New Zealand Cricket to Invest in MLC with the Launch of a New Franchise

In a groundbreaking move for the sport, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) is set to become the first full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) to directly invest in a foreign T20 league. NZC has announced its intention to partner with Major League Cricket (MLC) and launch a new franchise by 2027, marking a pivotal shift in the globalization and commercialization of the game. According to reports, MLC is eyeing an expansion from six to eight teams by 2027, with the possibility of reaching ten teams by 2031. This expansion strategy is part of MLC's larger ambition to position itself among the world’s premier T20 leagues. Speculation is already swirling around the inclusion of a Canada-based franchise by 2031. NZC’s partnership is with True North Sports Ventures (TNS), a U.S.-based consortium whose investors include 49ers Enterprises, the investment arm of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers. The terms of the investment are already in place, and NZC will assume partial ownership of the franchise. Beyond capital,