New Zealand Cricket will become the first full member of the ICC to launch a franchise in a foreign professional Cricket League. The NZC is set to start a new Major League Cricket Franchise in collaboration with the United States Company True North Sports Ventures (TNS), which is ready to debut in the 2027 season. NZC has become a foundation investor in TNS, with the possibility of investing more adequate equity before the end of 2025.
The NZC will provide high performance and management assistance, including coaching, management and assistant employees. MLC co-founders Sameer Mehta and Vijay Srinivasan are the majority owners of institutions who have exclusive rights to own and operate the two MLC expansion franchisees, the first of which will be launched by TNS in 2027. They are searching for major markets in North America, including Toronto of Canada and Atlanta of US. Mehta and Srinivasan co-established the Wilo TV, the premiere cricket broadcaster of North America, before the co-establishment of MLC in 2023.
MLC, which achieved the status of ‘list’ before its 2024 season, is a global T20 tournament played in North America in three to four weeks during June and July. The MLC currently has six franchises and players like Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, David Miller, Trent Bowlt, Rachin Ravindra and Matt Henry.
“This agreement is a unique and exciting milestone for NZC.” “As franchise cricket grows globally, NZC needs to be favorable to seize strategic opportunities that ensure stability of our cricket network. It helps diversify our revenue currents, expands our global brand and fan base, and creates new talent development and retention routes for both our players and coaches.”
To be named New Zealand -backed franchise so far, it is expected to be formally declared later this year, expected to tap 25 million strong cricket fans in North America. In recent times, the T20 Cricket World Cup was held in the region and the game is now included in the 2028 LA Olympics. MLC plans to expand eight teams by 2027 and ten teams by 2031. The NZC stated in a press release that they are also searching for an opportunity to partner with Mehta and Srinivasan on other strategic occasions, such as the second franchise planned for 2031.
In a statement, TNS said: “Cricket is very high in North America, and we are ready to work on both of our ambitions and both of them to work with NZC, including wide strategic and corporate opportunities globally.”
