Globalization of Cricket: How Close We Are to the Destination?

The Subcontinent has some crazy cricket nations, such as Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. Besides, there is strong participation from Oceanian nations though engagement from other Asian or European countries is not encouraging!

However, recently, we have seen teams like Uganda, the USA, Nepal, and Canada joining international cricket, which has become very popular in their countries. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has also taken several steps to make it popular in Europe, Africa, and other regions. It is also mentionable that the game started with Test Cricket, the more extended version playing for several days; then created the One-day cricket, a one-day game, and finally, the T20 version, the specialized format where the game can be completed within a few hours making it a game for all.    

In this article, we will explore how cricket is becoming familiar and being played in different countries worldwide and how the game is becoming globalized with the support of the ICC and mass media.

Some of the Rising Stars in the Cricket World

Few teams, like Australia, India, and England, have been doing consistently well over the decades and leading the cricket world. Besides, some countries, like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the West Indies, are struggling but have long maintained hope. There are also countries where Cricket was once so popular, but it’s like a lost memory now, such as Kenya! Zimbabwe once was so good in this game that it challenged all the stronger teams but failed to keep the momentum.

Yet, we have seen some teams playing cricket for several years and improving daily. Let’s see some of those countries:

Ireland

The first World Cup appearance was in 2007, and they played like a show-stopper after defeating Pakistan in the first round! They also defeated Bangladesh in the next round. Since then, they have participated in several significant events and posed a threat to strong teams. Recently, they were granted test status and joined the elite cricket club.

Scotland

They started it earlier. Their first World Cup appearance was in 1999 when the match against Bangladesh was close enough. Though they have yet to show much wonder, their passion for cricket is notable.

Afghanistan

The crazy cricket fans may wonder seeing this name here as Afghanistan has already listed them as an excellent cricketing nation, especially after playing the Semifinal of the T20 World Cup 2024! However, their journey is not so long as the first T20 match they played in 2010. But, the tremendous growth of cricket in this country has impressed the whole cricket world. They are everywhere; from county cricket to IPL, their players are getting the lights!

USA

They have played cricket for a long time, but their performances didn’t impress much until this T20 World Cup this year, which they co-hosted. The unbelievable Super Over thriller against Pakistan will be remembered for a long time!

Most players have different professions and migrated from other parts of the world but are playing cricket for their extreme passion. After this World Cup, the eyes will be on the USA, and they are expected to develop in Cricket, as Afghanistan did. 

Netherlands

They have also played for a long time, but their development has not been noticed as much as expected. However, they surprised in the last ODI World Cup in 2023 by defeating South Africa and Bangladesh. 

In addition to the well-established teams, Papua New Guinea, Namibia, Oman, and others have been actively involved in cricket for a significant period. While they have not yet emerged as major cricketing powers, their continued dedication and efforts show promise for the future.

Furthermore, Uganda’s impressive qualification for the T20 World Cup, including victories over teams like Zimbabwe, signifies their growing potential and deserves recognition.

Initiatives by ICC to Make Cricket Popular

So far, ICC has taken several steps to make people from different countries familiar with this game, keeping them informed and engaged. Some of those steps include:

1. The ICC has enhanced digital engagement by telecasting cricket matches through social media platforms like YouTube, which has increased the number of people interested in cricket. Besides, they arrange different programs to interact with cricket fans, making it a lively platform for all cricket enthusiasts.
2. In the T20 World Cup 2024, 20 teams participated, the highest number ever, enabling teams like the USA or Uganda to join the party! This also boosted the popularity of Cricket in these countries.
3. Promoting Women’s Cricket is also a great step taken by the ICC. Women’s cricket is now becoming increasingly popular in different parts, and engagement has increased massively.
4. Another exciting step was to provide T20 Status to all the associate nations, as this has recognized all the countries that aim to play cricket. 
5. The ICC has also appointed ambassadors in different countries to familiarize people with this game, its rules, etc.
6. The ICC has taken a massive step by introducing Cricket in the Olympic Games 2028. This is supposed to give the game a solid push to spread worldwide.

Some Final Thoughts

Cricket is a unique game where mental strength is needed, including proper physical fitness. One problem is that the time consumed for a game to be played is too much, especially in Test Cricket. Playing or watching for five consecutive days is difficult in this busy world. Even in the ODI format, a whole day is to be spent, which often seems unrealistic for people in highly developed countries.

However, in the case of the T20 format, the required time is much lower, and that’s why this format attracts many countries. The new teams need to get more opportunities to play comparatively stronger teams. Recently, we have seen India’s T20 champion team play a series in Zimbabwe, which is a way to help the cricket board of the hosting nation earn through cricket. These are also some ways to make cricket popular worldwide.

Every cricket lover wants to see more teams participating in cricket and the competition getting lethal; cricket promotion is essential. Let’s see how this game gets the attention and becomes a global sport.