A 26-member contingent of the USA men’s national cricket team recently concluded a three-day training stint at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Held from September 27 to 29, this collaborative effort between the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) provided the squad with its first direct experience of the American Olympic high-performance framework. The wider US Olympic training ecosystem in Colorado Springs has been used by some of the country’s most prominent athletes, including Michael Phelps, LeBron James and Simone Biles, over the years.
During the visit, athletes participated in rigorous assessments, including physical and medical screenings, shoulder evaluations, and Functional Movement Screening. The staff conducted 20-metre sprint tests and repetitive running drills, with the resulting data slated to shape individual 24-month performance plans for each player leading into the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and the 2027 Pan American Games.
This initiative represents a pivotal shift for USA Cricket, which has historically lacked a permanent, centralized high-performance facility. The USOPC has indicated that national team players may now utilize the Colorado Springs hub for ongoing training, while injured athletes gain access to its specialized rehabilitation infrastructure. As one of the premier sports hubs in the U.S., the center supports approximately 15,000 athletes annually, offering elite resources like biomechanical analysis, pressure-sensor treadmills, and anti-gravity running systems—technology that could prove transformative for player conditioning and injury prevention. That could provide access to resources that would otherwise be difficult to replicate independently, for a national program that has historically operated without a permanent centralised high-performance base. Its appeal lies largely in the level of sports science and medical support available under one roof. Biomechanics is a major part of the facility’s work.
Financial stability is another potential benefit. As USA Cricket navigates its exit from bankruptcy—following support from MLC—and continues under ICC suspension, the prospect of USOPC-backed funding becomes increasingly vital. While specific figures for cricket are yet to be determined, rugby serves as a benchmark for Olympic integration. In the lead-up to Paris 2024, the USOPC provided rugby with roughly $5.5 million in total resources, including $2.01 million in high-performance grants, $700,000 in athlete stipends, and nearly $500,000 in special high-performance grants. Rugby is a relatively recent re-entrant to the Olympic fold, having returned at Rio 2016 after a 92-year absence, much like cricket. Understands that USA Cricket could eventually receive Olympic-preparation funding from the USOPC as LA28 draws closer.
Beyond the immediate goal of Olympic preparation, the ICC is looking at the broader strategic value of embedding cricket within the American sports landscape. Successfully integrating the U.S. into the Olympic fold—and securing sustainable high-performance investment—could create a model for development in emerging markets. If cricket retains its place in future Olympic cycles, governing bodies may need to shift from ranking-based qualification to structured pathways, such as continental tournaments, to ensure accessibility.
For the ICC, these efforts are part of a long-term ambition to establish a meaningful foothold in the world’s largest sports market. By utilizing the USOPC ecosystem to professionalize athlete development, the sport gains more than just a shot at medals; it builds the high-performance foundation necessary for cricket to become a competitive and sustainable pursuit within the United States.
