The league brings together 12 franchise teams composed of youth from around the country. Each team includes a mix of under-23, under-19, and under-16 players, creating a structure where seasoned youth athletes can help mentor younger talent while continuing to develop themselves.
Supporting aspiring athletes
As the sport started gaining popularity in the U.S., Logan said he saw an opportunity to help young athletes achieve their goals.
“Cricket is played all around the world and it's really a fun game,” Logan said. “It’s a growing sport where the players have the potential opportunity to make money as professionals.”
To support this vision, Logan is investing in infrastructure, including the new Dallas Sports Center in McKinney.
The facility is located at 3212 County Road 324, McKinney, and features indoor nets, an outdoor cricket ground with a professional-grade natural turf wicket and onsite dormitories that can house 28 players during intensive training programs.
During the school year, players have the option to live onsite and continue their education through online or homeschool programs, Logan said. Their daily schedule includes morning agility training followed by on-field practice through the early afternoon, with academic studies and additional training sessions taking place later in the day.
The goal is to give aspiring cricketers the same kind of developmental environment seen in traditional U.S. sports like baseball or football.
Led by professionals
The USJL is backed by experienced leadership, including M.S.K. Prasad, former chief selector of the Indian National Cricket Team, and Jatin Patel, a Cricket Hall of Famer and recipient of both the Lifetime Achievement Award and USA Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award.
The league is also partnering with Julian Wood, world-renowned power-hitting coach. With decades of experience in developing elite-level batsmen and redefining power hitting, his expertise is unmatched.
Their involvement signals the league’s serious commitment to quality and player development.
Save the date
To further support the growth of cricket in the U.S., USJL is sponsoring a high-stakes tournament in Houston over two separate weeks: July 15–17 and July 21–24. These are the final dates, and no other windows will be available, according to league officials.
The event features generous prize money to reward individual and team performance. Prizes include:
- 1st Place: $30,000
- 2nd Place: $15,000
- 3rd Place: $10,000
- 4th Place: $5,000
- Man of the Series: $5,000
- Best Batter, Bowler, Fielder, and Wicket Keeper: $2,500 each
From coaching to competition, the U.S. Junior League is doing more than developing players, it’s laying the groundwork for cricket’s future in America.
To learn more about the U.S. Junior League, visit the organization’s website.
The above story was produced by Multi-platform Journalist Mary Katherine Shapiro with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.
