MLC 2024 to start from July 4, to be played in double round-robin format

America's premier T20 tournament, Major League Cricket (MLC), has announced its second season, slated to kick off on July 4. The exciting event follows closely after the conclusion of the 2024 T20 World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States and the West Indies. Unlike the inaugural season, which operated under a single round-robin format due to time constraints, the upcoming season will be played in a double round-robin format. 

The league will wrap up by early August, promising an extended and more competitive series of matches. While specific venues for the tournament have not been officially announced yet, there's buzz about the potential addition of two new venues to the lineup.

Among these, MLC is eyeing the utilization of a temporary 34,000-seater venue in Long Island, New York, set to be used for the World Cup. Additionally, their upcoming facility at George Mason University in the Washington DC area will be considered as a possible venue for World Cup warm-up events. 

MLC beckons major cricket players to join its pantheon

Expectations will be high for the second season to retain the star-studded roster that graced the tournament last year, especially as the scheduling window avoids any clashes with white-ball cricket fixtures in England, Australia, New Zealand, West Indies, and Pakistan.

MLC's will plan for an expanded format and potential new venues adding to the anticipation surrounding the upcoming season.  The inaugural season also witnessed impressive signings, attracting top-tier players with substantial contracts, surpassing renowned leagues like the BBL and SA20 in terms of average player salaries per league game.

"The tremendous success of the inaugural Major League Cricket season provides a perfect platform to propel American cricket to even greater heights in 2024. We expect to see even more world class players taking part in season two of Major League Cricket, creating an incredible summer for the sport in America along with the ICC Men's T20 World Cup," said Justin Geale, Tournament Director, Major League Cricket as quoted by Cricbuzz.