Major League Cricket (MLC), the young American T20 league, has taken a significant step towards legitimacy by earning List A status from the ICC. This means official player statistics from the MLC will now be recognized alongside other major T20 leagues worldwide.
Recognition for Growing Tournament
“We are really excited for the news,” said tournament director Justin Geale. This recognition from the ICC validates the quality of players and the high standard of competition in the MLC.
This status boost will not only enhance the credibility of cricket in the USA but also ensures “the performances of some of the world’s best players are adequately reflected in their career statistics,” Geale added.
Expansion and scheduling ambitions of MLC
The upcoming season, kicking off on July 5th, will see the MLC expand its footprint. Plans are in place to grow from the current six teams to ten over the next few years, with a corresponding increase in matches from 19 to 34 by 2025.
MLC CEO Vijay Srinivasan also revealed their ideal calendar would involve an earlier June start, potentially capitalizing on the American school holidays and avoiding clashes with other major leagues. However, this could lead to some overlap with England’s T20 Blast.
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Alarm bells for ECB, CA
With several MLC teams owned by IPL franchises, there’s a chance of player overlap with England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) owned The Hundred, another T20 league starting in late July. As many as half of the Hundred’s overseas players might arrive late due to their MLC commitments.
The Cricket Australia (CA) will also be looking at this development regarding MLC with sharp eyes as USA’s T20 league will be direct competitor of CA’s Big Bash League (BBL) in future.
Bright Future for cricket in USA
Despite these potential scheduling hurdles, the MLC’s List A status and ambitious expansion plans are positive signs for the growth of cricket in the USA. The upcoming season promises more high-quality cricket and paves the way for a more established American T20 league in the years to come.
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