Caribbean series hopes to crack US market with T20 foray

By Andrew Both

(Reuters) - Chris Gayle and Shane Watson need no introductions in cricket-playing countries but while they are unlikely to become household names in the U.S. anytime soon they could help raise the sport's profile in a Twenty20 series in Florida this week.

The games are part of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), a six-week long competition featuring six franchises from around the region. Six games are scheduled over four days at the Broward Stadium in suburban Fort Lauderdale.

While cracking the U.S. sporting marketplace is a tough ask for cricket, the Twenty20 format is likely to be the most appealing to potential U.S. fans thanks to explosive batting and a relatively quick game time of around three hours.

The owners of the CPL hope eventually to add a couple of North American franchises to the series but right now they are focused more on making sure this week's matches are successful.

The Broward Stadium is the only ground in the United States that meets international cricket specifications, and organisers say they have invested about $1.4 million to bring it up to standard including tweaking the floodlights to point at the pitch and erecting big video screens.

They have also brought in experts to ensure the pitch is batting friendly and conducive to high scores.

"The Caribbean is a very small market, so we've always had to be creative and innovative, and we see the U.S. as a long term play, not a hit-and-run visit," CPL Chief Executive Damien O'Donohoe told Reuters.

The schedule will see night matches on Thursday and Friday, with two matches each on Saturday and Sunday beginning at noon to accommodate primetime live television coverage in India.

Organisers said the weekend games are almost sold out, with average crowds of nearly 10,000 expected.

"We want to get it right, and pack the stadium for the six games to see many of the best players in the world," O'Donohoe said.

In addition to Jamaican Gayle and Australian Watson, the games will feature several other big names such as Kieron Pollard (Trinidad), Brendan McCullum (New Zealand) and Umar Akmal (Pakistan).

SCHEDULE

July 28 – Guyana Amazon Warriors v Barbados Tridents (2300 GMT/7pm ET)

July 29 – St Kitts & Nevis Patriots v Trinbago Knight Riders (7pm ET)

July 30 – St. Lucia Zouks v Jamaica Tallawahs (noon ET);

Barbados Tridents v Guyana Amazon Warriors (4 pm ET)

July 31 - Trinbago Knight Riders v St Kitts & Nevis Patriots (noon ET); Jamaica Tallawahs v St. Lucia Zouks (4 pm ET)

(Editing by Peter Rutherford)