T20 World Cup: For Parents in USA, Cricket Is Connecting Kids to Their Roots

In America, cricket is reconnecting the 'gen next' of South Asian expats to their roots in India and Pakistan.

T20 World Cup 2024: An ode to the cricket crazy fans of the USA

(Photo: The Quint)

Often hailed as a religion in the subcontinent, cricket owes much of its global popularity and enduring appeal to its passionate fans. The undying loyalty of fans and their unwavering chants, cheers and support – even in hopeless situations – lend a special allure to the game. 

With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 being hosted for the first time in the USA, many of these fans are vocal and visible in large numbers at venues where teams are playing a sport that has few takers among native Americans. However, the expatriates from South Asia, who have kept their love and commitment for cricket alive even when playing or watching their favourite sport is a tough task in the USA, are thronging to the cities hosting World Cup matches with ever-increasing enthusiasm. 

In covering the tournament over the past two weeks from the USA, The Quint bumped into a range of really interesting, colourful and dedicated fans. For most South Asian fans in America, it is a terrific time to enjoy their cherished game and kindle the ‘joy of cricket’ in the next generation.

Waqar, the Pakistan-Born New York Resident, Who Has Built a Pitch for His Son

Among the most fascinating fans we met is Waqar, who migrated from Pakistan in 2003. Hailing from Peshawar, Waqar was crazy about cricket and loved to play the game whenever he got a chance in his childhood, be it in the Pakistani galis or the grounds.

Despite living in the USA for 21 years, Waqar's love for cricket remains undiminished. Thrilled that international cricket is being played in New York, a dream he never thought possible when he first moved to the USA, Waqar drives two hours from his home in New Jersey to witness the matches. 

I love cricket and have always stayed connected. I've played the sport since I was a kid and I still play in local leagues. Moreover, I watch all the matches, have all subscriptions, and even watch IPL games despite being Pakistani.

Waqar

His dedication extends to his backyard, where Waqar has created a pitch to train his son. Running the risk of irking his Pakistani family and friends, Waqar proudly admires Virat Kohli.

I would like my son to take up cricket. If someone like Jasdeep Singh, who used to play with us, can grow up in the US and take Babar Azam's wicket one day, I would love my son to do the same. 

Waqar

Waqar also creates cricket videos on YouTube. Before the T20 World Cup, he became a window to the world by showcasing the construction of the new Nassau Stadium.

I made videos because of my passion, but when I learned that the World Cup was happening close to me, I thought of capturing the construction process. Many people from around the world messaged me, saying it was their window to see the new stadium being built. A member of the BCCI even told me they saw my video to assess the pitch and ground conditions.

Waqar

Canada’s Indian Origin Parents Want Their Kids To Play for the Maple Leafers

Like Waqar, we met plenty of ardent fans who came from places like Toronto, Atlanta and Los Angeles, covering long distances. At an Indian eatery called the Punjabi Dhaba, we had a warm interaction with a group of Indian-origin Canadians who drove for over ten hours to come and watch the World Cup games in New York. Keen to catch a glimpse of their favourite cricketers in real life, each member of the group was thrilled to watch a World Cup game and they asserted in unison that “we don’t mind any travel. The long hours were worth it.”

Even the young kids in the group seemed more than delighted as they discussed different players excitedly. While one kid remarked, “I love Hardik”, the other asserted “I love Bumrah”, and whilst imitating the style of the pace ace, he continued: “We want to grow up to be international cricketers and play for Canada.” 

Besides the kids' excitement, the adults in the Canadian group also had an important message for all parents. Speaking about his family’s penury in the initial years after they migrated, Nishad from Toronto had a heartfelt message to share when he revealed:

When I was a kid, my father couldn't afford to take me to see Michael Jordan's games as we did not have the financial means. Now when my kid said he wanted to see Virat Kohli play, I just couldn't refuse. I want our kids to be inspired and take up cricket which I hope will become as big in America as in Asia.

Nishad

When Cricket Is a Way of Connecting the Next Generations to Their Roots

The India-Pakistan showdown was, of course, the high point of the games in New York. When we reached the stadium, we felt as though we had entered a carnival. There were chanting, laughing, and dancing that added a festive flavour and countless fans were waving flags of the two nations all over the Nassau stadium.

In effect, fans were creating an electrifying atmosphere that had to be seen to be believed. Though the India-Pakistan rivalry is iconic and the clash this time was also an intense thriller, what was encouraging was that there was no sign of bitterness, unlike matches in the subcontinent, which often leads to public display of anger, predominantly at the expense of TV sets. Instead, even as they cheered for their respective teams, the camaraderie between Indian and Pakistani fans was most heartening!

Most strikingly, the majority of fans flocking to the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium confirmed that they had brought in their kids to introduce them to an integral part of their legacy. Almost every second Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi fan that we met over the past fortnight confessed that they were keen to introduce cricket to their children, who, having grown up in the USA, had till then mostly indulged in baseball and basketball. In a way, the parents are hoping that they will bond with the roots in their home countries where cricket is a vital part of the socio-cultural fabric.

Parallels can be drawn with the story of Sachin Tendulkar’s brother, Ajit Tendulkar. While he couldn't play the game himself, Ajit inspired Sachin to become a cricket legend. Many of those gathering in New York are keen to pass on cricket as a legacy to their kids.