The American Cricket Council (ACC) has announced a nationwide initiative aimed at expanding school and collegiate cricket in the United States, with plans to introduce new competitions, coaching programs and scholarship opportunities beginning in 2027.

Headquartered in New Jersey, with administrative offices at TV Asia (300 Fidelity Plaza, North Brunswick, NJ 08902), the ACC said its development framework will include the Cricket Hall of Fame (ChoF) Inter-School Championship, the Intercollegiate Super Cup and a Super League tournament. Param Veers Sports Complex in Atlanta will serve as the primary venue for national competitions while also functioning as the year-round home of ACC events, a player development center and a coaching education hub.

The Cricket Hall of Fame will continue to operate from Hartford, Connecticut, while the ACC's administrative functions will be based in New Jersey. The organization said its leadership and operational teams are expected to be established over the coming months, with recruitment expected to focus on recent graduates of U.S. colleges and universities who have represented cricket at national, regional or other representative levels.

The initiative brings together several established figures in American cricket. Dr. H.R. Shah, CEO and Chairman of TV Asia and a recipient of India's Padma Shri award, is supporting the program alongside Michael Chambers, Executive Director and Founder of the Cricket Hall of Fame.

Jayesh Patel, owner of Param Veers Sports Complex and a Cricket Hall of Fame inductee, and Jatin Patel, Director of the Cricket Hall of Fame and recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award, will oversee the program's implementation. Jatin Patel will also lead coaching development and cricket education for schools and colleges through the American Cricket Foundation (ACF). Ashok P. Patel, Cricket Hall of Famer and founder president of the USA Cricket Academy, has also pledged support for school cricket and advanced coach education. Cricket Show USA has been named among the initiative's media partners.

The ACC plans to introduce three membership categories covering student-athletes, coaches and academies, and umpires. Coaches will serve as local coordinators with defined program responsibilities, while an education panel will oversee academic support and scholarship administration. The organization expects sponsorships and commercial partnerships to provide the primary source of funding.

A key component of the initiative is the proposed Intercollegiate Super Cup, which is scheduled to launch in 2027 at Param Veers Sports Complex with at least 12 participating teams and the potential to expand to 24 or more. Regional combined teams will be permitted where individual institutions are unable to field standalone squads.

The accompanying scholarship program will initially be available to eligible NCAA student-athletes competing at Division I, II and III institutions in the United States and Canada. Selection criteria will prioritize academic performance and active participation in college cricket, with preference given to undergraduate students under the age of 25, although eligible graduate students may also qualify.

According to the ACC, the program will operate independently of existing governing bodies, with league administration, scholarship management and educational initiatives overseen directly by the organization and its partners. As planning continues, the ACC will finalize competition formats, scholarship procedures, membership structures and coaching curricula ahead of the program's rollout. The initiative represents one of the most comprehensive efforts to expand structured school and collegiate cricket pathways in the United States while creating new opportunities for player development and higher education.