Fort Lauderdale to host two India vs. West Indies cricket matches this weekend

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For the last decade, and probably longer, administrators in the United States of America have sung a familiar refrain to validate the country's latent market potential, one that almost always traces back to every host nation's most desirable suitor: "If India showed up and played team X here, it would be a sell-out."

This weekend is an opportunity to test that hypothesis. In a historic maiden official visit to American shores, India take on World T20 champions West Indies in two Twenty20 Internationals at the Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill, Florida.

The BCCI's online marketing machine has been on overdrive in the build-up to the weekend. #TeamIndiaInUSA has been used to generate online buzz from several high-profile athletes. Among them are New York Mets All-Star pitcher Noah Syndergaard, Demaryius Thomas, wide receiver of Denver Broncos, the Pro-Bowl Super Bowl champion, and a host of UFC fighting superstars.

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While this is not the first time international cricket is being played in America, India v West Indies - two regions with large expat population there - is way bigger than New Zealand playing Sri Lanka or West Indies.

Cricket economy mostly runs around India. So when India go to America with all their delegates, when they sell the TV rights, when they sell the trophy rights, it becomes a big experiment for the future of cricket. This could even be a test run for a second IPL, a mini version, in America going forward; CPL has already had a stint in America that can't be termed unsuccessful.

While these two matches are huge for the cricket economy and its globalisation - in terms of staging and not participation - the cricket carries more subtext than your usual bilateral Twenty20 internationals.

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