Major League Cricket Earns List-A Status From ICC

 

Cricket fans in the USA, rejoice! Major League Cricket (MLC), the young T20 league, has just achieved a major win. They’ve been granted official List-A status by the ICC, the sport’s governing body. This means MLC is now a recognized T20 league, and player stats from the tournament will count towards official T20 records.

This is a big deal for American cricket. It shows the ICC recognizes MLC’s growing importance and paves the way for the sport’s expansion in the US. Speaking of expansion, MLC has ambitious plans to grow from its current six teams to ten in the coming seasons.

 

“MLC’s expansion plans will increase pressure on the English game to decide whether or not to bring private investment into the Hundred,” Vijay Srinivasan, MLC’s chief executive said.

 

The action starts soon! The next MLC season kicks off on July 5th, just a week after the T20 World Cup wraps up. This year’s World Cup, which starts in the US on June 1st, is another sign of cricket’s growing popularity there.

MLC isn’t just attracting fans, it’s attracting major investors too. Renowned cricketers like Kieron Pollard, Faf du Plessis, and Aaron Finch are already involved, and even former Australian captain Ricky Ponting is heading one of the teams – the Washington Freedom.

 

But the real heavy hitters are the investments from Indian Premier League (IPL) giants like Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Mumbai Indians (MI).  These investments signal growing interest in American cricket from established cricketing powerhouses.

 

“All of these people who came on board with us when we started five years ago have been immensely successful in other walks of life,” Srinivasan noted. “They are aware that this isn’t something that can be turned on and off like some other things. It was never anticipated that this change would happen quickly.”

 

Expansion and a Scheduling Challenge

MLC plans to jump from 19 games in 2023 to a whopping 34 by 2025, thanks to their expansion plans. This aggressive growth strategy might disrupt the traditional cricketing calendar, potentially impacting England’s T20 Blast season. MLC’s CEO, Vijay Srinivasan, acknowledges this and sees it as a potential push for England to consider private investment in their own T20 league, The Hundred.

There might be some scheduling conflicts with The Hundred this year, but MLC’s early June start avoids a direct clash. However, some star players might arrive late for The Hundred if they choose to participate in MLC first.

 

The Future of Cricket in the USA Looks Bright

With official recognition, big investments, and ambitious plans, MLC is a major force in American cricket. The upcoming season promises even more action and excitement, and the future looks bright for the sport in the USA. Fasten your seatbelts, cricket fans – it’s going to be a wild ride!