Four years ago, after officials in Grand Prairie, Texas, were pitched an idea to turn the city’s underused minor league ballpark into a stadium for cricket, the city’s manager, Bill Hills, thumbed through a copy of “Cricket for Dummies.”Like most Americans, Mr. Hills was oblivious to cricket, although that is starting to change.
Last year, the 7,200-seat stadium in Grand Prairie became the new home of the Texas Super Kings, one of six teams that played in the inaugural season of Major League Cricket.
A few days later, more than 34,000 cricket fans watched India narrowly beat Pakistan at a temporary stadium built in Long Island.
When Los Angeles hosts the 2028 Summer Olympics, cricket will be among the new sports being played.
That includes backers of Major League Cricket franchises hatching plans for dedicated cricket stadiums in their own cities.
Persons:
Bill Hills, Hills, Satya Nadella
Organizations:
Cricket, Texas Super Kings, Major League Cricket, U.S ., team’s, Pakistan, Los Angeles, San Francisco Unicorns, Los Angeles Knight Riders, Seattle, Microsoft
Locations:
Grand Prairie , Texas, Grand Prairie, Pakistan, United States, India, Long Island