Tycoon Jayesh Patel in US Cricket Hall of Fame

BUSINESSMAN Jayesh Patel, owner of the massive Param Veers Sporting Complex in Georgia, has been inducted into the 2023 class of the American Cricket Hall of Fame.

The function took place earlier this month in Hartford, Connecticut and Patel was lavished with praise for the work he is doing to promote cricket in the Atlanta area. The real estate tycoon has constructed what is expected to become the centre of cricket in the US at Rydal, Atlanta.

He has built six cricket fields equipped with turf pitches and also a main field that is up to international standard, using his personal funds, The investment so far has been a whopping US$10 million.

Americans normally play their cricket on astro turf or hybrid turf but in order for the players’ proper development and in order for them to compete against international opposition, turf pitches are needed. Patel decided to construct 21 turf pitches spread across the six fields and this has forced tournament organisers to look in his direction. Just recently the Atlanta Open was played at his field and prior to that he hosted matches for USA Cricket in the minor league and also youth cricket.

Prior to building the fields, Patel was chairman of the Atlanta Georgia Cricket Association and his work there in developing teams did not go unnoticed by the Hall of Fame.

After being inducted into the Hall of Fame, he said: “I am humbled by this gesture and I want to thank everyone at the Hall. We all love cricket and we are all doing our part to build the game in this great country.

"I have gotten tremendous support from my family in achieving this goal and I look forward to contributing in an even more meaningful manner moving forward. My wife Sima and son Param have stood by my side all the while and they are the ones who have to take credit for the success achieved thus far.”

Cricket's popularity in the US has been steadily rising and will receive a boost with the 2024 ICC T20 Cricket World Cup to be jointly hosted by the US and West Indies. Matches will bowl off in Grand Prairie in Dallas, Broward County in Florida and Nassau County in New York. It will be the first time a Cricket World Cup is held in the US.

Another historic attraction to look forward is the inclusion of cricket for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Matches will held in the Twenty20 format with six teams vying for the gold medal.