Business Buzz

Don't be surprised if cricket soon hops into the national spotlight. Long beloved throughout the world, this British game is enjoying growing popularity here in the States.

"Over the last five years, I've seen increasing interest [in cricket] within the mainstream American community," confirms Max Shaukat, president of the World Cricket League (WCL) in New York City.

Shaukat, whose WCL plans to launch the first professional North American cricket league this year, credits greater TV exposure as a key factor in getting the ball rolling. Perhaps even more important: Immigrants from cricket-playing regions like India, Australia and the Caribbean are bringing their passion for cricket with them.

"There are people from many cricket-playing countries who have been here for years," says Manisha Achaibar of U.S. Cricketer, a magazine sporting a circulation jump from 2,000 to more than 10,000 in less than three years.

Cricket, anyone?

This article was originally published in the February 1996 print edition of Entrepreneur with the headline: Business Buzz.