New Zealand is set to create history as it has become the first-ever full-member ICC team to launch a franchise in an away cricket league. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced on April 24 the grand launch of a franchise in the Major Cricket League (MLC) in 2027. The Kiwis are set to team up with United States-based company True North Sports Ventures (TNS).
MLC, which launched two years ago, is a six-team T20 franchise tournament played in North America during June and July every year. As per the deal, NZC is set to provide high-performance and operation support, which includes coaching, management, and support staff, as well as incorporating the franchise into NZC's domestic high-performance ecosystem.
NZC chief Scott Weenink is optimistic about this historic partnership with MLC and stated how this will help diversify revenue streams in the T20 league.
“This agreement marks a unique and exciting milestone for NZC, As franchise cricket grows globally, NZC needs to adapt to seize strategic opportunities that ensure the sustainability of our cricket network. This helps diversify our revenue streams, expands our global brand and fan base, and creates new talent development and retention pathways for both our players and coaches,” Weenink said, as quoted by the Indian Express.
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True North Sports Ventures looking forward to collaborating with NZC
True North Sports Ventures (TNS), which promotes sports in North America, is excited to team up with NZC and is keen to ensure they achieve their required goals and mission. Like IPL, NZC is hoping to make it a huge success.
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“The potential for cricket in North America is immense, and we look forward to working with NZC to deliver on both our ambitions and theirs, including broader strategic and corporate opportunities globally,” a statement from TNS mentioned.
