What is Major League Cricket? Explaining MLC, the USA's new T20 competition

Vishakha Deshpande

What is Major League Cricket? Explaining MLC, the USA's new T20 competition image

With the buzz around the Indian Premier League just settling down and cricket fans longing for more entertaining action, Major League Cricket (MLC) is about to try and fill the void.

MLC makes its foray into the franchise T20 cricket landscape, as the United States of America gears up for its inaugural season.

Beginning on July 13, Major League Cricket is a new competition for the USA's fledgling cricket development. It will have six teams participating in an 18-game tournament, which will lead to the final championship game on July 30. 

Here's everything you need to know about the competition.

MORE: MLC 2023 latest schedule and results 

What is Major League Cricket?

A new domestic cricket league for the United States, MLC will see the sport look to take a foothold in America.

The tournament is backed by several of the top franchises in India's domestic tournament, the IPL, and has the lure of big money on offer.

Backed by an initial investment of $120million, the organizers have sought to attract some of the game's biggest talent — with players such as Faf du Plessis (South Africa), Marcus Stoinis (Australia), Aaron Finch and Trent Boult (both New Zealand), Quinton de Kock (South Africa) and Jason Roy (England) bringing their experience to the tournament.

What is the format of Major League Cricket?

Six teams will compete in a T20 format, with each match seeing both teams face 20 overs of six balls, in an attempt to score the most runs.

After playing in a round-robin format against each other, the top four teams will qualify for the playoffs which will include the Eliminator, Qualifier, Challenger, and the Finals. 

Every team can include a maximum of 19 and a minimum of 16 players on its squad. To help promote cricket in the USA and develop future generations of American players, each roster will need to have one domestic under-23 rookie player. 

On its complete roster, each team may have nine international players. However, along with five domestic players, no more than six players will be allowed in the playing XI. 

MORE: Bet on all the latest cricket here (selected territories only)

Where will Major League Cricket 2023 be played?

The Grand Prairie stadium in Texas and Church Street Park in North Carolina will host the games and the final will be played in Texas. 

Which teams are playing in Major League Cricket?

The inaugural edition, sanctioned by USA Cricket, will see six teams fighting for the coveted championship title. Four of those teams are owned by Indian T20 league franchises. 

Team

Owners

Los Angeles Knight Riders 

Knight Riders Group

MI New York

Mumbai Indians

San Francisco Unicorns

Cricket Victoria

Seattle Orcas

GMR Group (co-owners of the Delhi Capitals)

Texas Super Kings

Chennai Super Kings

Washington Freedom

Cricket New South Wales

Major League Cricket 2023 Schedule

Date & Time

Game

Location

07/13/2023, 07:30 PM CDT

Texas Super Kings VS Los Angeles Knight Riders

 

Grand Prairie Stadium, TX

07/14/2023, 03:30 PM CDT

MI New York vs San Francisco Unicorns

Grand Prairie Stadium, TX

07/14/2023, 07:30 PM CDT

Seattle Orcas vs Washington Freedom

Grand Prairie Stadium, TX

07/15/2023, 07:30 PM CDT

San Francisco Unicorns

Vs Seattle Orcas

Grand Prairie Stadium, TX

07/16/2023, 03:30 PM CDT

Texas Super Kings VS Washington Freedom

Grand Prairie Stadium, TX

07/16/2023, 07:30 PM CDT

Los Angeles Knight Riders

Vs MI New York

Grand Prairie Stadium, TX

07/17/2023, 07:30 PM CDT

Texas Super Kings vs MI New York

Grand Prairie Stadium, TX

07/18/2023, 07:30 PM CDT

Los Angeles Knight Riders vs San Francisco Unicorns

Grand Prairie Stadium, TX

07/20/2023, 05:30 PM EDT

Washington Freedom vs Los Angeles Knight Riders

Church Street Park, Morrisville, NC

07/21/2023, 05:30 PM EDT

Seattle Orcas vs  Texas Super Kings

Church Street Park, Morrisville, NC

07/22/2023, 05:30 PM EDT

Washington Freedom vs San Francisco Unicorns

Church Street Park, Morrisville, NC

07/23/2023, 01:30 PM EDT

Los Angeles Knight Riders vs Seattle Orcas

Church Street Park, Morrisville, NC

07/23/2023, 05:30 PM EDT

MI New York vs Washington Freedom

Church Street Park, Morrisville, NC

07/24/2023, 05:30 PM EDT

San Francisco Unicorns vs Texas Super Kings

Church Street Park, Morrisville, NC

07/25/2023, 05:30 PM EDT

MI New York vs Seattle Orcas

Church Street Park, Morrisville, NC

Major League Cricket 2023 Playoffs

07/27/2023, 03:30 PM CDT

Seed 3 vs Seed 4

 

Grand Prairie Stadium, TX

07/27/2023, 07:30 PM CDT

Seed 1 vs Seed 2

Grand Prairie Stadium, TX

07/28/2023, 07:30 PM CDT

Loser Qualifier vs Winner Eliminator

Grand Prairie Stadium, TX

07/30/2023, 07:30 PM CDT

Winner Qualifier vs Winner Challenger

Grand Prairie Stadium, TX

Vishakha Deshpande

Vishakha Deshpande Photo

Vishakha Deshpande is a content producer for The Sporting News.