Texas Super Kings

The Texas Super Kings is an American professional Twenty20 cricket team that competes in Major League Cricket (MLC).[4] The team is based in Dallas, Texas and was announced in 2023 as one of six inaugural teams to play in Major League Cricket.[5] The team has a minor league affiliate – the Dallas Mustangs, whom of which competes in Minor League Cricket alongside 25 other teams.[6] The franchise is co-owned by the Chennai Super Kings, Ross Perot Jr., and Anurag Jain.[7]

Texas Super Kings
LeagueMajor League Cricket
Personnel
CoachStephen Fleming
OwnerAniket Super Fan
Team information
CityGrand Prairie, Texas, U.S.
Colours  Yellow
Founded2023 (2023)
Home groundGrand Prairie Stadium
Capacity7,200 (expandable to 15,000)

The team's home ground is Grand Prairie Stadium, located in Grand Prairie, Texas.[8] The stadium has a capacity of 7,200 – but it can expanded to seat 15,000 for major events.[9] The team is coached by Stephen Fleming, who also serves as head coach for the Chennai Super Kings and the Joburg Super Kings.[10]

Franchise history

Background

In November 2020, USA Cricket announced that ACE had acquired a 15-year lease for the former MLB AirHogs Stadium to be renovated into a fully-fledged cricket stadium, which would play host the Dallas franchise Major League Cricket team.[11] Plans were reaffirmed nearly more than two years later in December 2022, wherein MLC officially announced its 2023 season and the name of the Texas franchise home ground, Grand Prairie Stadium.[12]

In May 2022, it was formally announced during a Series A and A1 fundraising round for Major League Cricket that Anurag Jain and Ross Perot Jr. – who were among many big-name investors such as Satya Nadella and Sanjay Parthasarathy – would co-own the Texas franchise cricket team.[13][14]

In the buildup to the 2023 draft – which was held on March 19, the Texas franchise announced its partnership with the Chennai Super Kings.[15] Following the draft, the team held a press conference wherein co-owner Anurag Jain, amongst Stephen Fleming and Kashi Vishwanathan,[16] publicly announced their team name – the Texas Super Kings, logo and coach for the first time.[17]

2023 season

Prior to the launch of the official season, it was announced the MLC's inaugural domestic draft would take place on March 19, 2023.[18] The Super Kings had the final pick of the first round draft and selected Rusty Theron.[19] Throughout the draft, the Super Kings then snapped up players the likes of Sami Aslam, Calvin Savage, and Milind Kumar.[20]

Current squad
  • Players with international caps are listed in bold.
Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Batting style Bowling style Signed year Notes
Batsmen
Milind KumarIndia (1991-02-15) February 15, 1991Right-handedRight-arm off-break2023
Sami AslamPakistan (1995-12-12) December 12, 1995Left-handedRight-arm medium2023
Cody ChettySouth Africa (1991-06-28) June 28, 1991Right-handedRight-arm off-break2023
Saiteja MukkamallaUnited States (2004-04-09) April 9, 2004Right-handedRight-arm off-break2023U23 player
All Rounders
Calvin SavageSouth Africa (1993-01-04) January 4, 1993Right-handedRight-arm fast2023
Zia ShahzadPakistan (1996-06-18) June 18, 1996Right-handedRight-arm legbreak2023
Wicketkeepers
Lahiru MilanthaSri Lanka (1994-05-28) May 28, 1994Left-handed2023
Pace Bowlers
Rusty TheronUnited States (1985-07-24) July 24, 1985Right-handedRight-arm fast-medium2023
Cameron StevensonUnited States (1992-10-30) October 30, 1992Right-handedRight-arm fast-medium2023

References
  1. "Chennai Super Kings buys Texas franchise in Major League Cricket". Mint. March 18, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  2. Skores, Alexandra (November 15, 2022). "Major League Cricket wrapping up renovations to Grand Prairie Stadium, season begins July". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  3. Jordan, Raven (November 17, 2022). "Cricket goes to the major leagues in Dallas, and Ross Perot Jr. is connected". Preston Hollow Advocate. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  4. Martinez, Glorie (March 22, 2023). "Major League Cricket makes its U.S. debut in Texas this summer". Texas Standard. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  5. Ameer, Sana (March 23, 2023). "Texas sports: First professional Major League Cricket team debuts". Midland Reporter-Telegram. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  6. Naheed Rajwani-Dharsi (March 21, 2023). "Texas' Major League Cricket team announces name, coach". Axios. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  7. Maddox, Will (March 22, 2023). "North Texas' Pro Cricket Team Partners With Four-Time Indian Champs". D Magazine. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  8. Murray, Lance (March 21, 2023). "Meet the Texas Super Kings: Major League Cricket Takes the Field in July at Grand Prairie Stadium". Dallas Innovates. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  9. Wallis, Jay (November 15, 2022). "'It's an exciting time' – Major League Cricket coming to Grand Prairie in July 2023". WFAA. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  10. "Fleming to coach Texas Super Kings in USA's Major League Cricket". ESPNcricinfo. March 22, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  11. DiFurio, Dom (November 17, 2022). "Grand Prairie approves stadium redevelopment plan that could make the city a premier U.S. cricket destination". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  12. Piellucci, Mike (November 15, 2022). "We Finally Have More Details on Cricket's Plan to Take Over North Texas". D Magazine. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  13. Ben Swanger, Suzzane Crow (May 27, 2022). "Anurag Jain Wants to Make Dallas America's Cricket Capital". D Magazine. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  14. Peter Della Penna (May 19, 2022). "Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Ross Perot Jr among investors committing $120 million to MLC". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  15. Patel, Smit (March 16, 2023). "DC's GMR group, MI and CSK to run MLC franchises". Cricbuzz. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  16. Smit Patel [@smit2592] (March 20, 2023). "On the stage stephen fleming, anurag jain, and kashi vishwanathan for the Texas Super Kings launch event @MLCricket @ChennaiIPL @TeamTexasMLC #MLC" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  17. "Fleming to be Texas Super Kings coach in Major League Cricket in US as CSK announces partnership". The Times of India. March 22, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  18. Peter Della Penna (February 3, 2023). "MLC set to launch with draft on March 19 at NASA's Johnson Space Center". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  19. "Proteas duo to play in new US T20 league". SA Cricket Mag. March 20, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  20. Naheed Rajwani-Dharsi (March 22, 2023). "Chicago's cricket players go national". Axios. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.