American Pro Cricket will begin on July 2 and will deliver a quick-fire version of the game – similar to the Twenty20 concept - with each match designed not to exceed three hours.
It launches without the support of the sport's governing body the ICC, however. Earlier this week ICC chiefs reminded all national federations that the US tournament was not an ICC-backed event and that players should not be allowed to compete.
ProCricket teams initially are being launched in eight cities nationwide, with inaugural 2004 teams to include; Chicago Tornadoes, Florida Thunder (Miami), Los Angeles Unity, New Jersey Fire (Bridgewater), New York Storm, San Francisco Freedom, Texas Arrowheads (Houston) and Washington DC Forward.
Matches will be held at minor league baseball, college football and pro-football stadiums and ballparks.
In a bid to boost its profile, organisers have signed 40 well-known names from established cricket nations to reinforce the 120 domestic players recruited.
Organisers say all matches will air on a single national TV network – the name of which is set to be unveiled soon.
Said Kal Patel, chairman and commissioner, American Pro Cricket: "We are excited to bring first class professional cricket to the vast segment of the US sports audience that has been thirsting for the game in this country.
"There are over 30,000 active top club level players playing cricket in local amateur leagues throughout the country, another 70,000 recreational weekend cricket warriors and over seven million American fans who currently follow both local US and global cricket action."
Among the well known names taking part are former India stars Nikhil Chopra, Robin Singh and Ajay Jadeja; Mervyn Dillon and Wavel Hinds, both former West Indies regulars; and England’s Andrew Caddick and Alex Stewart.
