National Cricket League Appoints Haroon Lorgat as Commissioner in US

By Caroline Chepkorir

Former first-class cricketer Haroon Lorgat is one of the most respected cricket administrators. He was the CEO of the International Cricket Council from 2008 to 2012. In an effort to raise awareness of cricket in the United States, the National Cricket League of America appointed Haroon Lorgat as its commissioner.

During his time as CEO of the ICC, Lorgat oversaw three ICC World Cups and also made significant contributions to the implementation of decision review systems and expanding the reach of the sport to partner countries. Under his leadership, the NCL will host a new 60-ball cricket format, the Sixty Strikes Tournament. The format has been approved by the ICC. The tournament will be held at the University of Dallas from October 4-14.

Lorgat expressed his pleasure in being appointed commissioner, emphasizing the league’s commitment to sustainability and global reach as part of its strategy to rebuild American sports for future generations.

“I am privileged to take on this role at such a transformative moment in the National Cricket League,” Lorgat said in a statement. “Cricket is a sport that has the power to inspire new players and connect fans across the United States. We are bringing something fresh, and with our focus on sustainability and global reach, we are laying the groundwork to reshape American sports for generations to come.”

He was consulted by Sri Lankan cricket and the Pakistan Cricket Board and helped design the Pakistan Super League. As CEO of Cricket South Africa, Lorgat restored its reputation, winning the SA Sports Industry Business Leadership Award in 2016. In 2020, he was part of T10 Sports Management to promote the T10 format globally.

NCL chairman Arun Agarwal praised Lorgat’s inspirational leadership and recognised the league’s international significance. He also announced a strategic partnership with Dubai-based SEE Holdings, a pioneer in innovation and sustainability.

The NCL has attracted some of the world’s best cricket talent. Some of the standout talents include Shahid Afridi, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Karthik, Shakib Al Hasan and Chris Lynn. Mentors and coaches will be legends like Zaheer Abba and Wasim Akram.

NCL has also partnered with ESPN, Pluto TV, SKY, TNT and For Sports to broadcast live coverage to global audiences. Cricket is currently one of the most watched sports in the world.