Major League Cricket USA: Growing Cricket in America
Major League Cricket launched in the United States in 2023, bringing franchise T20 cricket to the world's largest sports market. This guide covers the competition's founding, teams and significance for global cricket.
Major League Cricket (MLC) launched in July 2023 as the United States' first professional T20 franchise competition. Backed by Indian-American investors and supported by the ICC and BCCI, MLC was designed to accelerate cricket's development in the USA — a country of 330 million with a large South Asian diaspora and growing immigrant communities from cricket-playing nations. The USA co-hosted the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, giving MLC a major global profile boost.
Teams and Format
MLC launched with six teams: Los Angeles Knight Riders, MI New York, New York Strikers, Seattle Orcas, Texas Super Kings and Washington Freedom. Three of the six are connected to IPL franchise owners (MI New York to Mumbai Indians; Texas Super Kings to Chennai Super Kings; LA Knight Riders to Kolkata Knight Riders). The competition runs for approximately three weeks in July, using a round-robin group stage followed by playoffs at a central venue.
The USA's Cricket Ambitions
The 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, co-hosted by the USA and West Indies, included matches at purpose-built venues in New York, Dallas and Florida. The USA team — featuring many naturalised players with backgrounds in other cricketing nations — qualified for the Super 8 stage, defeating Pakistan in a historic upset. The combination of MLC and ICC events in the USA represents the most significant investment in cricket development in a major non-traditional market in the sport's history.
Challenges and Opportunities
Growing cricket in the USA faces structural challenges: limited cricket infrastructure, competition from established North American sports (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL), and the difficulty of attracting fans unfamiliar with the game's traditions. However, the South Asian diaspora — over 4 million Indian-Americans alone — provides a natural initial fanbase. MLC's organisers aim to grow beyond this diaspora audience and attract mainstream American sports fans through the franchise's entertainment-first model.
Frequently asked questions
Is USA cricket a Full Member of the ICC?
No, USA Cricket is an Associate Member of the ICC. Full membership — which comes with guaranteed places in major tournaments and Test match status — requires sustained high-level performance and infrastructure development. The USA's performance at the 2024 T20 World Cup strengthened the case for future consideration, but Full Member status remains some years away.
How is MLC funded?
MLC is funded by its franchise owners — a mix of Indian-American entrepreneurs, tech industry investors and IPL franchise connections. The competition also attracted ICC development funding and commercial sponsorship. Unlike the established leagues (IPL, BBL), MLC is in its growth phase and does not yet generate self-sustaining revenue; investor patience and long-term vision are central to its model.