Photo Credit: USA Cricket
- Partnership between Major League Cricket (MLC), Atlanta Cricket Fields (ACF) and Atlanta Fire established to develop Atlanta Cricket Fields as an elite national cricket facility
- The 56-acre complex features seven cricket fields and will become the second MLC National Cricket Center
- ACF will be a future host of professional domestic and international cricket matches and home of the Atlanta Fire in Minor League Cricket
Major League Cricket (“MLC”) and Atlanta Fire (“AF”) today announced an MOU to enter into a joint-venture partnership with the founders of Atlanta Cricket Fields (“ACF”) to develop the complex into one of the most extensive cricket training and playing facilities in the United States.
MLC and ACF have been collaborating on the development of the facility over the past year, which included the successful staging of an MLC Junior Championship event earlier this summer. As part of this partnership, the founders of ACF will join Major League Cricket’s investor group.
The seven-field facility in the Atlanta metropolitan region, located in Forsyth County, is one of the largest cricket complexes in the United States. ACF will become the second MLC National Cricket Center, following the founding of the MLC National Cricket Center at Prairie View Cricket Complex, located near Houston.
“Today’s announcement is another important step to establishing world-class training and playing facilities that will accelerate the rapid development of cricket across all levels in the United States,” said Sameer Mehta, Co-Founder, Major League Cricket. “Once complete, Atlanta Cricket Fields is going to positively impact all cricketers for the United States national teams preparing for international competition, who will enjoy access to elite cricketing facilities at MLC National Cricket Centers in multiple locations.”
“We would like to thank everyone involved in Major League Cricket, Atlanta Cricket Fields and Atlanta Fire for their wonderful efforts in combining to take this fantastic facility to the next level,” commented Iain Higgins, Chief Executive of USA Cricket. “The facility has great potential with the scale and quality it has already achieved and we hope to see Atlanta Cricket Fields now become one of the premier cricket facilities in the USA. USA Cricket will use the ACF as a training hub in the South Zone, and for other tournaments once the developments are complete. We also plan to work closely with our partners at MLC as the developments take place to help ensure that it will have the best chance of being accredited by the ICC to host ODI matches in the future. Our thanks to everyone involved with the project, and we look forward to seeing cricket continuing to grow in the greater Georgia region in the years ahead.”
As part of the partnership at ACF, further developments to the existing facility will include:
- The construction of new natural turf practice nets and wickets.
- Development of a high-quality indoor practice facility.
- Significant upgrades to existing cricketing facilities on the main oval to meet the ICC One Day International (ODI) Requirements.
Once complete, the project will position the MLC National Cricket Center at Atlanta Cricket Fields as an elite playing and training venue, whilst maintaining its standing as a community cricket hub for youth and recreational cricketers. It is anticipated ACF will play host to a number of elite multi-team tournaments over the next year, as well as an MLC training camp featuring MLC contracted players playing alongside some of the best amateur players in the country.
“Atlanta Cricket Fields is excited to collaborate with Major League Cricket to create the most extensive cricket training and playing facilities in the United States,” said Sumanth Yellanki, CEO, Atlanta Cricket Fields. “The entire team at Atlanta Cricket Fields has worked tirelessly since 2016 to establish the first dedicated seven-field cricket Facility in the United States. Our combined entities will focus on developing the talent and provide best-in-class infrastructure for the development of cricket across all levels in the United States.”
Photo Credit: LinkedIn profile photo of Sumanth Yellanki
Atlanta Cricket Fields will also be the home of Atlanta Fire in Minor League Cricket, a national Twenty20 cricket competition for 27 city-based teams from across the United States. The inaugural Minor League Cricket championship will take place later this summer. The participation of Atlanta Fire in Minor League Cricket will give local players the opportunity to play in the most extensive nationwide cricket competition to take place in the United States.
USA Cricket Board Member and Chair of the ACE Relations Committee, Suraj Viswanathan said. “It’s fantastic to see the hard work and efforts that have already been made at Atlanta Cricket Fields being recognized, and plans being developed to upgrade the facilities over time. We look forward to providing further support as the project develops and to hosting future USA Cricket matches and camps here in future.”
“I could not be happier to establish ACF as the home field for Atlanta Fire and our growing fan base,” said Hasan Tarek, CEO and Founder, Atlanta Fire. “This partnership comes at a pivotal time in the development of cricket in the United States and is a positive addition for our local community. Together with ACF, Atlanta Fire will continue to build the platform for cricket by fostering young talent, engaging community partners and playing exceptional cricket.”
Name of Author: USA Cricket
USA Cricket (USAC) is the governing body for cricket in the United States, overseeing the national men’s, women’s, and youth teams. It also manages Major League Cricket, the premier domestic Twenty20 competition in the U.S.
