Major League Cricket (MLC) has gained a big boost with the announcement that former West Indies all-rounder and T20 cricket legend Kieron Pollard will captain MI New York in the inaugural edition of the tournament to be held in the United States. The franchise unveiled its star-studded squad on Wednesday, featuring renowned players from around the world.
Joining Pollard in MI New York are Afghanistan's T20I captain Rashid Khan, former West Indies skipper Nicholas Pooran, New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult, and the explosive Australian duo of Tim David and pacer Jason Behrendorff. The team will also include South Africa's pace sensation Kagiso Rabada, promising batter Dewald Brevis, and veteran Namibian all-rounder David Wiese, who has previously represented South Africa.
With an impressive roster of international stars, MI New York aims to make a mark in the MLC. Most of the players are also associated with various MI teams such as Mumbai Indians, MI Cape Town, and MI Emirates, bringing a wealth of experience and familiarity to the squad.
In the MLC draft held in March, MI New York selected nine local players, including former captain Steven Taylor, all-rounder Nosthush Kenjige, current USA captain Monank Patel, wicketkeeper Shayan Jahangir, and fast bowler Kyle Phillip. Hammad Azam, Ehsan Adil, Sarbjeet Ladda, and Saideep Ganesh complete the list of local talents.
Former South African cricketer and MI Cape Town General Manager Robin Peterson will serve as the head coach, assisted by Mumbai Indians legend Lasith Malinga as the bowling coach. J Arun Kumar and James Pamment, who previously held coaching roles with Mumbai Indians in IPL 2023, will take charge as the batting and fielding coaches, respectively.
Excitement surrounds the unveiling of MI New York, as team owner Akash M. Ambani expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming season. He commended the team's composition, highlighting the combination of experienced international stars and exciting young talents. Ambani believes that MI New York will elevate the level of competition in the cricket ecosystem of the United States, promising fans the thrilling brand of cricket associated with Mumbai Indians.
The MLC 2023 edition, featuring six teams, will take place from July 13 to 30 at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, Texas. MI New York will kick off their campaign against the San Francisco Unicorns on July 14. Other participating teams include the Los Angeles Knight Riders, Texas Super Kings, Washington Freedom, and Seattle Orcas.
The squads of all six teams can consist of a maximum of 19 players, with nine permitted to be overseas players. In the playing XI, a maximum of six international players are allowed, along with five domestic players who must feature in every match. The overseas players were directly signed by the franchises and were not part of the draft process, adding to the excitement surrounding the tournament.