New Zealand, Sri Lanka T20 series seeks to popularise cricket in the US

AUCKLAND - New Zealand and Sri Lanka will take part in a three-match Twenty20 series in Florida next month to launch a new partnership between USA Cricket (USACA) and New Zealand Cricket (NZC).

The matches will be played at the Central Broward County Regional Park Cricket Stadium between May 21 and May 23.

Talking about the crucial decision, NZC Chief Executive Justin Vaughan said his organization had long seen the potential of cricket in the US.

“We have the experience and capacity to help develop the game of cricket in the USA. We are looking at ways of helping USA Cricket grow the game both professionally and at the grassroots,” Stuff.co.nz quoted Vaughan, as saying in a statement.

“This T20 series is the first of many initiatives between our two cricket boards and we envisage the Black Caps playing in the USA on an annual basis,” he added.

Meanwhile, USACA Chief Executive Donald Lockerbie believes the series has the potential to help grow and develop the game in the U.S.

“We believe that in order to grow the game of cricket in the USA, we need to have the best teams in the world play in our country,” Lockerbie said.

“We want to demonstrate to the American public just how exciting the T20 format is. Cricket is already popular here but has lacked major media coverage. This inaugural series is the first step to reverse this situation,” he added. (ANI)