UT Dallas Teams Up with National Cricket League USA for Sixty Strikes Tournament

The University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) is set to introduce cricket to a broader American audience through a partnership with the National Cricket League USA. Announced on August 12, the inaugural Sixty Strikes Tournament will take place from October 4 to October 14 and will be streamed globally, showcasing the sport's growing popularity in the U.S. Texas Governor Greg Abbott highlighted the state's recent embrace of cricket, noting that it hosted the first T20 Cricket World Cup earlier this year. The upcoming tournament will feature six teams composed of top international talent, including renowned players such as Mohammad Kaif, Sunil Narine, and Shahid Afridi. The event will also debut a new 60-ball format designed to promote aggressive play and higher scores, appealing to both cricket enthusiasts and new fans. Cricket, which shares similarities with baseball, involves teams competing to score the most runs, with unique rules such as flat bats and simultaneous batting by two players. The sport's resurgence in the U.S. coincides with its return to the Olympic Games in 2028, marking its first appearance since 1900. James Milliken, chancellor of the University of Texas system, expressed enthusiasm for the tournament, emphasizing UT Dallas's diverse international student body and its existing Comets Cricket Club. He noted that the event aligns with the growing global interest in cricket and reflects Texans' eagerness to embrace the sport.