NZC partners with Major League Cricket franchise

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has entered into a partnership with US-based True North Sports Ventures (TNS) to establish a new franchise in Major League Cricket (MLC), with plans for its inaugural season in 2027.

Co-founders of MLC, Sameer Mehta and Vijay Srinivasan, hold majority ownership of the entities that have secured the exclusive rights to operate two new MLC franchises, the first of which will be launched by TNS in the coming years.

TNS is currently assessing several key locations across North America, including Toronto and Atlanta, for the new franchise’s operational base.

In addition to launching the MLC franchise, NZC has the opportunity to collaborate with Mehta and Srinivasan on other strategic initiatives, including the anticipated second franchise, which is slated for launch in 2031.

Commenting on the strategic importance of the partnership, NZC chief executive, Scott Weenink stated that it places NZC at the forefront of cricket’s evolving landscape while bolstering its foothold in one of the most lucrative sporting markets globally.

Weenink emphasised the necessity for NZC to adapt in response to the burgeoning franchise cricket environment, noting how this collaboration helps diversify revenue streams, expands the global brand and fanbase, and creates new avenues for talent development and retention for players and coaches alike.

Weenink added that the MLC represents a top-tier T20 tournament, expressing pride in the partnership with Mehta and Srinivasan.

He also mentioned that NZC would be joining a collective of prestigious global investors, including 49ers Enterprises, the investment arm of the San Francisco 49ers NFL team, which has a substantial portfolio in global sports assets.

Mehta expressed enthusiasm about the partnership with NZC, commending the organisation’s resilience in achieving success with limited financial and playing resources compared to other international cricket entities.

He noted that they see NZC as a perfect fit for their new franchise, affirming that this collaboration will enhance MLC’s T20 product while fostering cricket’s growth in North America.

This landmark agreement will be the first of its kind between a full ICC member, with NZC providing high-performance and operational support.

This includes coaching and management resources, as well as efforts to integrate the franchise within NZC’s domestic high-performance framework.

In the second phase, NZC will lend its expertise in cricket infrastructure and turf management.

NZC has positioned itself as a foundational investor in TNS, with plans to make a more significant equity investment before the end of 2025.

Currently, it features six franchises with prominent players from the BLACKCAPS and international cricket, such as Pat Cummins and Steve Smith, with a goal to expand to eight teams by 2027 and ten by 2031.

The yet-to-be-named NZC-backed franchise is expected to be officially announced later this year, aiming to engage a growing cricket fan base estimated at 25 million in North America, underscored by cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 LA Olympics and the upcoming 2024 ICC T20 World Cup.

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