American Premier League is just in its embryonic stages, but the enthusiasm surrounding this colonial game in the country is hard to ignore. Although, APL, a planned six-team, Twenty20 league, is yet to receive the sanctions of International Cricket Council (ICC), the cricket enthusiasts in the country are all resolved to popularize shortest format cricket among American audiences. And in its enthusiasm, American Sports and Entertainment Group Incorporated, a New York sport promotion firm has gone on a signing spree, signing both the players and the officials for the event that is scheduled for October at a minor-league baseball stadium in New York. While Richard Hadlee has already signed a three-year deal as an executive consultant to the APL, Nathan Astle is the first New Zealand player to get under APL’s payroll.

With APL already signing former international cricket stars as England’s Graeme Hick and Adam Hollioake, more former New Zealand players are likely to join the League which may prove even more lucrative than its Indian counterpart. Even Kiwi star all-rounder Jacob Oram admitted that a lucrative APL could be a possibility for him in the future.

“I could lie to you and say it's not about (money). But with the doors that have been opened in the Indian Premier League (IPL), and I'm now reading an APL, it is a chance to set yourself up. I know that is something people do not necessarily want to hear, but I am getting to the point where it's time to think about how you are placed financially, and how you will look after your family in the years to come,” a forthright Oram told a leading cricket website. The all rounder also hinted at the possibility of bidding good bye to Test cricket and prolonging his career as an all-rounder in the limited over cricket.

Although this US version of twenty-20 extravaganza is going to be something like a campaign, its organizers promise it to turn into “A Cricket Revolution in America” and “A Cricket Festival Like None Other”. Finding patron in entrepreneur Jay Mir, it is planned to kick off in a 10,000-capacity converted baseball field in Staten Island. The league is going to feature six teams--- Premium Pakistan, Premium Indians, Premium West Indies, Premium Bengalis, Premium World and Premium America.

In the meantime, the ICC and national cricket boards have warned their players against signing with the APL, as ICC has not extended its recognition to it just like it did with ICL.  The APL website indicates that APL boss Mir has his eyes fixed on those players who have an uncertain future in international cricket due to their involvement in Indian Cricket League. Jason Gillespie, the former Australian pace bowler, however wraps up the spirit of APL by saying, “It's not competing with anyone, and it’s about cricket having some recognition in America, which is great for our sport.”  

Aussie Damien Martyn, South Africans Lance Klusener and Nantie Hayward and Sri Lankan Marvan Attapatu are also among those who were confirmed to have signed deal with APL.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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