The International Cricket Council (ICC), in partnership with its official fintech infrastructure partner and leading real-time global payments platform, Nium, is calling on cricket-loving technologists across the United States to help transform the sport through innovation as part of the second edition of the Next In Hackathon.
The Next In Hackathon is a global innovation platform that brings together technologists, developers, designers, and entrepreneurs who share a passion for cricket and emerging technologies. Building on the success of its inaugural edition, the second iteration is set to be bigger and more impactful—offering participants a unique opportunity to showcase their skills, collaborate with like-minded innovators, and help shape the digital future of cricket.
The hackathon journey will culminate in a global finale held during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in early November, providing teams with unprecedented exposure to cricket’s international ecosystem. Participants will be challenged to create solutions that elevate high-performance training, enhance fan experiences both inside and outside stadiums, and grow participation in the sport worldwide.
This initiative represents a significant opportunity for the U.S. sports-tech community to play a meaningful role in the evolution of cricket—one of the world’s fastest-growing sports. Aligned with the ICC’s vision of more players, more fans, and more nations enjoying cricket, the hackathon encourages innovation that deepens fan engagement and expands the sport’s reach across new markets, including North America.
Hackathon Focus Areas
Participants can choose to innovate across three key tracks:
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Enhancing team and athlete training experiences
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Fan experiences—both in-stadium and at home
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Growing grassroots participation in cricket
Teams are free to use multiple technologies, but each solution must incorporate at least one of the following:
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Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning
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Fintech
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Augmented Reality / Virtual Reality (AR/VR)
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Web3
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Blockchain
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Data Science
How to Participate
Interested teams can register and submit their expression of interest by September 29. Shortlisted teams will be invited to develop and present their solutions to a panel of distinguished judges, including hackathon ambassador Anil Kumble, during a global showcase event in early November.
As part of the program, participants will gain access to expert mentorship, technical knowledge sessions, and networking meetups, including events in San Francisco, reinforcing the hackathon’s strong connection to the U.S. innovation ecosystem.
What Leaders Are Saying
Finn Bradshaw, ICC Head of Digital, said:
“We’re excited to continue our journey with Nium as we bring innovation and cricket closer together. By focusing on high-performance training, fan engagement, and grassroots growth, we’re creating meaningful opportunities to enhance the sport at every level. We look forward to collaborating with some of the brightest minds from the U.S. and around the world.”
Jeremiah Glodoveza, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Marketing and Communications at Nium, added:
“The Next In Hackathon has become a global stage for top technologists to reimagine how fans experience cricket. Innovation drives progress—both on and off the field—and we’re eager to see how creators, especially from emerging cricket markets like the U.S., envision the future of the game.”
Anil Kumble, Hackathon Producer, said:
“Technology and data are reshaping how cricket is played, watched, and understood. The first hackathon produced some remarkable ideas, and I’m excited to see how this next generation of innovators will make cricket more accessible, engaging, and dynamic for players and fans alike.”
A Proven Global Impact
The inaugural Next In Hackathon attracted 9,550 teams from 113 countries, including over 1,000 participants from the United States. The winning team, Fanisko, introduced an immersive live-cricket viewing experience using 3D Augmented Reality. Built on Web AR technology and integrated into the ICC app, their solution delivered real-time interaction and rich player insights—bringing fans closer to the game from their own homes.
With cricket’s growing footprint in the U.S., the Next In Hackathon offers American technologists a powerful platform to influence the future of a truly global sport.