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Major League Cricket Season 3 is currently in full swing in the United States, showcasing international stars and top-tier cricketing action. While IPL franchise owners are maximizing their overseas investments by signing marquee players to boost global appeal, concerns continue to surface regarding the long-term development and structural health of cricket in the US.
Despite the successful co-hosting of the T20 World Cup last year and a landmark victory against Pakistan, the sport in America remains mired in administrative gridlock and political complexities. Substantial private investment has flowed into US cricket, but stakeholders argue that its benefits have not trickled down to the grassroots level.
David Haubert, an independent director of US Cricket for the past two and a half years and a vocal advocate for growing the game in the US, offers a candid take on the situation.
“Growing the sport of cricket with the local population has always been one of my top goals. As Mayor I brought cricket to our local schools and parks, so I know what it takes. Major events like the World Cup and MLC help, but they are not enough. In my opinion there needs to be more coordination between USAC and these commercial entities that drive major events if we are to be successful in growing popularity with the local community. USAC also needs more resources and support to do our job properly,” he says.
Haubert, whose political career spans 25 years, also raises concerns about the current agreement between USA Cricket and its commercial partner, American Cricket Enterprises (ACE). He believes the framework requires reevaluation to truly benefit the sport’s growth in the country.
“I am concerned about the implementation and management of the terms of our agreement. ACE/MLC seem to hold all the cards, and especially the financial purse strings of USAC. This needs to be managed more equitably. The commercial arrangement with ACE was signed before I joined USAC. To be honest it’s been a struggle to realize the full benefits that were originally envisioned. I believe more needs to be done to enforce the terms of the agreement and to balance things. Here again, we need the resources it takes to manage Team USA and to grow the sport organically,” he adds.
ACE, which owns Major League Cricket, is also USA Cricket’s strategic partner. Under the terms of their agreement, ACE has committed $1 billion to support the expansion of MLC, develop grassroots initiatives, nurture emerging talent, and strengthen the national teams. However, many believe the relationship between ACE and USAC lacks proper coordination, which is hindering the sport’s momentum at a critical juncture—particularly as interest grows beyond the South Asian diaspora and begins to capture the attention of mainstream American audiences.
Manish Patel, Principal Founder of CMG and former owner of Minor League team Dallas Mustangs, also expresses frustration about the lack of financial support and structural planning for grassroots cricket.
“Minor League team owners have added tremendous value to help grow grass roots with their own investment to build infrastructure and help promote local talent. We got practically no support from ACE or MLC. In fact, several minor league owners including us did not want to sign their franchise/license agreement as it was completely one sided in ACE’s favor. Minor League team owners spent a lot of time, money, and resources to help build and promote the game with practically no support from ACE. We won the championship couple of years ago and prize money that was decided before the season was changed to lesser amount after half the season. I would give a lot of credit to Minor League team owners that have dedicated their own time and personal investments with zero return. And that should change as the model is not sustainable,” he says.
Looking ahead, both David and Manish see the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as a golden opportunity for cricket in the US—one that could fulfill long-held ambitions, provided there is a stronger alliance between USAC and ACE.
“LA28 will be yet another opportunity to grow the sport of cricket in the US. I stand ready alongside my colleagues at USAC to engage local schools, clubs and communities to cheer on Team USA and experience the game of cricket. In order for this to happen we must have stronger coordination between Cricket USA, USOPC and our commercial partners. And, we must have the resources we need to do this,” David emphasizes.
“LA28 will be a tremendous boost to cricket here in the US. And I truly believe that Cricket USA should take advantage of this great opportunity to form partnerships to build grassroot cricket at school level to involve locals. I think it is really important to get locals involved in the game of cricket to really take it to the next level here in the US. I do know that the National Cricket League launched an inter college cricket tournament earlier this summer. There were 25-30 universities across the US that participated and 12 teams played in the championship,” adds Manish, highlighting efforts outside the ACE-USA Cricket ecosystem.
With cricket enjoying rising popularity in the US, stakeholders are hopeful that future efforts will prioritize inclusive, sustainable development and steer away from monopolistic models. The LA 2028 Olympics could mark a turning point—if the right support systems are finally put in place.
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