In a Dallas gym filled with laughter and colorful jerseys, 10-year-olds are learning to play cricket—and, without realizing it, learning life skills that transcend sport.
The National Cricket League’s Youth Program, launched in partnership with Dallas ISD and UT Dallas, is among the first in the U.S. to make cricket part of after-school programming. The initiative aims to build confidence, communication, and teamwork among children from underrepresented communities.
“Cricket teaches rhythm, patience, and respect,” said Brian Lara, legendary cricket player, during a youth coaching session in 2025. “When kids play, they’re learning leadership.”
Educators agree. A 2025 study by the UT Dallas Center for Youth Development found that students enrolled in sports emphasizing strategy and cooperation—like cricket—showed a 22% improvement in team-based problem solving compared to peers in traditional PE classes.
Cricket’s multicultural roots also foster inclusion. “Students see themselves reflected in the game,” said Dr. Mariah Lee, a Dallas ISD educator overseeing the program. “It’s a tool for connection.”
“This isn’t about teaching cricket,” said Arun Agarwal, NCL Chairman. “It’s about teaching kids to dream globally.”
As cricket enters the Olympic spotlight, these grassroots efforts will define its legacy in America—not as an imported pastime, but as an inclusive movement for the next generation.
Sources: UT Dallas Center for Youth Development (2025), Dallas ISD Program Brief (Mar. 2025), NCL Press Interviews (2025).unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more
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