MLC Archives

Haris Rauf signs with San Francisco Unicorns for third MLC season

Pakistan’s tearaway quick Haris Rauf is all set to light up the American cricket scene once again, as he officially signs with the San Francisco Unicorns for the upcoming 2025 season of Major League Cricket (MLC).

The franchise confirmed Rauf’s return with a fiery post on social media, captioned: “HARIS HAS ARRIVED 🔥💪 Our superstar pace bowler is back.”

Despite a forgettable 2024 campaign, where he picked up just four wickets in nine games, averaging 73.50 with an economy of 9.09, the Unicorns have decided to back the 31-year-old speedster for another season.

Haris Rauf, who has plied his trade in top-tier leagues like the Big Bash League (BBL), Pakistan Super League (PSL), and The Hundred, now heads into his third consecutive MLC season.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

With cricket steadily finding its feet in the United States, Rauf’s presence adds star power to a league that’s still in its growth phase but generating plenty of buzz.

The San Francisco Unicorns, a franchise based in California and backed by a passionate South Asian community, have been proactive in building a competitive squad through high-profile signings, and Rauf’s pace will be key to their ambitions this year.

The 2025 edition of Major League Cricket kicks off on June 13, with the final scheduled for July 14.

READ: Sana Mir becomes first Pakistani woman cricketer inducted into ICC Hall of Fame

New Zealand Cricket joins hands with MLC in historic US franchise deal

New Zealand Cricket (NZC), in a landmark move that could reshape cricket’s global footprint, has announced the launch of its own franchise in the United States’ Major League Cricket (MLC), set to debut in the 2027 season.

The development follows an agreement between NZC and US-based True North Sports Ventures (TNS), a key player in promoting the sport across North America.

The deal will see NZC offering high-performance and operational support, including coaching, management, and support staff, while integrating the new franchise into New Zealand’s domestic high-performance structure.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

NZC chief executive Scott Weenink termed the partnership a strategic leap forward, positioning New Zealand at the heart of the global evolution of cricket while tapping into the lucrative US sports market.

“This agreement marks a unique and exciting milestone for NZC,” said Weenink. “As franchise cricket grows globally, NZC needs to adapt to seize strategic opportunities that ensure the sustainability of our cricket network.”

He emphasised that the collaboration will not only diversify NZC’s revenue streams and expand its international brand presence but also open fresh pathways for talent development and retention, both for players and coaches.

Catch all the PSL 10 updates here!

True North Sports Ventures, too, sounded upbeat about the venture.

“The potential for cricket in North America is immense,” a TNS statement read. “We look forward to working with NZC to deliver on both our ambitions and theirs, including broader strategic and corporate opportunities globally.”

READ: Barcelona out to prove Clasico superiority in Copa del Rey final

Washington Freedom edge past MI New York in rain-hit MLC clash

MORRISVILLE: Washington Freedom kicked off their Major League Cricket (MLC) 2024 campaign with a victory over defending champions MI New York in a rain-hit clash here on Saturday.

Washington Freedom were five runs ahead of the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) par score in 7.4 overs before rain interrupted the game while chasing 155. The heavy rain did not allow any more play, therefore, they won by five runs.

MI New York drew first blood as Ehsan Adil dismissed Travis Head (1) in the maiden second over. Steve Smith was joined by Andries Gous and attacked Adil in the next over, scoring 14 runs.

Smith then struck Anrich Nortje for 21 runs with two boundaries and two sixes to push the team’s total to 43-1 in six overs.

Gous played a supporting role to Smith until the rain stopped the play with the scoreboard reading 55-1 in 7.4 overs.

Smith scored an unbeaten 46 off 28 with the help of four boundaries and three sixes, while Gous scored 5 runs from 11 balls.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

The persistent rain did not allow the game to be resumed, resulting in Washing Freedom’s victory in their first match in the MLC 2024.

Freedoms’ captain Steve Smith invited MI New York to bat first after winning the toss and the decision proved right as the batting side was reduced to 28-2 in five overs.

Ruben Clinton scored a cautious 28 off 22 before Glenn Maxwell ended his brief stay on the crease.

Nicholas Pooran top-scored for MI New York with a 30-ball 44, which featured five boundaries and one six. He fell prey to Lockie Ferguson in the 16th over with 104 runs on the board.

Rashid Khan played a 15-ball cameo, scoring 31 runs while Anrich Nortje scored 14 off nine, but they both fell in the last over by Saurabh Netravalkar.

MI New York managed to score 154-9 in their allocated 20 overs, with Nosthush Kenjige (5) and Ehsan Adil (1) staying unbeaten.

Netravalkar and Justin Dill topped the wicket-takers chart with three wickets each.

READ: England beat Switzerland on penalties to keep Euro 2024 dream alive

Ton-up Nicholas Pooran propels MI New York to win inaugural MLC title

DALLAS: MI New York captain Nicholas Pooran’s unbeaten century in the run chase powered his side to win the inaugural edition of the Major League Cricket (MLC).

In the first final of the first edition of the MLC, MI New York handed a seven-wicket thrashing to Seattle Orcas.

Set to chase a massive 184, MI New York completed the run chase in just 16 overs, thanks to a berserk 137 by Nicholas Pooran.

MI New York had a contrasting start to the run chase as they lost their opener Steven Taylor for nought in the first over.

Pooran, coming out to bat at number three, soon launched recovery as he stitched a one-sided 62-run partnership with Shayan Jahangir (10) before the latter perished in the fifth over.

Pooran continued to dominate the Orcas’ bowlers with belligerent hitting and was involved in another crucial partnership for MI New York, adding 75 runs for the third wicket with Dewald Brevis, who could score 20 from 18 deliveries before getting run out in the 13th over.

Click to watch MLC Live on ARY ZAP

Nicholas Pooran’s onslaught continued after Brevis’s dismissal and he soon muscled his side to MLC glory in 16 overs, receiving minor support from Tim David, who scored an unbeaten 10.

Pooran top-scored for MI New York with an unbeaten century in the MLC final. His 55-ball 137 featured 10 boundaries and 13 sixes.

For the Orcas, Wayne Parnell and Imad Wasim could pick up a wicket apiece.

Put into bat first in the MLC final, Seattle Orcas registered a commendable total of 183/9 on the board with Quinton de Kock leading the way with a brilliant half-century.

The opening batter top-scored for the Orcas with a 52-ball 87, laced up with nine boundaries and four sixes.

Besides him, Shubham Ranjane (29 off 16) and Dwaine Pretorius (21 off seven) were the notable run-getters while the rest made meagre contributions.

Rashid Khan and Trent Boult spearheaded the MI New York bowling attack with three wickets each while Steven Taylor and David Wiese made one scalp each.

READ: Bayern’s Sadio Mane set to join Ronaldo at Saudi’s Al Nassr

MI New York edge Texas Super Kings to set up MLC final with Seattle Orcas

Trent Boult returned splendid figures of 4/24 and steered MI New York to a comfortable six-wicket victory over Texas Super Kings to book their spot in the Major League Cricket (MLC) final.

In the second qualifier of the inaugural edition of the MLC, MI New York stunned Super Kings to book their final clash with table-toppers Seattle Orcas.

Set to chase 159, MI New York comfortably accumulated 162 for the loss of four wickets and six balls to spare with Dewald Brevis leading the charge.

MI New York had a flying start to the pursuit but lost two wickets — Slade van Staden (6) and Shayan Jahangir (36) — inside the powerplay.

Skipper Nicholas Pooran then anchored the run chase with a cautious 30-run partnership for the third wicket with Brevis before Daniel Sams dismissed the former, who could score 20 off 23.

With Pooran’s dismissal, MI New York slipped to 74/3 in the 11th over, needing 85 runs in 56 deliveries.

Meanwhile, hard-hitting batter Tim David joined hands with Brevis and turned the game on its head with belligerent hitting.

The pair added 50 runs for the fourth wicket in just 30 deliveries before David perished. He scored a quickfire 33 from 20 balls, hitting four sixes.

Click to watch MLC Live on ARY ZAP

Brevis, on the other hand, stood his ground firm and steered MI New York to victory with an unbeaten 41. He received significant support at the backend from David Wiese, who played a vital 19-run cameo from 11 balls.

Dewald Brevis top-scored for MI New York in the run chase. He faced 33 deliveries and smashed one boundary and two sixes.

Put into bat first, the Super Kings were jolted by a fiery spell from Trent Boult and could score 158 in 20 overs.

Opening batter Devon Conway (38) and Milind Kumar (37) made vital contributions while the rest failed in the important MLC fixture.

Notably, seven Super Kings batters failed to make it into the double digits.

Boult led the bowling attack for MI New York with 4/24, followed by Tim David picking two wickets.

Following a convincing victory in the Qualifier 2, MI New York will now take on Seattle Orcas in the final of the inaugural MLC on Sunday.

READ: ICC finalises schedule for T20 World Cup 2024: report

Klaasen scores first-ever MLC century as Seattle Orcas sink MI New York

MORRISVILLE: Heinrich Klaasen scored the first-ever century in the history of Major League Cricket (MLC) and powered Seattle Orcas to beat MI New York in the last group stage fixture on Tuesday.

Set to chase a massive 195, the Orcas amassed 195/8 with four balls to spare at the back of a scintillating century by Heinrich Klaasen.

The right-handed baton charged the MI New York bowlers on his way to an unbeaten 110.

He conceded a mere 44 deliveries and smashed nine boundaries and seven sixes amid his match-winning and record-setting knock.

Orcas were 37/2 in the sixth over when Heinrich Klaasen came out to bat. The right-handed batter soon anchored the run chase with a brilliant 62-run partnership with Nauman Anwar.

Click to watch MLC Live on ARY ZAP

The pair of Anwar and Klaasen dominated MI New York bowlers with belligerent hitting before Nosthush Kenjige finally removed the former.

Anwar scored 51 off 30 balls, smashing six boundaries and three sixes.

The Orcas then began to lose wickets at regular intervals but Heinrich Klaasen stood his ground firm and pulled off a sensational victory for his side with an unbeaten century.

He top-scored for the Orcas with a 44-ball 110 which featured nine boundaries and seven sixes, the highest individual score in the history of MLC.

Trent Boult led the bowling attack for MI New York with 4/31, followed by Rashid Khan’s 2/41.

Put into bat first, MI New York posted a commendable total of 194/8, thanks to a quickfire 68-run knock by Nicholas Pooran.

The wicketkeeper batter scored 68 in just 34 deliveries with the help of three boundaries and seven sixes.

Besides him, MI New York captain Kieron Pollard also made a vital contribution with an 18-ball 34 which featured one boundary and three sixes.

Trent Boult’s sensational six-ball 20 at the death further bolstered MI New York to a massive total.

Imad Wasim and Harmeet Singh led the bowling attack for the Orcas with two wickets each while Cameron Gannon and Andrew Tye made one scalp each.

READ: Saud Shakeel breaks an all-time Test record during second Sri Lanka Test

LA Knight Riders stun leaders Seattle Orcas to claim maiden MLC victory

MORRISVILLE: Rilee Rossouw’s swashbuckling 78-run knock powered Los Angeles Knight Riders to a stunning two-wicket victory over table-toppers Seattle Orcas in the 12th match of the Major League Cricket (MLC).

Set to chase 171, Rilee Rossouw’s unbeaten 78 sealed a narrow two-wicket victory for the bottom-ranked LA Knight Riders with five balls to spare.

The Knight Riders had a poor start to the pursuit as they were four down for a mere 22 runs inside the batting powerplay before Rossouw turned things around.

The left-handed batter launched an astounding recovery with a brilliant 67-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Andre Russell.

The pair appeared to have settled down before Harmeet Singh got rid of Russell in the 12th over. The all-rounder scored a 29-ball 37 with the help of four boundaries and two sixes.

The Knight Riders once again began to lose wickets at an alarming rate after Russell’s departure but Rossouw stood his ground firm and kept the scoreboard ticking with belligerent hitting.

He put on brief partnerships with Sunil Narine(8), Shadley van Schalkwyk (12) and Adam Zampa (12) before stitching a match-winning 40-run partnership with Spencer Johnson.

Rossouw dominated the match-winning for the eighth wicket, scoring the majority of the runs, in contrast to Johnson, who contributed a mere five.

His quickfire knock muscled the Knight Riders to their maiden victory in MLC. His 38-ball 78 featured three boundaries and seven sixes.

Cameron Gannon took three wickets for the Orcas while Andrew Tye picked two. Harmeet Singh, Wayne Parnell and Imad Wasim took one wicket apiece.

Put into bat first, the Orcas accumulated 170/6 in the allotted 20 overs at the back of a brilliant half-century by Shehan Jayasuriya.

The left-handed batter top-scored for the Orcas with a 45-ball 60, laced up with seven boundaries ad a six.

Opening batter Nauman Anwar (32) and Heinrich Klaasen (25) also made notable contributions with the bat and powered their side to a commendable total.

In another fixture of the MLC, MI New York thumped Washington Freedom to inch closer to sealing a playoff berth.

Chasing 161, Nicholas Pooran’s berserk half-century lifted MI New York to complete the run chase in 15.3 overs, losing just two wickets.

Pooran top-scored for MI New York in the pursuit with an unbeaten 62 off 33 deliveries, laced up with four boundaries and six sixes.

Opening batter Monank Patel also played a pivotal role in his side’s triumph with a 29-ball 44.

Batting first, Washington Freedom piled up 160/6 in their quota of 20 overs with Glenn Phillips leading the charge with a 35-ball 47.

Kieron Pollard led the bowling attack for MI New York with 2/33 while Rashid Khan, David Wiese, Trent Boult and Nosthush Kenjige took one wicket apiece.

READ: Kaleem, Lynn propel Montreal Tigers to thump Mississauga Panthers in GT20

Parnell takes five-for as Seattle Orcas sink Texas Super Kings in MLC

MORRISVILLE: South African pacer Wayne Parnell dismantled Texas Super Kings with an economical five-wicket haul and led Seattle Orcas to a dominant eight-wicket victory in the Major League Cricket (MLC).

Put into bat first in the top-table MLC clash, Texas Super Kings endured Wayne Parnell’s attack, who returned figures of 5/20 to book them for a paltry total of 127.

The Super Kings had a dismal start as they lost in-form Devon Conway, who fell for a golden duck on the very first delivery of the innings.

Skipper Faf du Plessis (13 off 10) and Cody Chetty then put on an anchoring 36-run partnership for the second wicket before both perished in successive overs.

Chetty scored 22 off 18 deliveries, laced with two boundaries and a six before falling to Parnell.

Following Chetty’s dismissal, the Super Kings ran into a frustrating collapse and soon slipped to 48/6 in the ninth over.

Experienced all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, alongside Daniel Sams, tried to anchor the innings with a vital 56-run partnership for the seventh wicket.

Click to watch MLC Live on ARY ZAP

The pair appeared to have settled down before Andrew Tye got rid of Sams to get a much-needed breakthrough for his side in the 17th over. Sams could score 26 from 19 balls, hitting a boundary and two sixes.

Bravo, on the other hand, stood his ground firm before falling victim to a ruthless final over by Wayne Parnell, which saw Super Kings losing three wickets including a run out.

Bravo top-scored for the Super Kings with a run-a-ball 39 which featured four boundaries and a six.

Parnell led the bowling attack for the Orcas with 5/20, followed by Andrew Tye’s 2/15 while Imad Wasim and Cameron Gannon picked one wicket apiece.

Set to chase a modest 128, Quinton de Kock’s half-century comfortably steered Orcas to an eight-wicket victory.

The wicketkeeper batter scored a 36-ball 53 which featured three boundaries and three sixes.

His South African teammate Heinrich Klaasen also made a significant contribution in the pursuit with an unbeaten 43. His 21-ball knock included four boundaries and three sixes.

For the Super Kings, only Mitchell Santner and Mohammad Mohsin could pick up a wicket.

With a dominant victory over the Super Kings, Seattle Orcas maintained their unbeaten run in the MLC and strengthened their hold on the top standing.

READ: All-round Shakib propels Montreal Tigers to thump Surrey Jaguars in GT20

Russell’s 70 in vain as Washington Freedom sink LA Knight Riders in MLC

MORRISVILLE: Andre Russell’s swashbuckling 70-run knock went in vain as Washington Freedom edged Los Angeles Knight Riders by six wickets in the ninth match of the Major League Cricket (MLC).

Put into bat first, Andre Russell’s belligerent 70-run knock recovered LA Knight Riders to a commendable total of 175/7 in their quota of 20 overs.

The Knight Riders had a dismal start to their innings as their top four batters failed to score big and the side, consequently, slipped to 68/4 in the 11th over.

Coming out to bat number six, Russell launched a counterattack on the Freedom with a scintillating knock.

He baton charged the opposition’s bowlers amid his 86-run partnership with Rilee Rossouw. Russell dominated the fifth-wicket stand while the left-handed batter rotated the strike until his countrymate Marco Jansen got rid of him in the 19th over.

Rossouw scored an anchoring 41 off 30 deliveries, hitting four sixes.

The Knight Riders lost two more wickets in the span of six deliveries but their mainstay Russell carried his bat all the way through and made sure to steer his side to a defendable total.

Click to watch MLC Live on ARY ZAP

He top-scored for the Knight Riders with a brisk half-century. His 37-ball 70 featured six boundaries and six sixes.

Moises Henriques led the bowling attack for the Freedom with 3/26, followed by Jansen’s 2/29 while Akeal Hosein and Saurabh Netravalkar made one scalp each.

Set to chase 177, a combined effort from the batters scripted a comfortable victory for the Freedom, who accumulated 177/4 with 11 balls to spare.

Freedom openers played pivotal roles in their side’s triumph by laying a solid foundation for the pursuit with a quickfire 68-run partnership.

Wicketkeeper batter Andries Gous dominated the opening partnership with an astounding 15-ball 40 before perishing to Spencer Johnson in the sixth over. His knock featured five boundaries and two sixes.

His opening partner Matthew Short, on the other hand, played an anchoring knock and batted till the 13th over before walking back to the dugout with his side in command.

Short top-scored for the Freedom with 43 off 35 deliveries, smashing three boundaries and a six.

A sensible 41-run partnership for the fifth wicket between skipper Henriques (16) and Obus Pienaar (26) steered the Freedom to glory in the 19th over.

Following a comfortable six-wicket victory, Washington Freedom climbed up to the third in the MLC standings while winless LA Knight Riders remained at the bottom.

READ: Muhammad Asif to face former Welsh champion Perry in European Masters

Wade stars as San Francisco Unicorns down LA Knight Riders in MLC

DALLAS: Matthew Wade’s swashbuckling 78-run knock powered San Francisco Unicorns to a dominant 21-run victory over the Los Angeles Knight Riders in the eighth match of the Major League Cricket (MLC).

Opting to bat first, San Francisco Unicorns piled up the highest total of 212/7 in the MLC history with opener and wicketkeeper Matthew Wade leading their batting charge with a quickfire half-century.

Unicorns’ opening pair of Wade and Finn Allen scripted a solid start with a brisk 88-run stand.

The stand was majorly dominated by Wade while Allen was rotating the strike before Sunil Narine finally got rid of him in the eighth over to draw a much-needed breakthrough for the Knight Riders.

Allen could score 20 off 19 deliveries, hitting a boundary and two sixes.

Joining Wade at the crease after Allen’s dismissal, Marcus Stoinis added further to the misery of Knight Riders’ bowlers with belligerent hitting.

The Australian pair added 55 runs amid their scintillating partnership before both perished in quick successions as Knight Riders hit back.

Stonis scored a brisk 27 off 18, smashing three boundaries and three sixes while Wade top-scored for the Unicorns. His 41-ball 78 featured seven boundaries and five sixes.

The Unicorns sustained another quick blow to their batting expedition but Corey Anderson’s berserk cameo at the backend lifted them to surpass the 200-run mark.

Anderson scored 39 off 20, laced with three boundaries and as many sixes.

Adam Zampa led the bowling attack for the Knight Riders with 3/41 while Narine, Andre Russell and Ali Khan struck out a batter each.

Click to watch MLC Live on ARY ZAP

Set to chase a daunting 213, the Knight Riders fell 21 runs short as they could accumulate 191/5 in the allotted 20 overs despite Jason Roy and Russell’s quick knocks.

Roy gave Knight Riders a flying start to the run chase by charging on the Unicorns right from the start and soon took them past the 50-run mark in the fifth over.

Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf, who went for back-to-back boundaries off Roy, hit back to remove the hard-hitting batter and released the pressure from Unicorns.

Roy scored a dominant 45 off 21 with the help of four boundaries and as many sixes.

Following his dismissal, the Knight Riders began to lose wickets at regular intervals which halted the flow of runs for the visitors.

They had slipped to 116/5 in the 14th over before skipper Narine and Russell launched a counterattack.

The West Indian pair baton charged Unicorns’ bowlers at the backend and glimmered a ray of hope for the Knight Riders to pull off a miraculous victory but came up just 21 runs short.

Russell scored an unbeaten 42 from 26 balls while Narine remained not out with a 17-ball 28.

Shadab Khan led the bowling attack for the Unicorns with 2/26 while Chaitanya Bishnoi, Haris Rauf and Corey Anderson made one scalp each.

READ: Noman’s twin strike gives Pakistan edge over Sri Lanka in Galle Test