Perhaps cricket is popular cult (6)
I believe the answer is:
insect
'perhaps cricket' is the definition.
'popular cult' is the wordplay.
'popular' becomes 'in'.
'cult' becomes 'sect' (I've seen this before).
'in'+'sect'='INSECT'
'is' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for insect that I've seen before include "Small invertebrate arthropod" , "Soldier perhaps" , "Praying mantis, say" , "Eg, bee, mosquito" , "Contemptible person" .)