INDIANAPOLIS: Sri Lanka has assured the USA Global Cricket Academy to organize cricket tournaments both in Sri Lanka and USA. This assurance was given by Sri Lanka Minister of Sports Dayasiri Jayasekera in a communication to USA Global Cricket Academy.

Expressing his pleasure on forthcoming 2015-16 tour of USA Global Cricket Academy of Sri Lanka, Mr Dayasiri Jayasekera said Sri Lanka can help with expertise knowledge of Sri Lankan coaches and trainers. "Elite players can be served as sports ambassadors in USA."

The 2015-16 Global Cricket Academy's Tour in Sri Lanka is an opportunity to expand cordial relations among two nations' cricket authorities and players. The Sri Lanka Sports Minister said "good luck for your future endeavors."

In the letter Mr Jayasekera acknowledged that cricket was played in America since 1709. The first documented competition occurred in 1751 in Manhattan. Cricket was played in 125 cities in 22 states. Roughly 500 officially established clubs existed and it is probable that in 1860 there were 10,000 boys and men in USA who had actively played the sports in for at least a session.

The Sri Lanka Sports Minister admitted that cricket in USA is not as popular as baseball and is not a popular among as large in fraction of the population as it is within either the Commonwealth nations or the other International Cricket Council full member nations. USA was admitted to the ICC in 1965 as an associate members and the sport grew in popularity in the second half of the 20th century. One of the main reasons for the growing popularity of cricket is growing population of immigrants to the US who come from cricket playing nations.

Meanwhile, the United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) is under suspension and ICC Americas is looking after the interest of American cricketers.