Major League Cricket (MLC) Explained
Major League Cricket is the United States' flagship T20 franchise league. Learn about the six teams, format, venues in Texas and North Carolina, and cricket's growth in the USA.
Major League Cricket (MLC) is the United States' top-tier professional T20 franchise cricket competition. Launched in July 2023, MLC represents a historic step in cricket's expansion into North America — a market with a large South Asian diaspora, growing interest in franchise sports, and a major cricket event in the 2024 T20 World Cup co-hosted by the USA and West Indies. The league is backed by several IPL franchise ownership groups.
Six franchises across the USA
MLC launched with six franchises: MI New York (Mumbai Indians), San Francisco Unicorns (part of the South African cricket investment group), Los Angeles Knight Riders (KKR group), Seattle Orcas, Texas Super Kings (Chennai Super Kings' ownership group), and Washington Freedom. The IPL-linked franchises — MI New York, LAKR, and Texas Super Kings — provided instant brand recognition among the USA's South Asian cricket audience.
Venues: Grand Prairie and Morrisville
MLC's primary venues are Grand Prairie Stadium (near Dallas, Texas) and Church Street Park in Morrisville, North Carolina. Both were built or substantially upgraded specifically for MLC, with purpose-built cricket pitches and broadcast infrastructure. North Carolina's Research Triangle region has a large Indian-American technology-sector population, creating a natural cricket audience. Texas's Dallas-Fort Worth area similarly has significant South Asian communities.
The 2024 T20 World Cup catalyst
The 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, co-hosted by the USA and West Indies, dramatically raised cricket's profile in America. The USA's win over Pakistan at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York — a 'dropped-in' pitch construction on a baseball field — became one of the tournament's most-discussed results. For MLC, the T20 World Cup was both validation and a marketing event: millions of Americans were exposed to international T20 cricket, expanding MLC's potential audience.
Player access and the MLC window
MLC is held in July, overlapping with The Hundred in England. This creates scheduling competition for international stars. However, MLC's IPL-linked ownership structure gives teams access to player networks, and the league has attracted England, South Africa, West Indies, and associate cricket players. Cricket USA is working with the ICC to develop pathways for US-born players into the national team, with the National Cricket League (NCL) serving as a domestic feeder.
Frequently asked questions
When is Major League Cricket played?
MLC is played in July each year, typically over three to four weeks. The timing overlaps with The Hundred in England, meaning some international players choose one league or the other depending on contracts and availability.
Which teams have won MLC?
MI New York won the inaugural MLC title in 2023, defeating Washington Freedom in the final. MI New York, backed by Mumbai Indians, brought the same IPL expertise and brand to the US franchise.
Is MLC recognised by the ICC?
Yes. MLC operates under USA Cricket, an ICC associate member. The league has ICC-recognised status. International players from full-member nations play as overseas professionals; US citizens or residents who play locally can develop careers toward USA national team eligibility.