SAN FRANCISCO, July 7, 2026 β€” The Unicorns Sport Foundation has launched as a registered 501(c)(3) public charity, aiming to expand access to cricket and increase sporting opportunities for young people across the San Francisco Bay Area.

The Foundation, supported by technology entrepreneurs and San Francisco Unicorns Major League Cricket co-owners Anand Rajaraman and Venky Harinarayan, will focus on grassroots cricket development while promoting broader participation in sport.
Young participants take part in cricket activities during the launch of the Unicorns Sport Foundation, celebrating the start of a new initiative focused on expanding access to sport and creating opportunities for youth across the Bay Area. Photo by Kelly Gavin/San Francisco Unicorns

Its work will center on three priorities: increasing opportunities for girls and women in cricket and sport, reducing barriers to participation to improve access and equity, and strengthening grassroots cricket pathways and infrastructure.

The organization has set a target of engaging more than 10,000 young people across the Bay Area by 2030, delivering 100 community programs and creating long-term pathways linking sport with personal development and leadership opportunities.

Cricket, one of the world's most popular sports, has longstanding connections with many of the Bay Area's diverse communities. The Foundation hopes to build on those links through partnerships with schools, community organizations and local stakeholders.

The San Francisco Unicorns, one of Major League Cricket's founding franchises, will serve as a commercial and operational partner, supporting the Foundation's community initiatives and grassroots programs.

Pradeep Nair, Head of the Unicorns Sport Foundation, said the organization intends to use cricket as a platform to broaden opportunities for young people throughout the region.

"Sport is one of the most effective catalysts we have for building equity, confidence, and community, while cricket gives us a powerful, natural place to start in the Bay Area.

"This region has shown the world what is possible when innovation, opportunity, and ambition collide. The Foundation exists to bring that same energy to the playing field, driven by a conviction that the benefits of sport should be accessible to every young person, regardless of background. My immediate focus is launching our initial cricketing and community programs, while building the long-term partnerships that will help us deliver success for many generations to come."

Harinarayan said the franchise's previous community initiatives demonstrated how professional sport could encourage wider participation.

"We know that elite sports can be a key driver for positive social change and have seen firsthand the positive impact these initiatives, such as our Unicorns Community Festival, can have on participation, inclusion, and engagement.

"With the launch of the Unicorns Sport Foundation, we want to take this one step further and deliver a grassroots movement that harnesses the power of cricket and the San Francisco Unicorns brand to be a real driving force for good in the Bay Area and beyond."

The Foundation has begun establishing strategic partnerships and plans to roll out its first cricket and community programs across the Bay Area during the initial phase of operations.

The launch comes as cricket continues to expand its footprint in the United States following the establishment of Major League Cricket. By investing in grassroots participation, facilities and youth development, the Foundation aims to strengthen the sport's long-term growth in Northern California while creating broader opportunities for communities across the region.