Anurag Thakur says BCCI is keen to tap US market for cricket

Keeping in mind the response from fans in US for the recently held T20I series between India and West Indies at Florida, the BCCI is expected to think over a long-term plan to tap the US market for cricket.

"We are coming out with a five-10 years program. I will be sending a team soon to the United States to look at the potential venues where we can have international matches,” Thakur told reporters.He also termed the India-West Indies series as a ‘successful experiment’, and said that the response from fans has encouraged the BCCI to consider cricket in the US seriously."It was decided just three weeks in advance. Anyone who visited the Fort Laurderdale matches, could see the atmosphere. It was very lively, thanks to the Indian cricket fans”, he addedPart of a contingent of Indian MPs sent to the US to meet top officials, Thakur expressed how the Indian diaspora had a major role to play in the US."I think, if you could engage more countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England and others, we have a large population in this area, but Indians have to play a very important role. Without India nothing can happen. It has to be India-centric. And we can take it to the next level,"

"We have to look at the various challenges which we could face in the region. Because it is not about just matches being played in the region, but how you can have a sustained development of cricket in this area. For us, the US and Canada are very important markets”, he added.

Last year, Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne joined hands to start the All Stars cricket tournament, an event aimed at increasing the level of the game’s interest in the US, and bringing in new fans.