North Cook News

State Representative Jennifer Sanalitro (R-Hanover Park) is seeking to make cricket an official sport recognized by the Illinois High School Athletic Association. 

A resolution on the matter passed out of the Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies Committee with a unanimous vote of 15-0 and was later adopted by the full House. 

“Communities across Illinois have taken a rapidly growing interest in cricket,” Sanalitro said in a press release. “Local leagues and players are filling fields and open spaces inside of park districts all over the State. The IHSA adopting cricket as an official sport would capitalize on the growing popularity and give our young people a new outlet for healthy competition and physical activity.”

House Resolution 58 was filed by Sanalitro in February. 

"Cricket is a safe, popular, and growing sport," she said during her speech on the House Floor. "Cricket is not only growing in popularity internationally, in Europe, Asia, and Latin America, but it is growing in popularity inside our own country too. Texas, Florida, California, Georgia, and even Indiana are ahead of Illinois in their support for the game of cricket. Communities across Illinois have also taken rapidly growing interest in cricket. Cricket leagues are filling fields in the open park across our state to play the game they love. For these reasons, the resolution is an important step in making Illinois a cultural leader." 

Cricket has been a mainstay in some parts of Chicago. Washington Park in downtown Chicago is home to one of the most well-known cricket leagues.

Century Park in Vernon Hills hosts the Century Cricket League that was started in 2012. 

“CCL is Chicago-land's premier not-for-profit sports league with 40+ teams and a strong pool of 800+ players, with representation from 50+ companies,” the league’s landing page reads. “CCL takes great pride in donating money towards noble causes while playing cricket. That's the spirit of CCL garity (game+charity). With lots of popularity gained in a very short span of time, CCL has been extended to 2 Editions/Year i.e. over 150+ matches just every summer season!”

Sanalitro represents the communities of Addison, Bensenville, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Elk Grove, Hanover Park, Itasca, Medinah, Roselle, Schaumburg, and Wood Dale in suburban DuPage and Cook counties in the Illinois State House which are part of House District 48.