From a spark of inspiration to a room full of cricket legends — the San Francisco Unicorns Cricket Impact Lunch presented by Qualys was something special.
I still remember when Liam Plunkett first came to the U.S. — I was excited, and I’ve tried to support everything he’s done ever since. So when he told me he was connecting with Adam Hall and the team at AMHC to form the Cricket Impact Group, I was instantly curious and optimistic about what they were building.
That spark became something bigger.
This week’s Cricket Impact Lunch — hosted by the San Francisco Unicorns and the Cricket Impact Group — was one of the most energizing and meaningful cricket gatherings I’ve ever been a part of.
Cricket icons in the room
The guest list read like a cricket fan’s dream:
- Shane Watson (always insightful and passionate)
- Murali Kartik and Anil Kumble (the ultimate cricketing minds)
- Sir Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh (West Indies royalty — and hilarious too)
- And the legendary Adam Gilchrist, also in attendance
While we’ve featured or collaborated with almost all of them before on Cricexec, having them all in one room at the same time — sharing stories, ideas, and vision — was another kind of special.
The Unicorns’ global-local blueprint
It’s impossible to talk about the magic of the event without recognizing the team behind the San Francisco Unicorns. Co-owners Venky Harinarayan and Anand Rajaraman, along with CEO David White, have built something real in
They’ve also fostered a powerful partnership with Cricket Victoria, led by Nick Cummins, someone I’ve admired and been in touch with over the years. This global-local model — with roots in Melbourne and branches in Silicon Valley — is what makes the Unicorns truly unique.
Local champions of women’s cricket
A special highlight of the lunch was the presence of Sindhu Sriharsha and Uzma Iftikhar, co-founders of Aspire Cricket. Both former U.S. National Team players, they’ve emerged as leading voices in the grassroots women’s cricket movement and are official partners of the Unicorns.
Their energy, vision, and impact were deeply felt in the room — and point to an inclusive future for the game in America.
Silicon Valley is waking up to cricket
From conversations I had at the event to the broader energy around it, one thing became crystal clear: Bay Area investors, tech leaders, and entrepreneurs are beginning to take cricket seriously.
Major sponsors like:
- 💼 Qualys and its CEO Sumedh Thakar, a passionate supporter of the Unicorns and of cricket in the U.S.
- 💼 Arrcus and CEO Shekar Ayyar, a key figure helping bridge the worlds of enterprise technology and sport
- 🏢 And other institutional supporters like ServiceNow and Indiaspora
…are showing that cricket’s future in the U.S. may very well run through the innovation capital of the world.
A convergence of generations, geographies, and visions
I had the privilege of emceeing the event and moderating the on-stage dialogues. It was surreal to guide t
But more than anything, this wasn’t just a lunch. It was a moment of convergence:
- Legends and newcomers
- Grassroots leaders and global stars
- Tech founders and cricket traditionalists
- Local voices and international investors
All united by a shared belief: that cricket has a real and growing future in America.
And maybe even more than that — that cricket can be a community-builder, a unifier, a movement.
To everyone who made it possible, who showed up, who brought ideas and energy — thank you.
Let’s keep building. 🏏🇺🇸
— Zee Zaidi
