American Premiere League

Last updated
American Premier League (APL)
Most recent season or competition:
2021
Sport Cricket
Founded2009
Inaugural season2021
Owner(s)Jay Mir
No. of teams7
CountryUnited States
Most recent
champion(s)
Premium Windees
(2021)
Most titles1
Tournament format T20
Official website americanpremiereleague.us

The American Premiere League (APL) is a Twenty20 cricket league based in the United States. [1] The first league was scheduled to take place between 6 October and 24 October 2009, which was later postponed. [2] The management revamped the brand in 2020 and went through the official launch during the spring of 2021. The teams were named after cricket spectators spread across the United States i.e. Indians, Paks, Windies, Bengalees, Aussies, English, and Americans. [3]

Contents

History

In 2009 APL announced an imminent three-year deal with minor league club the Staten Island Yankees who own the venue. The league had planned to play twice a year at baseball's Richmond County Bank Ballpark. Besides renowned staff and players, six teams were expected to take part in the first event: Premium Pakistan, Premium India, Premium Bengal, Premium West Indies, Premium World and Premium America, but the event did not materialise. [4] [5]

In 2009 the ICC announced support for the creation of a Twenty20 cricket competition in the US to compete against the APL, and in December 2010 the board of the United States of America Cricket Association that it had signed a $10 million deal with New Zealand Cricket and other investors as stakeholders, creating a new body called Cricket Holdings America to manage all commercial rights for cricket in USA, including Twenty20 rights, in perpetuity. [6]

No American Premiere League matches were played in 2010. In 2011 no further matches were announced and the venture appeared defunct.

Controversy

The American Premiere League established contact with the USA Cricket Association but had not submitted a formal approval. [7] In 2009 the International Cricket Council (ICC) halt national players to participate until further release instructions and approval. [8]

Revamped

American Premiere League's Inaugural season was initially scheduled for Spring of 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On 15 February 2021, the CEO of APL, Jay Mir, signed an exclusive multi-year contract with the Minor League Baseball team, The Jersey Jackals. [9] This contract was to host the American Premiere League at the Yogi Berra Stadium in Little Falls, New Jersey. On 15 March 2021, the American Premiere League was officially launched at a dinner party in Montclair, New Jersey. Following the announcement, the American Premiere League sold all seven teams to various entrepreneurs. [10] [11] [12] [13]

Tournament Format

Each team faces every other team once in the round games. The top four teams, with the most points, advance to the semifinals. The two winners will face each other off in the finals. The inaugural season of the American Premiere League had total prizes worth $200,000. [14] [15]

Seasons

On 13 September 2021, American Premiere League's Inaugural Tournament kicked off with an opening ceremony. The tournament started on 20 September with three back-to-back matches every day. [16]

Teams

TeamDebutOwnerCaptain
Indians2021Sam SinghKeval Patel
PAKs2021Muhammad Ali Rizwan Cheema
Windies2021Michael Virk Chadwick Walton
Bengalees2021RaniBaizid Siddiqui
Aussies2021Munish Soni TBD
English2021Victoria MorganJames Atkins
Americans2021Eraj Abidi Azurdeen Mohammed

See also

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References

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  2. "American Premier League hits the buffers". ESPNcricinfo. 2009-07-15. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  3. "New Professional Cricket League Coming To Yogi Berra Stadium In New Jersey This Fall". CBS New York. 2021-07-06. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
  4. Inzamam courted by American Premiere League Cricinfo.com, March 26, 2009
  5. Hadlee signs with American Premier League Cricinfo.com, April 24, 2009
  6. "USA Cricket inks historic commercial deal with New Zealand Cricket". ESPNcricinfo . 2010-12-18. Archived from the original on 2010-12-19. Retrieved 2011-04-04.
  7. Rebel ICL players heading to American Premier League DAWN.com, 24 April 2009 Archived April 30, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ICC warns players against joining American Premiere League Sindh Today, April 25, 2009 Archived April 30, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
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  11. "Pharmaceutical exec buys a franchise as pro cricket hits the U.S." www.bizjournals.com. 2021-06-01. Retrieved 2022-02-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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