board (EB).

For baseball and softball, cricket and lacrosse it will be a return to the Olympic Games, while flag football and squash will be making their Olympic debut in LA.

Baseball and softball have been part of the programme at several editions of the Olympic Games, most recently at Tokyo 2020.
Cricket was on the programme for the Olympic Games Paris 1900.
Lacrosse was included on the programme at St Louis 1904 and London 1908.
Flag football and squash will make their Olympic debut at LA28.

“The choice of these five new sports is in line with the American sports culture and will showcase iconic American sports to the world, while bringing international sports to the United States. These sports will make the Olympic Games LA28 unique,” said IOC President Thomas Bach. “Their inclusion will allow the Olympic Movement to engage with new athlete and fan communities in the US and globally.”

“I have long believed that we have an incredible opportunity in Los Angeles to create the most compelling Games, not just for us, but for the world. Our Olympic sport programme, in its entirety, reflects this belief,” said LA28 Chairperson Casey Wasserman. “We are excited to embark on game-changing collaborations with major professional leagues that will unlock massive opportunities to amplify the Olympic and Paralympic story and captivate new audiences.”

This selection of sports is the result of a thorough process and analysis based on evaluation criteria set out before the process began, including gender equality. It considered the utilisation of existing facilities, involving a wide range of sports communities both in the United States and globally, and incorporating some of the most popular sports in the United States and across the globe.

Modern pentathlon and weightlifting

The IOC Session also supported the recommendations made by the IOC EB concerning the status of modern pentathlon and weightlifting, which were not part of the initial sports programme for LA28.

Modern pentathlon: The IOC Session endorsed the recommendation from the IOC EB to include modern pentathlon on the LA28 sports programme, acknowledging the replacement of horse riding with obstacle racing and the optimisation work conducted by the International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM) to reduce costs and complexity. As noted by the IOC EB, it is essential for the UIPM to continue to implement the necessary changes in governance and modernise as an organisation. Without the replacement of horse riding with obstacle racing, the sport would not have been included in the programme.
Weightlifting: The IOC Session accepted the IOC EB’s recommendation to include weightlifting on the LA28 sports programme following the decision of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) to delegate its anti-doping management to the International Testing Agency (ITA), and its sanctioning to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) at least until the end of 2028. The effectiveness of the anti-doping programmes for the Paris 2024 Olympic qualification and Olympic competition will continue to be closely monitored by the IOC, as will the implementation of the governance and cultural changes adopted by the IWF.

Following the IOC Session decision to withdraw recognition of the International Boxing Association (IBA), the IOC has not recognised another governing body for Olympic boxing. Therefore, the IOC EB decided that any decision regarding the inclusion of boxing on the LA28 sports programme is put on hold, so there was no discussion of this by the IOC Session.

The other 28 sports that are part of the LA28 Olympic programme were approved by the IOC Session in February 2022.

The discipline programme was approved by the IOC EB on 13 October 2023, while the programme of events and athlete quotas will be finalised after Paris 2024. The OPC will now work on ensuring that the final athlete quota numbers for the Olympic Games LA28 remain reasonable and below the overall quota for Tokyo 2020.

USA Cricket Launches #FutureShaper Women’s Internship Program

September 28, 2023 by Tara S

By: USA Cricket

– The #FutureShaper Women’s Internship Program offers positions in Digital Editorial, Graphic Design, and Marketing & Events.
– The Internship program is open to females ages 16 and above, based in the USA.
– Application deadline is September 25, 2023.

USA Cricket is seeking female interns to help create awareness and bring coverage of women’s cricket to viewers across the country and globe through its #FutureShaper Women’s Internship Program.

With the upward trend of women’s cricket participation across the world, this is a chance for females in the USA to become a #FutureShaper – empowered leaders who can shape the future for everyone involved in women’s cricket. The internship program includes assignments in the following areas: Digital Editorial, Graphic Design, and Marketing and Events.

USA Cricket Board Member and Women & Girls’ Committee Chair, Nadia Gruny said, “We are pleased to launch this internship program for females in the USA to get involved in working with cricket. An intern does not have to be a player although our athletes are encouraged to apply. This initiative is identified in our Shaping the Future for Women and Girls in American Cricket plan as important toward achieving our vision of establishing a more equitable gender balance and increased levels of female engagement across all aspects of the game. This program not only helps USA Cricket but it also helps our young #FutureShapers develop skills as they prepare for college and the working world.”

USA Cricket Chairman, Venu Pisike said, “USA Cricket fully supports the engagement of females on and off the cricket field. This is a great opportunity for young women in this country to learn skills that will help them throughout their life and hopefully, encourage them to pursue careers in cricket in the future. USA Cricket is also happy to have the support of some of the best young minds in the cricket community.”

The first #FutureShapers Women’s Internship Program will run 8-12 weeks on average, depending on the assignment. Internship assignments begin as early as October 2, 2023. The second internship program will begin in 2024 at a date to be determined.

Click here for Internship Descriptions.

Candidates ages 16 and over, should apply here by September 25, 2023 at 11:59pm PT.

ABOUT USA CRICKET
USA Cricket is the National Federation for cricket in the United States as recognized by the International Cricket Council. USA Cricket’s mission is to govern, regulate, develop and promote all forms of cricket at all levels in the United States, and to enable U.S. cricketers to achieve sustained competitive excellence and successfully compete in national and international competition. Through a diverse Board of Directors that has representation from most cricket stakeholder groups, USA Cricket will lead the sport to new heights by creating and administering value added programs to grow and develop the sport.

FOR MORE DETAILS CONTACT
Email: media@usacricket.org

USA Squad Named for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Americas Qualifier

August 23, 2023 by Tara S

USA Cricket
A 14-player squad to represent Team USA has been named for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Americas Qualifier in Los Angeles, next month.

Charlotte Dickenson, named as Interim Women’s Head Coach
Four teams will compete for a spot in the 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier

USA Cricket are delighted to announce the 14-player USA Women’s squad that will attempt to qualify for the T20 World Cup Global Qualifier in 2024. The regional qualifier will run from September 4th to 11th at the Woodley Park Cricket Complex, Van Nuys, California.

The 14-player squad contains seven players who participated in the 2023 ICC Under 19 Women’s World Cup, most of which have represented the senior team previously. The squad also sees the return of experienced off-spinner Uzma Iftikhar and all-rounder, Onika Wallerson.

Three uncapped players have earned their maiden call-up: Jessica Willathgamuwa, Chetna Reddy Pagydyala and Jivana Aras.

Left-arm pace bowler Tara Norris, who made history in this year’s Women’s Premier League by recording the tournament’s first 5-fer, is unavailable due to representative cricket commitments in England. Off-spinner Bhumika Bhadiraraju, a college freshman this Fall, is unavailable due to College commitments.

Charlotte Dickenson will be leading the charge as the USA Cricket Interim Head Coach. Dickenson is an ECB Level 3 coach who is also an ICC Coach Tutor and Master Educator. She brings immense experience having coached England’s U17, U19 and U21 national women’s teams. In 2005, she was England’s Assistant Coach and Manager during the team’s Ashes win against Australia. Dickenson was a part time coach for the Belgium Women’s team and has been coaching in the USA Cricket National Domestic Pathway tournaments since 2021.

The national team will be assembling in Van Nuys, California on August 25 for a pre-tournament camp.

Team USA Women’s Squad
Sindhu Sriharsha (Captain)
Geetika Kodali (Vice-Captain)
Aditi Chudasama
Anika Kolan
Chetna Reddy Pagydyala
Disha Dhingra
Gargi Bhogle
lsani Vaghela
Jessica Willathgamuwa
Jivana Aras
Onika Wallerson
Ritu Singh
Suhani Thadani
Uzma Iftikhar

Non Travelling Reserves

Laasya Mullapudi
Snigdha Paul
Chetnaa Prasad

Support Staff

Head Coach: Charlotte Dickenson
Assistant Coach: Chitaranjan Nilak
Manager: John Aaron
Analyst: Rohaan Gosala
Physiotherapist: Alondra Castellanos

Selection Panel: Joan Alexander-Serrano (Chair), Erica Rendler, Jyotsna Patel, Rajeshwari Antani, Syed Masood Akhtar

USA CRICKET WINS 100% CRICKET FEMALE CRICKET INITIATIVE AWARD IN ICC DEVELOPMENT AWARDS

April 20, 2022 by Tara S

By: USA Cricket

USA Cricket have been awarded as winners of the ICC Development Award for 2021 in the 100% Cricket Female Cricket Initiative of the Year for the ICC Americas region. The award was given for the fantastic development of the new Women and Girls Pathway that was launched in May 2021 and tied in to the subsequently launched plan to Shape the Future for Women and Girls in American Cricket during 2021-2023.

The ICC Development Awards 2021 reflect these achievements and show how Associate Members keep empowering individuals and reaching out to communities, we celebrate these stories this International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. The regional winners will now be put forward as the nominees for the global awards to be decided in the coming weeks.

[Read more…]

100% Cricket Female Cricket Initiative and Associate Women’s Performance of the Year

April 7, 2022 by Tara S

ICC Associate Members have continued to find ways to innovate, engage and inspire over the past year in the most difficult of circumstances amid the covid pandemic, but cricketing nations have used a combination of determination and creative thinking to overcome any obstacles in their way.

ICC Development Award – Part I: Development initiative and Associate Men’s performance of the year

ICC Development Awards – Part II: Fan engagement and Cricket 4 Good Social Impact Initiative of the Year

From developing the motor skills of children to making cricket more accessible, initiatives in the Associate nations continue to ensure the game is spread far and wide with a marked increase in participation.

[Read more…]

USA CRICKET ANNOUNCE WOMEN UNDER 19S TOUR OF ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

January 7, 2022 by Tara S

A historic first ever tour for a USA Women Under 19 team as they will travel to tour St. Vincent and the Grenadines in January
Geetika Kodali to captain USA Under 19s in the ground-breaking series of 4 x Twenty20 matches vs Windward Islands U19 Women’s team

USA Cricket are incredibly pleased to announce a historic inaugural international tour for the USA Women’s Under 19s team as they are set to travel to the Caribbean next month to play against Windward Islands U19 Women’s team in a series of four Twenty20 matches. The Windward Islands comprise the islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, St. Lucia and Dominica.

In partnership with both the Windward Islands Cricket Board and the St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) Cricket Association, this tour is part of the wider long-term strategic partnership that USA Cricket has with Cricket West Indies (CWI), our nearest Full Member Nation of the ICC.

This tour is the culmination of a huge year for the Women and Girls game in the United States, with the newly launched domestic pathway, the Sistar Mortgage Women’s National Championships (Senior Women’s and Under 19) alongside the successful ICC T20 World Cup Americas Qualifier in Mexico and the recently-abandoned ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe. The Windward Islands tour is another demonstration of the progress made on our USA Cricket Foundational Plan’s strategic focus on Women & Girls.

USA Cricket Board Member and Women and Girls Committee Chair, Nadia Gruny said, “We are pleased to partner with the Windward Islands Cricket Board (WICB) and the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association to create a T20 series that would be mutually beneficial to both our under 19 teams. In line with our recently launched plan to Shape the Future for Women & Girls in American Cricket to ‘Create increased competitive international match opportunities’, this tour will present a fantastic opportunity for some of the young talent who have stood out on our new domestic pathway this year to get international exposure and a competitive level of cricket in the Caribbean. On behalf of the board, I thank the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Government for the support of the development of women’s cricket in the region and everyone involved in helping to make this tour a reality in such a challenging time. Congratulations to all of the girls selected and we look forward to a successful tour.”

WICB President, Dr. Kishore Shallow said, “This exciting tour represents a shared vision of both USA Cricket and WICB to offer more development opportunities for female cricketers. We are grateful for the initiative and cooperation of USA Cricket to execute what I anticipate to be a fantastic series of competitive cricket.”

USA Cricket Operations Director, Richard Done added, “USA Cricket is excited by the potential of our Under 19 group and the impact they are already having on our USA Women’s Team, most recently in Mexico and then in Zimbabwe. With women’s cricket a clear focus of the USA Cricket Foundational Plan, the future for women’s cricket in the USA is bright, and this tour will allow our next group of talented girls a chance to experience and learn more about travelling and playing internationally.”

The selected U19 squad does not include several of the U19 players who participated in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier (WCQ) in Zimbabwe. The WCQ was abandoned due to the identification of Omicron, the new Covid variant and growing travel restrictions on passengers coming from Southern Africa countries, including Zimbabwe.

[Read more…]

Development Opportunity For Women In American Cricket

January 3, 2022 by Tara S

USA Cricket is pleased to announce, in collaboration with ICC Americas, a magnificent development opportunity for women involved in American cricket to pursue a postgraduate certificate in International Sports Management via the World Academy of Sports (WAoS). The course is developed and delivered in conjunction with the University of London (UOL). Click here to learn more about the course.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is offering six scholarships (one full scholarship and five, 25% scholarships) to aspiring female sports management/administration professionals in the Americas region. Scholarship applicants must have at least a bachelor’s degree or a minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience and professional references.

Interested candidates should click here to apply through the WAoS online portal. The deadline to apply for scholarships is Friday, January 7th at 5pm PST. The UOL will share a list of the eligible candidates with the ICC. The ICC will then determine the successful recipients of the scholarships according to how the decision is likely to impact the growth of cricket.

These opportunities come at a time when USA Cricket continues to place a heavy focus on Women and Girls’ cricket across the United States. Less than 3 months ago, USA Cricket launched its plan to Shape the Future for Women and Girls in American Cricket during 2021-2023, aimed at establishing a more equitable gender balance and increased levels of female engagement across all aspects of the sport.

USA Cricket Board Member and Women and Girls Committee Chair, Nadia Gruny said, “We are thankful to the ICC for offering these scholarship opportunities. A successful cricket community in the US requires that we build the capacity for women to be engaged off the field. We are committed to providing these types of development opportunities and look forward to several competitive applications coming from the US and hopefully, eventual scholarship recipients.”
The World Academy of Sport delivers learning programs for sports and event participants — athletes, managers, administrators, officials and coaches — through a series of education programs tailored to their needs and time commitment constraints. Through sport experts and business academics, WAoS provides the best possible, industry-accredited programs and is a recognized leader fulfilling a vital professional need within this evolving and increasingly international sector.

For further details on how to apply or any queries, please contact Julie Abbott via Julie.Abbott@usacricket.org.

ABOUT USA CRICKET
USA Cricket is the National Federation for cricket in the United States as recognized by the International Cricket Council. USA Cricket’s mission is to govern, regulate, develop and promote all forms of cricket at all levels in the United States, and to enable U.S. cricketers to achieve sustained competitive excellence and successfully compete in national and international competition. Through a diverse Board of Directors that has representation from most cricket stakeholder groups, USA Cricket will lead the sport to new heights by creating and administering value added programs to grow and develop the sport.

FOR MORE DETAILS CONTACT
Email: media@usacricket.org