PNN
New Delhi [India], July 2: Cricket may be one of the world's most loved sports, but in the U.S., it has long struggled to move beyond immigrant backyards and local leagues. While the arrival of Major League Cricket (MLC) and the World Cup success of the U.S. national team is promising, one key element remains missing -- a structured, sustainable feeder system for young talent.
That's exactly the gap Cricmax Connect, founded by Vinay Bhimjiani (former CEO of USA Cricket), is working to fill.
Cricmax Connect and the Youth Cricket Development Board are delivering the only Olympic-aligned cricket development platform in Los Angeles, through an exclusive partnership with the City of Los Angeles and the Play LA Program, a joint initiative with the LA Olympics committee. The initiative has already reached over 10,000 youth in Los Angeles through PlayLA Summer Camps, and is rapidly expanding into New York, New Jersey, Florida, and Chicago.
And at its core lies a mission far bigger than sport -- it's about building identity, a community, and an opportunity.
Closing the "Missing Middle"
"In India, you have pathways like the Ranji Trophy, school and district tournaments that feed into national selection. In the U.S., we've never had that," says Vinay Bhimjiani, Founder & CEO, Cricmax Connect. "What we have are commercial academies developing individual talent in silos. What's missing is the middle -- a national, schools, parks and communities-supported structure that connects grassroots participation to higher-level competition. That's what Cricmax Connect is building."
Cricmax Connect was launched with this very purpose: to create a new, tech-enabled youth cricket ecosystem that is scalable, inclusive, and rooted in community-level engagement. The platform integrates grassroots learning with structured programming, bridging the gap between raw interest and real opportunity.
A Bridge for the Next Generation
The timing couldn't be more critical. With cricket returning to the Olympics, the sport has a global spotlight, and the U.S. is being seen as the next frontier. But as media and investors' interest grow, youth development must keep pace.
"Cricket can be a bridge -- especially for South Asian diaspora youth in America," Bhimjiani adds."So many kids grow up disconnected from their heritage. Cricket gives them pride, purpose, and belonging. But we also want to make it appealing beyond that -- for any child in any zip code."
Cricmax Connect is already working with schools, parks, and city-run camps to embed cricket into youth programming, and has built a curriculum that focuses not just on skills, but also character, confidence, and culture.
Celebrating the Movement
This August, Cricmax Connect will take its message to one of the world's most iconic locations. On August 15, 2025, it will host a Cricket Showcase at Times Square, celebrating India's Independence Day while spotlighting youth engagement and cricket's growing footprint in the U.S. That same day, the Empire State Building will light up, symbolising how the sport is illuminating a new cultural and athletic chapter in America.
Just two days later, on August 17, Cricmax Connect will also feature prominently at the Park Avenue India Day Parade -- engaging communities and showing how cricket is becoming part of the American mainstream.
Building the Infrastructure, Not Just the Hype
"For years, we've seen cricket thrive in pockets across the country, but that's not enough," says Atul Rai, Chairman of the Youth Cricket Development Board, which partners with Cricmax Connect on this initiative."We need a unifying ecosystem -- a real feeder structure. Our goal is to take the sport into schools, public rec centres, and provide scholarship programs -- so a kid playing cricket has the same opportunity as one playing football or soccer."
The ambition doesn't stop at participation. Cricmax Connect's roadmap includes scholarship-linked programming, league development, and potential entry into NCAA-level conversations. The dream? A future where cricket is a mainstream youth sport, complete with pathways to college, professional play, and Olympic representation.
The Future Needs to be Structured, Scalable, and Now
With tech giants like Google and Microsoft investing in U.S. cricket, and with media exposure from MLC on the rise, the momentum is undeniable. But growth needs structure for longevity.
Cricmax Connect is ensuring that America doesn't just play cricket -- it builds an ecosystem where the game can thrive.
"We're not here for a moment," Bhimjiani says. "We're building a movement -- one city, one school, one park, one player at a time."
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