LONDON (AP)

The United States wants to create an elite Twenty20 cricket tournament along the lines of the lucrative Indian Premier League.

The USA Cricket Association hopes "top-class international cricket" will finally take root in the country by launching the first professional competition, the USA Premier League.

inviting proposals

The first steps were taken yesterday by inviting proposals from potential organisers, sponsors and broad- casters in a country where American football and baseball are the main sports.

Rushmans, an international sports event management company based in England, has been appointed as commercial adviser.

The USACA said it wants them to unlock the sport's potential in a "massive market" and use the revenues from the new league to help spread cricket across the US and form a competitive international team.