2024 Major League Cricket players' draft explained

2024 Major League Cricket players' draft
Sport:Cricket
Date:March 21, 2024 and June 18, 2024
Time:8 p.m. ET
League:Major League Cricket
Network:
Teams:6
Prev:2023

The 2024 Major League Cricket players' draft was held on March 21, 2024, ahead of the 2024 Major League Cricket season.[1] An additional "supplementary" draft was held on June 18, 2024 to complete the squads.[2] Both drafts were held virtually[3] and not broadcast. Recaps of the event were released by the Major League Cricket via their social media platforms.

The draft was conducted over 10 rounds divided on the basis of salary cap, using the "snake" format. Out of the 125 players in the draft list, 20 players were drafted.[4] During the supplementary draft, teams were given 48 hours to strategize before selecting any players. A total of 3 players were ultimately selected.[5]

Rules

The draft is exclusive to domestic players, like the previous season, however teams are able to announce newly signed players during the draft.[6]

Each team were allowed to have a minimum of nine domestic players and maximum of ten, with a mandatory U23 player in their squads. Until all the teams had passed, the draft round continued in the snake format. Each team could draft two players in each level, if they had enough purse available.[2] Teams who had not yet completed their squads were free to do so during the supplementary draft, wherein teams were given 48 hours to strategize before selecting any further players.[7]

Salary cap

The draft had fixed salary caps for each round, with the highest being $75,000 in the first round and the lowest being $5,000 in the Rookie (U23) round.[2]

Draft order

The draft pick order was based on the reverse order of the teams' finishing positions in the 2023 season standings. Los Angeles Knight Riders had the first pick, if the team did not have enough purse to draft a player, they were automatically passed to the next team.

Retained players

Teams were set a deadline for the end of February 2024 to announce overseas and domestic player retentions for the season, with a maximum of nine overseas slots allowed in each team.[8] Any remaining domestic players would be available to be picked by teams during the main draft.[9]

On February 15, 2024, the retained overseas players' lists were announced.[10] [11] On March 1, 2024, the domestic player retention list was announced.[12]

Retained overseas players for the 2024 Major League Cricket season
TeamPlayerNationality
Los Angeles Knight RidersSpencer Johnson
Sunil Narine
Jason Roy
Andre Russell
Adam Zampa
MI New YorkTrent Boult
Dewald Brevis
Tim David
Rashid Khan
Nicholas Pooran
Kieron Pollard
Kagiso Rabada
San Francisco UnicornsFinn Allen
Haris Rauf
Seattle OrcasHeinrich Klaasen
Quinton de Kock
Wayne Parnell
Imad Wasim
Texas Super KingsDevon Conway
Faf du Plessis
Mitchell Santner
Washington FreedomAkeal Hosein
Marco Jansen
Retained domestic players for the 2024 Major League Cricket season
TeamPlayerSalary cap
Los Angeles Knight RidersAli Khan$75,000
Unmukt Chand$65,000
Nitish Kumar$40,000
Saif Badar$15,000
Shadley van Schalkwyk$10,000
MI New YorkSteven Taylor$75,000
Ehsan Adil$50,000
Nosthush Kenjige$40,000
Monank Patel$35,000
Shayan Jahangir$15,000
San Francisco UnicornsCorey Anderson$75,000
Liam Plunkett$65,000
Carmi le Roux$35,000
Brody Couch$25,000
Sanjay Krishnamurthi$2,500
Seattle OrcasHarmeet Singh$75,000
Shehan Jayasuriya$65,000
Shubham Ranjane$50,000
Cameron Gannon$40,000
Nauman Anwar$25,000
Texas Super KingsCalvin Savage$65,000
Milind Kumar$40,000
Cameron Stevenson$25,000
Zia Shahzad$10,000
Saiteja Mukkamalla$2,500
Mohammad Mohsin
Zia-ul-Haq
Washington FreedomAndries Gous$75,000
Mukhtar Ahmed$65,000
Obus Pienaar$50,000
Saurabh Netravalkar$40,000
Justin Dill$10,000
Akhilesh Bodugum$2,500

Draft selections

Domestic draft

No players were drafted by the teams in the third, fourth and fifth rounds. So, the 6th pick of the draft was directly made in the sixth round.[13]

First round selections made during the draft
PickPlayerTeamMiLC Team
1Adithya GaneshLA Knight RidersBay Blazers
2Hassan KhanSan Francisco UnicornsChicago Kingsmen
3Joshua TrompTexas Super KingsHouston Hurricanes
Second round selections made during the draft
PickPlayerTeamMiLC Team
4Raj NannanTexas Super KingsThe Philadelphians
5Ruben ClintonMI New YorkSoCal Lashings
Seventh round selections made during the draft
PickPlayerTeamMiLC Team
7Ian HollandWashington Freedom
8Amila AponsoWashington FreedomAtlanta Fire
Eighth round selections made during the draft
PickPlayerTeamMiLC Team
9Corné DryLA Knight RidersAtlanta Fire
10Heath RichardsMI New YorkAtlanta Lightning
Ninth round selections made during the draft
PickPlayerTeamMiLC Team
11Tajinder SinghSan Francisco UnicornsChicago Kingsmen
12Ali SheikhSeattle OrcasDallas Mustangs
Tenth round selections made during the draft
PickPlayerTeamMiLC Team
13Derone DavisLA Knight RidersNew Jersey Stallions
14Karima GoreSan Francisco UnicornsNew Jersey Somerset Cavaliers
15Lahiru MilanthaWashington FreedomSilicon Valley Strikers
16Jahmar HamiltonSan Francisco UnicornsAtlanta Fire
Rookie (U23) round selections made during the draft
PickPlayerTeamMiLC Team
17Matthew TrompLA Knight RidersHouston Hurricanes
18Yasir MohammadWashington FreedomNew Jersey Somerset Cavaliers
19Ayan DesaiSeattle OrcasSoCal Lashings
20Rushil UgarkarMI New YorkDallas Mustangs

Supplementary draft

A total of 3 players were selected by teams during the supplementary draft.

Selections made during the supplementary draft
PickPlayerTeamMiLC Team
1Chaitanya BishnoiLA Knight RidersDallas Xforia Giants
2Aaron JonesSeattle OrcasAtlanta Fire
3Sunny PatelMI New YorkNew Jersey Somerset Cavaliers

Overseas signings

The following players were directly signed by teams ahead of the 2024 season.

Overseas signings for the 2024 Major League Cricket season
PlayerNationalityTeamRef.
Michael BracewellSeattle Orcas[14]
Matthew ShortSan Francisco Unicorns
Anrich NortjeMI New York
Romario ShepherdMI New York
Rachin RavindraWashington Freedom[15]
Steve SmithWashington Freedom[16]
Jake Fraser-McGurkSan Francisco Unicorns[17]
Travis HeadWashington Freedom[18]
Glenn MaxwellWashington Freedom[19]
Nandre BurgerSeattle Orcas[20]
Lockie FergusonWashington Freedom[21]
Aiden MarkramTexas Super Kings[22]
Lance MorrisSeattle Orcas
Nathan EllisSeattle Orcas
Matt HenrySan Francisco Unicorns
Ryan RickeltonSeattle Orcas
Andrew TyeWashington Freedom
Josh InglisSan Francisco Unicorns
Sherfane RutherfordSan Francisco Unicorns
Shakib Al HasanLos Angeles Knight Riders
Joshua LittleLos Angeles Knight Riders
David MillerLos Angeles Knight Riders
Naveen-ul-HaqTexas Super Kings
Obed McCoySeattle Orcas
Waqar SalamkheilLos Angeles Knight Riders
Abrar AhmedSan Francisco Unicorns
Pat CumminsSan Francisco Unicorns[23]
Jack EdwardsWashington Freedom
Marcus StoinisTexas Super Kings[24]
Withdrawn players
Daryl MitchellTexas Super Kings
Replacement players
Noor AhmadTexas Super Kings[25]

Administration changes

Administration changes ahead of the 2024 Major League Cricket season
TeamNameChangeRolE
Washington FreedomGreg Shipperd[26] ResignedHead Coach
Ricky Ponting[27] AppointedHead Coach

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Stars Return As America’s Major League Cricket Builds On Stellar Launch . Tristan . Lavalette . . February 18, 2024 . March 17, 2024.
  2. Web site: The 2024 Major League Cricket Domestic Draft: low on hype, high on drama . Emerging Cricket . March 24, 2024 . March 24, 2024.
  3. Web site: Seattle’s Wayne Parnell ready to "make new memories and moments of brilliance" as MLC teams announce retained overseas . Nate . Hays . Emerging Cricket . February 17, 2024 . March 17, 2024.
  4. Web site: MLC Domestic Draft: Hassan Khan, Joshua Tromp draw top dollars. Smit Patel unsold . Smit . Patel . Cricbuzz . 21 March 2024 . 21 March 2024 .
  5. Web site: Chaitanya Bishnoi, Aaron Jones, Sunny Patel set for Major League Cricket 2024 . June 22, 2024 . . June 22, 2024.
  6. Web site: Can Professional Cricket Thrive in America? . Ed . Caesar . . July 24, 2023 . March 17, 2024.
  7. Web site: MI New York And Los Angeles Knight Riders Make Draft Picks For Major League Cricket 2024 . . June 22, 2024 . June 22, 2024.
  8. Web site: MLC 2: Pooran, De Kock, Rashid and Boult among top foreign retentions . Smit . Patel . . February 15, 2024 . March 17, 2024.
  9. Web site: MLC 2024: All Six Major League Cricket Teams Announce Domestic Players Retained . Ritayan . Basu . . March 2, 2024 . March 17, 2024.
  10. News: Khakhar . Mohit . 16 February 2024 . Major League Cricket 2024: List of retained players for MLC franchises ahead of second season . 16 February 2024 . The Sporting News.
  11. News: Roller . Matt . 15 February 2024 . MLC: Rashid, Klaasen, Pooran, Boult, Rauf among overseas players retained . 5 April 2024 . ESPNcricinfo.
  12. News: 2 March 2024 . DOMESTIC PLAYER RETENTIONS FOR MAJOR LEAGUE CRICKET 2024 ANNOUNCED . 2 March 2024 . Major League Cricket.
  13. Web site: 2024 MLC Domestic Draft Results. Major League Cricket . 22 March 2024 . 22 March 2024.
  14. Web site: Texas Super Kings snap up Mitchell for MLC 2024, Shepherd goes to MI New York . Muthu . Deivarayan . ESPNcricinfo . 21 March 2024 . 21 March 2024.
  15. Web site: Travis Head set to follow Steve Smith to Washington Freedom for 2024 MLC . ICC . 15 April 2024 . 30 April 2024.
  16. Web site: ‘Can’t wait’: Steve Smith signs for Major League Cricket’s Washington Freedom . FOX News . 12 April 2024 . 30 April 2024.
  17. 1778906055604388144 . SFOUnicorns . 13 April 2024 . From Melbourne to Delhi, Jake Fraser-McGurk is making big waves! And now he brings his talents to the Unicorns . 13 April 2024.
  18. Web site: Alex. Malcolm. Travis Head joins Steven Smith at Washington Freedom for Major League Cricket 2024. ESPNcricinfo. 15 April 2024 . 19 April 2024.
  19. Web site: Alex. Malcolm. Maxwell signs with Washington in MLC, clarifies that form was the reason for IPL self-omission . ESPNcricinfo. 18 April 2024 . 19 April 2024.
  20. Web site: Nandre Burger: Meet the newest member of our pace battery! . Seattle Orcas. 18 April 2024 . 27 April 2024.
  21. 1783119398309622267 . WSHFreedom. 24 April 2024 . Welcome to the family, Lockie Ferguson . 27 April 2024.
  22. Web site: Aiden Markram Joins Texas Super Kings In Major League Cricket . Club Cricket SA. 26 April 2024 . 27 April 2024.
  23. Web site: 2 June 2024. Pat Cummins signs four-year deal with MLC's San Francisco Unicorns. ESPNcricinfo.
  24. Web site: Texas Super Kings rope in Marcus Stoinis for MLC Season 2.
  25. Web site: Daryl Mitchell ruled out of MLC 2024 due to injury; Texas Super Kings announce Noor Ahmad as replacement.
  26. Web site: washingtonfreedom_admin . 2024-02-06 . Cricket great Ricky Ponting appointed head coach of Washington Freedom . 2024-06-01 . Washington Freedom . en-US.
  27. News: 7 February 2024 . Ricky Ponting in the USA: Australia great named Washington Freedom coach in Major League Cricket . 16 February 2024 . India Today.