NZC to Invest in US Major League Cricket Team

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has partnered with True North Sports Ventures (TNS) to launch a Major League Cricket (MLC) franchise team in North America, with a debut planned for 2027 and Toronto and Atlanta among the possible locations. This initiative marks the first instance of a full International Cricket Council member directly investing in a top-level professional franchise outside its home country. NZC will provide high-performance and operational support, including coaching, management, and player development. The move is part of NZC’s strategy to diversify revenue, expand its global brand, and address growing competition from lucrative T20 leagues by retaining top talent. NZC also holds an option to invest in a second MLC franchise by 2031, demonstrating a long-term commitment to the US cricket market. The MLC is set to expand from six to eight teams by 2027 and ten by 2031.