Pat Cummins set to play for San Francisco Unicorns in MLC
Australia’s Test and ODI captain, Pat Cummins, is expected to participate in the second season of MLC in a significant deal. The 31-year-old will play for the San Francisco Unicorns, a franchise that has a strategic partnership with Victoria’s first-class team in Australia. Cummins is anticipated to assume the leadership role at the Unicorns following Aaron Finch’s retirement, thereby addressing the absence of a leader.
Cummins’ participation in the MLC marks a significant advancement in his involvement in T20 franchise cricket, following his recent captaincy of Sunrisers Hyderabad, which led them to the final of the IPL 2024. The Australian captain has also participated in the Big Bash tournament. Cummins has been traveling with the Australian cricket team and the Sunrisers since mid-February. The three-week MLC period, starting five days after the conclusion of the World Cup, will mark the end of a demanding cricket journey for Cummins, which began with the New Zealand trip in February.
Significantly, he has previously displayed little inclination to participate in the T20 franchise circuit. The selection of MLC by Cummins is a clear indication of the league’s rising prominence in international cricket. The significant influence it currently exerts on the T20 circuit to recruit top-tier celebrities is clearly evident. Cummins is joining Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, Spencer Johnson, Steve Smith, and Jake Fraser Mcgurk for the second season of the MLC. All of them are Australians. Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Stoinis, and several other members of the Australian World Cup squad are anticipated to swiftly go to the United States.
The second season of MLC commences on July 5 with two consecutive matches. The upcoming season will commence with a rematch between the defending champions, MI New York and Seattle Orcas, in Morrisville. This will be followed by a home game at the Grand Prairie Stadium in the Dallas Metro region, where the Texas Super Kings will face off against the LA Knight Riders.