The PennZone

EXTON, Pa. - PennZone -- After a span of 177 years, international cricket in Philadelphia is all set for a big bang revival with the launch of The Philadelphians, a franchise that will strive to claim the inaugural Minor Cricket League championship organized by USA Cricket, the governing body for the sport of cricket in the United States of America.

The championship will feature 27 teams in over 200 Twenty20 games played across 21 cities – the biggest ever cricket tournament to ever take place in the country, till date. The Philadelphians will have to top the table in the Eastern division to have a fair shot at winning the trophy.

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"Philadelphia has always played a big part in popularizing cricket in America. Many Philadelphians played for the USA in the first ever international cricket match played way back in 1844. The Minor Cricket League offered us a chance to reclaim the legacy and so when we got the opportunity, we grabbed it with both hands and bid for the franchise.

The Philadelphians will take part in this landmark event primarily to lay the foundation for the sport again and to rekindle interest through the exciting format of Twenty20. Our aim will be to build a team that would instill the winning spirit and camaraderie among our players and fans alike," says Jaisri Chety, a co-owner of the franchise.

The tournament begins on July 31 and the grand finale will be on September 19.  The Philadelphians start their campaign against the Atlanta Fires on August 1.