The Boldest Cricket Idea I’ve Had: A Champions League in the U.S.

By Ashik Lama Founder & CEO, iCaptain

Ashik Lama is a cricket operations expert with over a decade of experience in managing international franchise teams and steering management decision making for elite leagues & teams.

As founder & CEO of iCaptain, he works in building a comprehensive sports‑tech ecosystem that bridges gaps across schedules, contracts, logistics, scoring, and sports businesses development.

Right now, something remarkable is happening in the United States.

As I write this, Major League Baseball (MLB) is in full swing. This is America’s timeless pastime. Incredibly, Major League Cricket (MLC) is also happening, slowly engraving its name into America’s calendar.

Two Major Leagues, baseball and cricket, competing, coexisting, and in many cases, even sharing stadiums.

Let’s zoom out. The United States has always been built for sporting extravaganzas. We’re the home of the Super Bowl, the World Series, March Madness, the NBA Finals, and soon, the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. The hunger, the appetite, the raring desire to witness sporting spectacle has always been there and it’s increasing more than ever before.

This is a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a legendary crossover. Hear me out: Cricket x Baseball. Leading to a new Champions League for top, tier 1 franchises in the world.

The Baseball-Cricket Crossover

What makes this even more fascinating is how baseball and cricket are slowly starting to borrow from one another, not just in terms of venue, but audience.

Baseball fans are curious about cricket’s flair, its global stars, its colorful leagues.

Cricket fans are noticing the tight, fast-paced strategy that baseball offers. Both sports operate on similar principles: bat meets ball, field placements matter, strategy is king. For the casual observer, it’s not a hard leap.

In fact, many of the stadiums being used for MLC today are modified baseball grounds. Minor League Baseball stadiums have become homes to MLC franchises. That’s not an accident, it’s on purposes, and its proof that the physical footprint of American sports already supports cricket’s growth.

But I believe this is just the tip of the iceberg.

The Big Idea: A Champions League for Cricket In America

Here’s the thought that’s been living rent-free in my head for the past couple of years.

Why not host global franchise cricket’s version of a Champions League right here in the United States?

Think about it!

• The Top 3 from Every League: IPL. BBL. SA20. ILT20. PSL. The best of the best from Tier 1 franchise cricket, all in one competition.

• Neutral Ground: No home advantage. No political roadblocks. Just pure competition on a neutral American stage.

• Optimal Calendar Window: Pick a window that doesn’t interfere with national boards or domestic leagues and perhaps a late summer slot before international cricket heats up.

• Massive Audience Access: The U.S. already ranks #2 globally in cricket streaming viewership, even without a major league of its own. The South Asian, Caribbean, Australian, British, and African diasporas here create an audience that’s hungry for this.

• Infrastructure Ready: Stadiums, hotels, logistics, this isn’t a country where you need to build from scratch. We’re already hosting global events from Formula 1 to the World Cup to the Olympics.

• Cross-Sport Synergy: MLB stadiums sitting idle for parts of the year could easily be converted into world-class cricket venues. The two sports can fuel each other, not fight for space.

America understands entertainment at scale, as history also suggests. We can tell stories, create a brand, and give cricket and the USA a chance to become the global phenomenon it so truly deserves.

A tournament like this wouldn’t just serve as an “off-season showcase” but it could become cricket’s first truly global club competition. An annual pilgrimage where fans and players from around the world descend on America to watch the absolute best fight for global franchise supremacy.

Here’s why iCaptain cares

We believe in every sport business out there thriving to its fullest potential. Because it can be done. We’re doing this by introducing technology for teams, boards and academies that not only make operations smoother, but also make individuals industry experts by providing the right platform and tools.

More specifically, here’s why we care:

• The USA can become a major sporting hub, creating an ecosystem of various sporting infrastructure merged into one.

• Once players fly in, fans are aware, and it becomes tradition - small businesses, academies and the youth will activate themselves into another level.

• A global stage improves talent discovery. Young players get visibility, while scouts, franchises, and academies gain access to a truly international talent pool.

I won’t ask you if it can be done. I know it can be. I’ve seen how cricket needs a concrete structure, calendar, a spot to bring it all together. It will take years, but it can be done. We’re on the road to do it.

Let’s join in. Send me a DM, I’m eager to sit and chat with you. If you know someone who’d be interesting in having a dialogue in this topic, please share with them.

Ashik Lama
Founder & CEO, iCaptain