In an attempt to popularise and professionalise cricket in the United States, an Indian-American business tycoon, Jignesh Pandya has announced plans to build as many as eight cricket stadiums across the country at an estimated cost of $2.4 billion.

The eight stadiums, which are set to be built in New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Illinois and California, will have a capacity of 26,000 each. Pandya said the huge project would also create 17,800 new jobs in the US.

An ardent cricket follower, Pandya believes the United States have a good market for the game.

“At most of these venues, me and my sons found the audience mostly from either India or the United States. So there is a great market and readymade audience for cricket in the US,” Pandya said.

Pandya further said the stadiums would have high-rise residential complex, shopping centers, entertainment centers and office complexes.

“This will be a strong foundation when the International Cricket Council (ICC) hosts any tournaments in line with its strategic framework for USA cricket, potentially hosting the ICC World Twenty20 in 2024,” Pandya said.

Last year, India and the West Indies played a couple of T20Is in the United States which was a big hit and building as many as eight stadiums is surely a big step towards popularising the game in a country where cricket is still finding its feet.