ICC Americas Gives Support To USYCA

ICC Americas has made a donation of 40 plastic cricket sets, plus a number of ICC Development Program publications, to USYCA for use in its youth cricket programs. The cricket sets are destined for community cricket programs such as the Prince George's County (MD) Summer Playgrounds Program, which will be introducing cricket at 29 venues for the first time next summer.

Martin Vieira, ICC Americas Regional Development Manager, said, "It is vital to the development of the game in any country to have large numbers of children involved and USYCA does an excellent job on behalf of USACA in introducing the game to the American school population.

"ICC Americas recognizes USYCA's efforts and is prepared to assist by supplying resources such as plastic cricket sets, publications and personnel to instruct and produce new coaches at all levels," said Vieira.

"Our goal is to have a substantial increase in participants by 2015, and there is no better way than getting school children involved right across the USA. We wish USACA and USYCA much success and will continue to be partners with them in this vital project of bringing cricket to the American schoolchildren."

"USYCA is deeply honored and grateful to have the support and backing of the International Cricket Council, through ICC Americas," said USYCA President Jamie Harrison.

"We are keenly aware that our mission, and our progress in that mission, are considered to be of the highest importance to the ICC, and this expression of friendship underscores that.

"USYCA knows that it will take a marshalling of global resources to make America a cricketing nation, and we look forward to partnering with the ICC and USACA to ensure that the mission is fulfilled."