INDIANAPOLIS, SEPT 25 : Cricket Club of Indianapolis and India Association of Indianapolis will jointly host the 2014 Midwest Cricket Championships at the World Sport Park on October 4 and 5. This will be a milestone for the Indiana cricket lovers and players to have such a big event in Indianapolis for the first time.
These finals are expected to show case some top notch talented cricket players from local area as MCT All Star team have already qualified to compete in 2014 ACF National Tournament in Orlando during October 10 to 12 weekend.
So, far seven teams from Indiana tried to compete in MCT during last 17 years, with exception of IU Blooming Cricket Club (only competed in 2002 and failed to make it to play offs) all other six teams have reached at least semifinal.
Fort Wayne CC (1997-2002) – 2000 Finalist & 2001 Semi Finalist, was the first team to compete in MCT. Followed by Columbus Indiana Cricket Club, IU University & Purdue University all entered MCT in 2001 season.
Indiana Teams have won three championships
2002 Indianapolis based Bouncer XI (2002-2003) – Captain, Jatin Patel 2007 Purdue University CC (2001 – 2010) – Captain, Vijay Parmeshwaran 2012 Columbus Indiana Cricket Club (since 2001) – Captain, Abishek Muralidharan) & 2011 Finalist.
During 2013 Cricket Club of Indianapolis (since 2010 & Columbus Indiana Cricket Club – 2 (since 2012) both reached semi finals & failed to reach finals.
With current season is winding down with ongoing play offs. Both teams from Columbus Indiana recently played quarterfinals and CICC one all ready booked their spot to play semi-final this weekend.
CICC are the only team from Indiana to reach MCT semi-finals three times. First two times they end up playing finals with one championship on their second visit to the finals
Midwest Cricket Tournament is Columbus, Ohio based tournament mainly involves teams from Ohio and surrounding states (does not include teams from Illinois and Michigan) was established during 1997 by James Persaud (From Guyana) with 24 teams in very first season. MCT was running by volunteers and was independent tournament till 2014 season, when new administration lead by President Hammd Bokhari joined American Cricket Federation.
Since 1997 MCT finals where always played in Columbus, Ohio and now first time tournament finals will be held at World Sport Park, Indianapolis.
The newly developed cricket ground and World Sport Park, Indianapolis, was originally slated for USACA National Tournament for 2014-2016 seasons. However, citing various reasons, City of Indianapolis terminated the Use and Licence Agreement executed on September 25, 2013 with the United States of America Cricket Association (USACA), in May this year.