Pat Cummins Signs Four-Year Deal with San Francisco Unicorns

Pat Cummins, the Australian Test and ODI captain, has made a groundbreaking move by signing a four-year contract with the San Francisco Unicorns of Major League Cricket (MLC). This marks a significant departure for Cummins, who has previously only played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) overseas and has not featured in Australia's Big Bash League since 2018-19.

Cummins' decision to join the MLC is a testament to the growing stature of the league and the potential of cricket in the United States. "MLC is developing at a rapid rate, and the US market potential is huge for cricket," Cummins said. "While cricket is integral to my involvement, the global network and long-term possibilities offered by the owners specifically, and Silicon Valley more broadly, presented a unique opportunity for me and my life beyond cricket."

The MLC is set to take place from July 6 to 29 this year, and Cummins' availability for Australia's tour of the West Indies in June-July next year remains uncertain. However, he does not lead in T20I cricket, so his participation in the MLC could be possible.

Cummins will be joined at the San Francisco Unicorns by fellow Australian Jake Fraser-McGurk. Other high-profile signings for the 2024 MLC season include Shakib Al Hasan (Los Angeles Knight Riders), David Miller (Los Angeles Knight Riders), Anrich Nortje (MI New York), Romario Shepherd (MI New York), Aiden Markram (Texas Super Kings), Daryl Mitchell (Texas Super Kings), Nandre Burger (Seattle Orcas), and Obed McCoy (Seattle Orcas).

In its second season, the MLC has acquired List A status from the ICC, making it an official T20 league with records counting towards official T20 statistics. This is a significant step for the league and further enhances its credibility.

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