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Now IPL-style T20 league in USA

July 17, 2009 13:42 IST

The land of baseball and basketball would soon get a taste of Twenty20 cricket with the USA Premier League taking a concrete shape towards reality.

The USA Cricket Association (USACA) has issued a Request for Proposal for the formation of USA Premier League to bring "top class international cricket to the USA and unlock the commercial potential of a massive market".

Accordingly, proposals have been invited from potential broadcasters, organisers and sponsors by August 7.

The USACA said in a statement that as per cricket is concerned, the country remains the second highest pay television earner in the world, behind India, besides being the second biggest internet cricket market.

"Cricket is a truly global sport which has been liberated by developments in the media. The success of the IPL in South Africa is evidence of that," USACA commercial advisor Nigel Rushman said in a statement.

"We are confident that, with the right partners, the USA can host a world class Premier League which will fill grounds and attract massive television and online audiences. That is good news for the future of the sport in the USA and the growth of cricket worldwide," he added.

Earlier, the proposal of a privately run American Premier League (APL) was shot down after the unofficial league failed to get ICC approval.

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