Photo Credit: Cricket NSW
Cricket NSW (CNSW) has launched an historic strategic partnership with Major League Cricket (MLC) in the United States that will include collaboration on player development initiatives, touring opportunities and coaching education exchanges.
To further strengthen ties with the most exciting new frontier of the global T20 landscape, CNSW has also agreed to a high-performance partnership with the Washington D.C. franchise that will be one of six founding teams in the opening season of MLC when it launches on July 13, 2023.
The six teams from major metropolitan areas – representing Dallas, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Seattle and New York City – will each boast multiple global stars on their rosters alongside the best talent based in the United States, playing in the 18-day tournament.
This new initiative will serve to expand the reach of both CNSW and MLC globally, serving as a key step in CNSW’s efforts to be a force in the global cricket ecosystem and helping to fast-track the growth of American cricket.
The wide-ranging partnership will see MLC and CNSW collaborate to develop and grow a world-class cricketing system and professional T20 league in the United States. The partnership will initially focus on a number of high-performance oriented initiatives, including:
• Player development opportunities for U.S.-based players within the NSW Premier Cricket competition and CNSW training environment.
• Opportunities for teams comprised of U.S.-based players to tour NSW and compete against CNSW representative teams.
• The development of further professional cricket content to be staged in the U.S. market.
• An exchange program for coaches and support staff to be embedded within the Australian Men’s and Women’s Big Bash and the American MLC or Minor League Cricket ecosystems.
• Playing opportunities for NSW-based players in the USA.
The professional services agreement with the Washington D.C. franchise, and its lead investor Sanjay Govil (Founder and Chairman of Infinite Computer Solutions and CEO, Zyter), will focus on preparing the franchise for the first season of MLC, with a view to establishing a long-term partnership.
The services will initially include the preparation of the player roster for Washington D.C. and development of team-related high performance services including coaching, sports science and sports medicine, performance analysis and team operations.
CNSW representatives will attend the inaugural MLC Draft, to be held on March 19 at the iconic Space Center Houston, the official Visitor Center of NASA Johnson Space Center, as they build the Washington D.C. roster.
The draft will follow the MLC Domestic Player Combine, due to be held at the MLC National Cricket Center at Prairie View Cricket Complex (PVCC) near Houston from March 4-16.
CNSW CEO, Lee Germon, said the innovative partnership structure allows all three organisations a win-win-win opportunity.
“With the global cricket landscape currently undergoing significant transition, we view the United States as a market with immense growth potential,” Germon said.
“Our productive engagement with MLC in recent months makes it clear there is a firm alignment on a shared vision for the league and we look forward to progressing this relationship ahead of MLC’s launch season.
“Cricket NSW’s track record in high performance cricket and elite match operations is second to none and we believe we can bring a raft of experience to MLC and the Washington D.C. franchise in the coming years.”
Photo Credit: Cricket NSW
Sameer Mehta, Co-founder of Major League Cricket, said:
“We’re delighted to be able to partner with Cricket New South Wales, a renowned global cricket entity with a proven track-record of success both on and off the field. As our cricketing ecosystem in the United States continues to grow, adding the support of an organisation with Cricket New South Wales’s experience enables us to rapidly accelerate the development of key personnel, including players, coaches and support staff.”
MLC’s Washington D.C. lead investor Sanjay Govil said:
“This partnership with Cricket New South Wales will turbo-charge the launch of our Washington D.C.-based MLC team, supporting our high-performance plans with their wealth of experience and expertise as one of the most renowned cricket organizations in the world. We’re excited to develop this partnership and hit the ground running ahead of Major League Cricket’s launch season this year.”
ABOUT MAJOR LEAGUE CRICKET
Major League Cricket will be the first professional Twenty20 cricket championship in the United States. Exclusively sanctioned by USA Cricket, Major League Cricket will feature top players from around the globe while also providing an opportunity for domestic cricketers to showcase their talents to a global audience, bringing world-class T20 cricket to America for the first time. For more information, visit www.majorleaguecricket.com and follow MLC on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MLCricket
ABOUT CRICKET NEW SOUTH WALES
Cricket New South Wales is the peak body for Cricket in the Australian state of New South Wales. The organisation (CNSW) administers the game of cricket throughout the state from grass roots to elite level, where it has become the most successful state, county or province in world cricket, producing well over one hundred international players. For more information, visit www.cricketnsw.com.au.
Name of Author: Cricket NSW
Cricket NSW, officially the New South Wales Cricket Association, is the governing body for cricket in New South Wales, Australia. Based at Sydney Olympic Park, it oversees the New South Wales Blues, New South Wales Breakers, Sydney Thunder, and Sydney Sixers.
