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US invasion in cricket!

AFP, Washington
There's a wicked googly coming from the United States baseball's birthplace is making a pitch to host some 2007 Cricket World Cup matches with dreams of becoming competitive on a global level.
Using the US football formula of World Cup matches leading to a splash on the international stage, US cricket officials plan to stage three or four games as part of the West Indies hosting the world's best in 2007.
"We want to host some of the games to educate the American public on what cricket is all about," United States Cricket Association president Atul Rai told AFP. "We hope to improve the profile of the game in the United States."
But cricket's showcase event would compete for attention against National Basketball Association and National Hockey League playoffs and the start of the Major League Baseball season in April and May of 2007.
"The problem we face in this country is cricket is not as popular as baseball. You don't have multi million-dollar contracts," Rai said.
"This would be a large thing. We would like to have this on (US) network television. We want people to watch cricket and get excited about it."
The US talent pool includes about 10,000 weekend players in regional clubs scattered across the country. The best took time off from studies and jobs to win the Americas title last year at a rain-marred tournament in Argentina.
"They are playing for passion and pride," Rai said. "They sacrifice time and money. We're not able to pay salaries. They have to get time off work or school. It's hard. But they do it. That's how we won the Americas."
That's not how the US team will achieve the dream of qualifying for the 2007 World Cup. Doing that will require some financial help for training and development from the International Cricket Council (ICC).
"We're very hopeful," Rai said. "All indications are the ICC is willing to help us logistically and financially. They give us encouragement. They want to see the US in the World Cup."
The US Cricket Association will host Ireland, Denmark, Nepal, Uganda and Bermuda in September in Los Angeles with top teams qualifying for the 2005 ICC Trophy in Ireland that will determine qualifiers for the 2007 World Cup.
US players also hope to defend the Americas crown next year in Bermuda and host the 2006 Americas event and some top touring teams as tune-ups for 2007 matches in Los Angeles, Florida and Dallas or Houston.
"They are the prime locations," Rai said. "It's a matter of having a field dedicated to cricket. You must have a good playing surface."
Orlando's largest theme park has hosted cricket at its sports complex, but Disney World's only "Cricket" in 2007 figures to be Pinocchio's pal Jiminy after a conference last year on growing US cricket became a noshow bust.
"It's an unlikely option," Rai said. "Disney drives a hard bargain. They want you to fill their rooms and they want guarantees. They want a lot."
With only about 200 US wickets, some on artificial turf, and US teams going to train at Caribbean resorts, there is a long way to climb.
"We would like to see something more permanent," Rai said. "That's part of the project we have to work on putting the US team through training sessions and tours so they can be ready to compete at the highest level.
"There is work to be done, but it's doable."