US National T20
LAKE WORTH, FLORIDA: The national governing body for cricket in the USA, the United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) has held a series of information sessions with the eight (8) Regions in preparation for the 2014 US National cricket Championships. The information sessions were led by the USACA National Championships Committee Chairman, Mr. Mascelles Bailey and attended by Championships Committee members Mr. Keith Gill and Mr. Owen Grey, together with Regional and League representatives from across the country.
A rendering of the Indianapolis World Sports Park.
The National Championships information sessions were an opportunity to share the current plans for the Championships with Regional stakeholders and to receive their feedback, input and advice in what is shaping to be an exciting period for US cricket. The key elements of the 2014 US Cricket National Championships that were shared with the Regions are summarized below;
Dates: Thursday 21st – Sunday 24th August 2014
Venue: Worlds Sport Park – Indianapolis
Format: T20
The eight (8) competing teams will compete in two (2) conferences – eastern and western. The top team of each conference will compete in the main final of the National Championships on Sunday August 24th with the second team in each conference competing in the ‘Seeding Final’ that same morning.
The 2014 US National Cricket Championships is open to all USACA members. Each Region will work in association with USACA to co-ordinate a lead in series competition. The lead in series will involve three (3) sections commencing on the Memorial Day weekend in May 2014. The lead in series will allow Regional selectors to consider the best available talent in US cricket and to select a final team of fourteen (14) by mid-July.
An added incentive for players to compete in the National Championships lies in the fact that the US Men’s National Team will be selected from the competing teams in the Championships. In 2014, the US Men’s national team will host Canada in the annual Auty Cup competition to be played in September in Fort Lauderdale. Following that, the US team will compete in the ICC WCL Division 3 competition toward the end of the year. The ICC will be making an announcement of the dates and host venue in due course.
The 2014 National Championships are designed to be a celebration of US cricket and to bring as many people involved in cricket on and off the field together. The National Championships will include the US Cricket National Conference to be staged in Indianapolis on Wednesday 20th August 2014. The conference will involve guest speakers from international cricket and provide specific sessions where USACA members can seek advice and support on issues specific to their Region. It is hoped that Presidents of Leagues and Associations, operators of cricket academies and administrators in general will attend the Conference to share ideas and contribute to the implementation of the Strategic Direction that USACA has for cricket in the USA.
USACA National Championships Committee Chairman, Mr. Mascelles Bailey was upbeat about the opportunity for US cricket; “The 2014 US National Cricket Championships is an opportunity for US cricket to come together in the spirit of cricket. USACA intends to make the Championships very special and an event that all US cricket fans will want to attend. The City of Indianapolis has been very gracious to host the Championships and we are looking forward to playing on the new fields at the Worlds Sports Park in August next year.
It is an exciting time for the sport in the US and urge all Regions to begin their preparations now to ensure that they have the best chance of becoming National Champions in 2014”.
More information on the 2014 US National Cricket Championships in the New Year.