Cricket legend Wasim Akram, CCL Executive Director Steven Smith, “God of Cricket” Sachin Tendulkar, and NCL Chairman Arun Agrawal [Photo: NCL]
The Collegiate Cricket League has launched in Dallas as the top organization for collegiate cricket in the nation, aiming to transform college sports by uniting cricket clubs nationwide, creating opportunities for student-athletes, and building a pathway to professional cricket. The inaugural season will start in the spring.
The CCL is supported by USA Cricket, the official governing body for cricket in the United States, which will be an affiliate partner. The league also partnered with the Dallas-based National Cricket League (NCL), which is known for its association with international cricket legends including Sachin Tendulkar, Sir Vivian Richards, Sunil Gavaskar, Haroon Lorgat, Wasim Akram, Zaheer Abbas, and Dilip Vengsarkar.
“Cricket has the power to bring people together and create opportunities like no other sport,” Arun Agarwal, chairman of the National Cricket League, said in a statement. “The Collegiate Cricket League is making a transformative impact by introducing cricket to U.S. campuses in ways never seen before. This is not just about playing the game—it’s about building a movement that connects student-athletes, universities, and global fans.”
Cricket is set to become an Olympic sport in 2028 and is recognized as the second most popular sport in the world, the NCL noted.
‘Perfect synergy’ of cricket and college sports
“There’s nothing quite like college sports in America, and the excitement surrounding cricket is unmatched. Combining these two creates a perfect synergy, and the launch of a vibrant, visible college cricket competition like the CCL will accelerate the growth of our sport,” USA Cricket CEO Johnathan Atkeison said in a statement.
The inaugural season will feature student cricket clubs from top universities across the United States and Canada, including the University of Texas at Dallas, the University of Texas at Arlington, University of Pennsylvania, University of Rochester, University of Michigan, Drexel University, University of Waterloo, Texas A&M, West Virginia University, Rice University, University of Washington, University of Minnesota, University of California San Diego, UCLA, Georgetown University, George Washington University, DePaul University, University of Louisville, Arkansas State University, University of California Berkeley, and the University of Wisconsin.
The league said that more student clubs are expected to join in the coming months. These teams will compete in a dual-conference format, culminating in the first-ever CCL National Tournament with a $50,000 prize and the CCL Trophy.
“Being part of the Collegiate Cricket League is about more than representing Georgetown; it’s about pioneering a movement. We’re thrilled to see college cricket finally receiving the structure it deserves in the U.S. As founding members of the CCL, we’re excited to showcase what cricket brings to college sports,” Ashrav Paul and Siddharth Myadam, presidents of the Georgetown Cricket Club, said in a joint statement.
The CCL said that cricket has a long history in the United States, dating back nearly 320 years, with the first organized collegiate cricket match played in 1864 between Haverford College and the University of Pennsylvania.
Modern format and expansion plans
The CCL is pushing cricket to the forefront with a modern format: a 10-over (60-ball) match lasting just 90 minutes. This fast-paced version of the game has captured global attention, the league said, and is engaging audiences across the nation. With broadcast opportunities through the National Cricket League’s (NCL) partners, CCL games will reach billions of fans worldwide, sparking new interest in college cricket and boosting visibility for participating universities, the league said.
“The Collegiate Cricket League is a critical step in introducing cricket to a country ready to embrace it,” said Haroon Lorgat, NCL Commissioner and former ICC CEO. “With its innovative format and focus on college-level development, the CCL provides an outstanding opportunity to grow the sport in the U.S. A solid foundation is essential for lasting success, and the CCL is uniquely equipped to deliver.”
The CCL is set to establish cricket as a varsity sport at U.S. universities, the league said. By uniting college cricket clubs under one league and leveraging its broadcast reach, the CCL said it will secure sponsorships and funding, enabling schools to elevate cricket programs, offer scholarships, and invest in state-of-the-art facilities.
This initiative positions cricket to rival the global exposure of NCAA sports such as football and basketball, the CCL said.
“Our vision is to see cricket stadiums on every campus, scholarships for student-athletes, and cricket clubs evolving into varsity teams,” CCL Executive Director Steven M. Smith said in a statement. “With cricket now an Olympic sport and the second most popular globally, universities have a unique chance to gain international exposure.”
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