By Associated Press, 5/26/2004 18:34
COOPER CITY, Fla. (AP) The United States and Canada will meet this weekend in a three-day cricket match in South Florida, the first on American soil sanctioned by the International Cricket Council.
The ICC, which governs the sport worldwide, is trying to globalize the game and bring it more exposure, especially in the United States. Only 10 nations play the sport at test level its highest standard.
More than $2 million has been committed by the ICC for its ''Project USA'' initiative, which is aimed at promoting the game in the United States.
The match between the United States and Canada is part of the ICC's Intercontinental Cup, and begins Friday at Brian Piccolo Park in Cooper City.
''Being exposed to playing in a first-class atmosphere can only improve the status of the sport as well as the players,'' U.S. captain Richard Staple said.
Earlier this year, the U.S. team scored one of its most significant cricket victories, qualifying for the ICC Champions Trophy in England this September by winning the Six Nations Challenge for the first time.
The Americans became the 12th and final qualifier for the Champions Trophy, featuring cricket's major test-playing nations, and joined World Cup winner Australia and New Zealand in Pool 1 for that competition.
''There is now a little more focus on us because of our recent results,'' Staple said. ''So we will have to be ready, physically and mentally, to play and win.''
Event organizers also hope the match stirs interest that helps Broward County's bid to be the site at least six qualifying matches for the 2007 World Cup something that the United States has never hosted. World Cup officials will be at this weekend's match to further evaluate Broward's bid.
Earlier this week, Broward County commissioners approved plans for a 100-plus acre park in Lauderhill that would include a cricket field large enough to accommodate World Cup play. Broward's bid is being headed by Lance Gibbs, one of the world's premier cricket players for the West Indies in the 1970s and 1980s.
The United States will play at Bermuda in July, and Canada plays host to Bermuda in August. The Americas group winner advances to the Intercontinental Cup championship round in the United Arab Emirates in November.
COOPER CITY, Fla. (AP) The United States and Canada will meet this weekend in a three-day cricket match in South Florida, the first on American soil sanctioned by the International Cricket Council.
The ICC, which governs the sport worldwide, is trying to globalize the game and bring it more exposure, especially in the United States. Only 10 nations play the sport at test level its highest standard.
More than $2 million has been committed by the ICC for its ''Project USA'' initiative, which is aimed at promoting the game in the United States.
The match between the United States and Canada is part of the ICC's Intercontinental Cup, and begins Friday at Brian Piccolo Park in Cooper City.
''Being exposed to playing in a first-class atmosphere can only improve the status of the sport as well as the players,'' U.S. captain Richard Staple said.
Earlier this year, the U.S. team scored one of its most significant cricket victories, qualifying for the ICC Champions Trophy in England this September by winning the Six Nations Challenge for the first time.
The Americans became the 12th and final qualifier for the Champions Trophy, featuring cricket's major test-playing nations, and joined World Cup winner Australia and New Zealand in Pool 1 for that competition.
''There is now a little more focus on us because of our recent results,'' Staple said. ''So we will have to be ready, physically and mentally, to play and win.''
Event organizers also hope the match stirs interest that helps Broward County's bid to be the site at least six qualifying matches for the 2007 World Cup something that the United States has never hosted. World Cup officials will be at this weekend's match to further evaluate Broward's bid.
Earlier this week, Broward County commissioners approved plans for a 100-plus acre park in Lauderhill that would include a cricket field large enough to accommodate World Cup play. Broward's bid is being headed by Lance Gibbs, one of the world's premier cricket players for the West Indies in the 1970s and 1980s.
The United States will play at Bermuda in July, and Canada plays host to Bermuda in August. The Americas group winner advances to the Intercontinental Cup championship round in the United Arab Emirates in November.
