Four Pakistan players likely to participate in Major League Cricket 2024

Several top short-form cricketers will remain in North America following the T20 World Cup in June, with stars like Rashid Khan, Trent Boult, Heinrich Klaasen, Imad Wasim, and Haris Rauf retained by their franchises for Major League Cricket's (MLC) second season in July.

The new season kicks off on July 5, just six days after the T20 World Cup final in Barbados.

Haris Rauf has been retained by the San Francisco Unicorns, whereas Seattle Orcas has retained Imad Wasim.

According to a media report, young Pakistan players, Zaman Khan and Abrar Ahmed, may also join the 2024 MLC, pending No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

The 2024 MLC will feature six teams competing from July 5 to July 28 in Texas and North Carolina.

The inaugural edition was held last year, with MI New York claiming the title by defeating Seattle Orcas in the final.

The upcoming season will open with a rematch between MI New York and Seattle Orcas at Church Street Park in North Carolina, followed by a game between Texas Super Kings and LA Knight Riders at Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas.

The tournament will feature 21 matches in a round-robin league format, with the first 15 games split between Church Street Park and Grand Prairie Stadium. The final six group matches and the knockout rounds will take place at Grand Prairie Stadium, culminating in the MLC 2024 final on July 29.

Four of the six teams are affiliated with Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises: MI New York (Mumbai Indians), Texas Super Kings (Chennai Super Kings), LA Knight Riders (Kolkata Knight Riders), and Seattle Orcas (Delhi Capitals). The remaining teams are the San Francisco Unicorns and Washington Freedom.

MLC 2024 will feature prominent international players, including former West Indian captain Kieron Pollard with MI New York and South African stars Wayne Parnell and Quinton de Kock with Seattle Orcas.

The Texas Super Kings will be led by South African Faf du Plessis, while West Indian off-spinner Sunil Narine will captain the LA Knight Riders. Washington Freedom, coached by Ricky Ponting, will include Australians Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, and Travis Head. New Zealand’s Finn Allen has joined the San Francisco Unicorns.