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Cricket in the U.S.: Alive and growing Despite the sport being a puzzlement to most Americans, cricket has its hotbeds in certain parts of the country. In the Washington area, there are two cricket leagues that field more than 2,000 players.
The Washington Tigers gather before taking the field during the season-opening cricket match against a team from the Embassy of Pakistan in Hyattsville.
Doug Kapustin
/
For The Washington Post
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Washington Tigers bowler Daniel Ahmed delivers the ball to an awaiting batsman. In cricket, the bowler and batsman are 22 yards apart, roughly the same length as in baseball.
Doug Kapustin
/
For The Washington Post
Tigers team captain Imran Awan clutches a bat while yelling encouragement to his team. Unlike a baseball bat, a cricket bat is flat. Also unlike baseball, there is no foul territory on a cricket oval and the batter does not have to run if he hits the ball.
Doug Kapustin
/
For The Washington Post
Washington Tigers bowler Ahmad Bhatti leaves his feet while delivering the ball to a batter from the Embassy of Pakistan team.
Doug Kapustin
/
For The Washington Post
The Tigers wicketkeeper keeps his eye on the ball as a batsman from the Embassy of Pakistan swings and misses during a Washington Cricket League match in Hyattsville in April. Washington won by 76 runs.
Doug Kapustin
/
For The Washington Post
Tigers fielder Daniel Ahmed just misses making a catch of a well hit ball in a Washington Cricket League match in Hyattsville. The WCL has been in existence since the 1970s.
Doug Kapustin
/
For The Washington Post
Players on the bench keep tally of a complicated scoring system in cricket. Like baseball, cricket counts scores in runs; unlike baseball, the runs often reach past 100 for an inning.
Doug Kapustin
/
For The Washington Post
Daniel Ahmed, middle, of the Washington Tigers is congratulated by teammates after bowling out a batsman from the Embassy of Pakistan team. The Tigers won the Washington Cricket League match by 76 runs.
Doug Kapustin
/
For The Washington Post
Batsman Junaid Rasheed defends his wicket against a good delivery by a bowler.
Doug Kapustin
/
For The Washington Post
Akeem Dodson of the Washington Tigers has finished batting and waits for his team to take the field. Cricket has an estimated 15 million fans in the U.S., with 200,000 players. It can be found in all 50 states.
Doug Kapustin
/
For The Washington Post
Washington Tigers batter Usman Muhammad, left, dives for the crease but is run out as the wicket is tagged by a bowler from the Embassy of Pakistan team. The Tigers won by 76 runs.
Doug Kapustin
/
For The Washington Post
Batsman Rizwan Ali makes contact during the season-opening cricket club match between the Washington Tigers and the Embassy of Pakistan.
Doug Kapustin
/
For The Washington Post
Washington Tigers batsman Usman Muhammad hangs his head after getting run out during the season-opening club cricket match in Hyattsville.
Doug Kapustin
/
For The Washington Post
Whitehall Elementary School's Rhiley Jones carries the wicket as the physical education class goes outside for a game of cricket in Bowie.
Mark Gail
/
The Washington Post
Third grader Sinaka Aniedobe looks to throw the cricket balll during a gym class.
Mark Gail
/
The Washington Post
Cristin Brunidor swings at the ball during a game of cricket at Whitehall Elementary School in Bowie. Cricket "is very fun," said one student.
Mark Gail
/
The Washington Post
Carmen Berrio, left, Morgan Smoot, middle, and Kristina Milburn cheer as their team scores a run in an elementary school game.
Mark Gail
/
The Washington Post
Whitehall Elementary School teacher Jonathan Jones introduced cricket to his students after attending a clinic in Glen Burnie. He asks that pitchers pitch underhand and he plays music during the games.
Mark Gail
/
The Washington Post
Whitehall Elementary student Faizu Adam waits for a turn to bat.
Mark Gail
/
The Washington Post
Whitehall Elementary School's Faizu Adam runs between the wickets to score runs after a big hit.
Mark Gail
/
The Washington Post
Fifth grader Zipporah Sewell runs to the wicket for a run during a cricket game at Whitehall Elementary in Bowie.
Mark Gail
/
The Washington Post
Physical education teacher Jonathan Jones high-fives students as they head to another class after a game of cricket.
Mark Gail
/
The Washington Post
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