The University of Texas at Dallas announced on Monday that it is partnering with National Cricket League USA and will host the inaugural Sixty Strikes Tournament scheduled to begin on October 4.
UT Dallas said in a news release that the event will last 10 days and feature six different teams from around the world.
“Team leaders already named include notable cricket players Mohammad Kaif, Sunil Narine, Dwayne Bravo, Mohammad Amir, Angelo Mathews, Jason Roy, Mohammad Nabi, Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Shahid Afridi and Kamran Akmal. Mentors will include Dilip Vengsarkar and Zaheer Abbas, and Vivian Richards and Sanath Jayasuriya have been among the named coaches,” UT Dallas wrote.
The NCL is utilizing a different playing format that is expected to allow games to finish in roughly 90 minutes, which is much shorter than the multiple days it takes some games to be completed in the traditional format.
UT Dallas President Richard C. Benson said that many in the “UT Dallas community play or follow the game,” which made the partnership an easy decision for the university.
“We are excited for the opportunity to host alumni and supporters and to introduce newcomers to our university,” he added.
NCL USA chairman Arun Agarwal expressed similar feelings about the tournament. He said that it will be a “groundbreaking moment for cricket in the U.S.” as the sport attempts to capture the attention of Americans.
“By merging world-class cricket with premier entertainment, we will captivate a diverse audience and elevate the sport’s presence in North Texas. Sixty Strikes is set to be a game-changer,” Agarwal said.
The university will undergo various “facility enhancements” in preparation for the event, including updates to the UT Dallas cricket field and the installation of lighting.
Games will be streamed online for fans worldwide to tune in, while those who prefer to attend the games can purchase tickets to one of the 2,040 bleacher seats or tented VIP areas.
