United States Makes Deal on Professional Cricket

United States Makes Deal on Professional Cricket ​One of the World’s Most Viewed Sports Will Arrive in US 

United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) licenses exclusive rights of Franchise T20 Cricket League to Global Sports Ventures, LLC; bringing professional Cricket to the United States.

New York, NY​ (Sept. 29, 2016) – Today, the United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) announced exclusive licensing rights for a Franchised T20 Professional Cricket League to Pennsylvania­based sports development company Global Sports Ventures, LLC; bringing and professionalizing the world’s second most popular sport to the United States, and the world’s largest sports economy.

“USACA is thrilled to announce a commercial partnership with Global Sports Ventures, LLC to bring this long adored sport stateside, and are confident in their ability to grow the sport in the United States,” said Gladstone Dainty, President of USACA. “This multi­year, multi million­dollar licensing agreement will change the way the sport is played, followed, watched and administered, and we’re excited to provide for the first time ever annual contracts to our players – both male and female.”

Through a $70 million licensing agreement, Global Sports Ventures, LLC takes the first step in growing the beloved sport in the United States, which boasts the second highest viewership of cricket in the world behind India - with more than 1.4 million people tuning in to view the ICC World Twenty20 competition earlier this year. Based on the high demand of the sport, the development company is prepared to generate hundreds of millions of dollars through partnerships, significantly impacting the sports economy.

Jignesh (Jay) Pandya, president and CEO of Global Sports Ventures, LLC said, “The professional sports landscape is a notoriously tough market to break into, but we’re confident in the strength of the consumer demand in the US. This agreement allows us to grow the world’s second most popular sport right here in our own backyard.”

The deal between the USACA and Global Sports Ventures, LLC will professionalize the game of Cricket in the U.S., providing American athletes the opportunity for a professional career in cricket.

About USACA 
USACA is the national governing body of Cricket in the United States formed in 1965. They are an associate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC), the world governing body for Cricket.

About Global Sports Ventures, LLC. 
Global Sports Ventures is dedicated to acquiring, building, and strengthening a network of branded participatory and experience­ based businesses engaged in sports, training, education, entertainment, and consumer lifestyle. Global Sports focuses on emphasizing a positive consumer experience and instilling the core values of discipline, teamwork, safety, respect and integrity.

About Cricket 
Cricket is a bat and ball game played between two teams of 11 players each on a Cricket field. At the center of the field is a 22 yard long pitch with a wicket (set of 3 wooden stumps) at each end. One team is designated the batting and the other side bowls (pitches) and fields. The batting team attempts to score as many runs as possible within 120 (T20) legal pitches. Whoever scores the most runs wins.

History of Cricket in America 
Benjamin Franklin formalized the rules of Cricket in 1754 George Washington used to play Cricket (which they called Wicket) in Valley Forge, PA in 1778 The first ever International game (in any sport) was a Cricket match between USA vs. Canada Abe Lincoln attended Chicago versus Milwaukee match in 1849 Cricket was the American sport before the Civil War Baseball Hall of Famers George and Harry Wright both played for the USA Cricket Team Babe Ruth played Cricket in London in 1935

PRESS CONTACT: 
LFB Media Group | 646­455­0042 Dana Yacyk | DYacyk@LFBMediaGroup.com

Yuvraj Singh to get married in December

Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh is all set to tie the knot with model-turned-actress Hazel Keech in December this year.

Yuvraj's mother Shabnam Singh has revealed that the wedding will be before December 12, which is also the 34-year-old’s birthday.

The couple, who opted for a low-key engagement in Bali, Indonesia, have been dating for quite some time now.

Hazel Keech, who is a model-turned-actress - has acted in the bollywood movies like Billa and Bodyguard.

The wedding function will be held in New Delhi followed by the reception.

Done Deal: Somerset sign Steve Davies on a three-year deal

Somerset have announced the signing of former England wicketkeeper Steve Davies, that will keep him at the County Ground, Taunton until 2019.

The 30-year-old, who played for his nation five years ago, has only 13 limited-overs caps and has scored more than 10,000 first-class after starting a career at Worcestershire.

Davies said: "I have made no secret of my desire to play for England again and I hope that a new challenge, along with a return to wicketkeeping, will help kick my career on to the next level.

BREAKING: Somerset sign @SteveDavies43 on a 3 year deal!#WeAreSomerset pic.twitter.com/0rCKUvjCKt

— Somerset Cricket 🏏 (@SomersetCCC) September 15, 2016

"(Somerset) are a strong club across all formats and I hope to fully contribute in the seasons to come

"I would like to thank Surrey CCC for all their help and support over the last six years and wish them well in the future."

Somerset director of cricket Matt Maynard added: "I'm delighted we have been able to secure the signing of Steven Davies.

"He is a player of high class and will add to the considerable talent we have at Somerset. Steven still harbours ambitions of playing for England and we will all work hard to support him."

Jos Buttler could be England’s ODI captain

The wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler is reportedly set to lead the England's one-day international team for the upcoming tour of Bangladesh, with Eoin Morgan expected to withdraw from the tour for security reasons.

Should Morgan's withdrawal be confirmed, Buttler will reportedly set to take over as England’s captain for the first time in 50-over cricket.

The 26-year-old has captained England just once in a Twenty20 international against Pakistan last year.

Buttler has scored 2072 runs in 78 ODIs at an average of 38.37.

England to play three ODIs and Two test match, starting on October 7.

Complete Fixture:

October 7– First ODI (D/N), Dhaka

October 9 – Second ODI (D/N), Dhaka

October 12 – Third ODI (D/N), Chittagong

October 20-24 – First Test, Chittagong

October 28-November 1 – Second Test, Dhaka

Pakistan squad for the one-off T20I against England

The Pakistan Cricket Board have announced their 13-man squad for the one-off Twenty20 International match against England at Old Trafford on September 7.

The wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed will lead the squad, while the right-handed batsman Mohammad Rizwan has earned a recall after missing out on the World T20 earlier this year.

Two uncapped players in the sharp of Babar Azam and Ammad Butt could make their T20I debuts in Manchester, while the pacer Sohail Tanvir returns to the squad for the first time since November 2015.

The opener batsman Ahmed Shehzad and the middle-order batsman Umar Akmal, who were part of the squad in the World Twenty20 were also not selected.

Pakistan T20I squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Khalid Latif, Sharjeel Khan, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Mohammad Nawaz, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Irfan, Sohail Tanvir, Ammad Butt.