American Premier League
Current season, competition or edition: 2024 American Premier League | |
Sport | Cricket |
---|---|
Founded | 2009 |
First season | 2021 |
Owner(s) | Merit Sports Group |
Motto | A Cricket Revolution |
No. of teams | 7 |
Country | United States |
Most recent champion(s) | Premium Afghans (2023) |
Most titles | 1 |
TV partner(s) | Sports 18 |
Tournament format | T20 |
Official website | americanpremiereleague |
The American Premier League (APL) is a professional Twenty20 cricket league based in the United States.[1] The first league was scheduled to take place between 6 October and 24 October 2009, which was later postponed.[2] The management revamped the brand in 2020 and went through the official launch during the spring of 2021. The teams were named after cricket spectators spread across the United States (Indians, Paks, Windies, Afghans, Aussies, Canadians, and Americans).[3]
History
[edit]In 2009 APL announced an imminent three-year deal with minor league club the Staten Island Yankees who own the venue. The league had planned to play twice a year at baseball's Richmond County Bank Ballpark. Besides renowned staff and players, six teams were expected to take part in the first event: Premium Pakistan, Premium India, Premium Bengal, Premium West Indies, Premium World and Premium America, but the event did not materialise.[4][5]
In 2009 the ICC announced support for the creation of a Twenty20 cricket competition in the US to compete against the APL, and in December 2010 the board of the United States of America Cricket Association that it had signed a $10 million deal with New Zealand Cricket and other investors as stakeholders, creating a new body called Cricket Holdings America to manage all commercial rights for cricket in USA, including Twenty20 rights, in perpetuity.[6]
No American Premier League matches were played in 2010. In 2011 no further matches were announced and the venture appeared defunct.
Controversy
[edit]The American Premier League established contact with the USA Cricket Association, but had not submitted a formal approval.[7] In 2009 the International Cricket Council (ICC) halt national players to participate until further release instructions and approval.[8]
Revamped
[edit]American Premier League's Inaugural season was initially scheduled for spring of 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On 15 February 2021, the CEO of APL Jay Mir signed an exclusive multi-year contract with the Minor League Baseball team New Jersey Jackals.[9] This contract was to host the American Premiere League at the Yogi Berra Stadium in Little Falls, New Jersey. On 15 March 2021, the American Premiere League was officially launched at a dinner party in Montclair, New Jersey. Following the announcement, the American Premiere League sold all seven teams to various entrepreneurs.[10][11][12][13]
Tournament format
[edit]Each team faces every other team once in the round games. The top four teams advance to the semifinals. The two winners face each other off in the finals. The inaugural season of the American Premier League had total prizes worth $200,000.[14][15]
Seasons
[edit]On 13 September 2021, the American Premier League's inaugural tournament kicked off with an opening ceremony. The tournament started on 20 September with three back-to-back matches every day.[16]
Premium Afghans emerged champions of American Premier League 2023 as they beat Premium Indians in the final of the tournament (1st January) at Moosa Stadium in Texas.
The 2nd edition of the American Premier League was held In Moosa Stadium in Texas.The tournament started on December 19th with first editions Champions Windees challenged The Americans. The second season of the American Premier League brought the cricket craze to the America. Many International and Local stars drafted for the tournament.
Some of the big names were such as, Ben Cutting, Samit Patel, Aron Jones, Sohail Tanveer, Mohammad Irfan, Usman Ghani, Akel Hussain, Rakhem Cornwal, William Perkens, Hayden Walsh, Mehran Khan, Ravi Bopara, Stephen Wiig, Gerhard Erasmus and more.
The 2024 season is scheduled to take place from December 19 to 31.[17][18][19][20][21][22][23]
Teams
[edit]Team | Debut | Owner | Captain | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Indians | 2021 | Sam Singh | S. Sreesanth | |
PAKs | 2021 | Muhammad Ali | Sohail Tanvir | |
Windies | 2021 | Michael Virk | Chris Gayle | |
Afghans | 2023 | Spetmaan Bardasht | Mohammad Nabi | |
Aussies | 2021 | Munish Soni | Ben Cutting | |
Canadians | 2023 | Rocky Walia | Navneet Dhaliwal | |
Americans | 2021 | Eraj Abidi | Dan Lawrence |
See also
[edit]- History of United States cricket
- Cricket in the United States
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cricket
- Major League Cricket
References
[edit]- ^ "Approved Cricket". USA Cricket. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
- ^ "American Premier League hits the buffers". ESPNcricinfo. 2009-07-15. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
- ^ "New Professional Cricket League Coming To Yogi Berra Stadium In New Jersey This Fall". CBS New York. 2021-07-06. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
- ^ Inzamam courted by American Premiere League Cricinfo.com, March 26, 2009
- ^ Hadlee signs with American Premier League Cricinfo.com, April 24, 2009
- ^ "USA Cricket inks historic commercial deal with New Zealand Cricket". ESPNcricinfo. 2010-12-18. Archived from the original on 2010-12-19. Retrieved 2011-04-04.
- ^ Rebel ICL players heading to American Premier League DAWN.com, 24 April 2009 Archived April 30, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ ICC warns players against joining American Premiere League Sindh Today, April 25, 2009 Archived April 30, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Report, Ela Dutt, Special (2021-06-01). ""Cricket is in my blood" say new immigrants who are expanding the game in NY and nationwide". News India Times. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "New Jersey Businessman Muhammad Ali buys the 'PAKS' franchise from American Premiere League". markets.businessinsider.com. 2021-04-13. Retrieved 2022-02-06.
- ^ "Pharmaceutical exec buys a franchise as pro cricket hits the U.S." www.bizjournals.com. 2021-06-01. Retrieved 2022-02-06.
- ^ "New Jersey Businessman, Sam Singh Buys the Highly Anticipated "INDIANS" Franchise from APL". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Archived from the original on 2021-08-27. Retrieved 2022-02-06.
- ^ "American Premiere League brings world class cricket captains to Inaugural Tournament". NewJerseyStage.com. 2021-09-20. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
- ^ Havsy, Jane (2021-08-26). "'Dream was always there:' American Premiere League trying to bring pro cricket to New Jersey". MyCentralJersey.com. Retrieved 2022-02-06.
- ^ "American cricket tournament kicks off at Yogi Berra Stadium in Little Falls". News 12 - New Jersey. 2021-09-21. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
- ^ "American Premiere League 2021: Fixtures, Time and Venue details of USA's T20 tournament". CricTracker. 2021-09-26. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
- ^ "American Premier League 2023 Captains, Full Schedule, Venues, Timings, Live Streaming". news.abplive.com. 2023-12-09. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
- ^ Release, Press (2023-11-29). "S. Sreesanth and Stuart Binny set to play 2nd edition of American Premier League (APL)". CricTracker. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
- ^ Release, Press (2023-12-02). "American Premier League set to recreate India-Pakistan rivalry in Houston during second season". CricTracker. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
- ^ Release, Press (2023-12-17). "American Premier League 2023: Where to Watch on TV & Live Streaming Details". CricTracker. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
- ^ Staff, CricTracker (2023-10-18). "American Premier League launched at New York's Times Square". CricTracker. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
- ^ "Sreesanth, Stuart Binny To Play In American Premier League T20 Tournament | Cricket News". NDTVSports.com. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
- ^ "American Premier League Alongside Universe Boss Chris Gayle and Several International Cricket Stars Announce 2023 Season Launch with An All-Star Kickoff in Times Square on Wednesday, October 11". Morningstar, Inc. 2023-10-13. Retrieved 2023-12-09.