MLC 2024: Trent Boult, Rashid Khan, Heinrich Klaasen among 23 overseas players retained for second season

Some of the world’s leading T20 players will be plying their trade in the second edition of the Major League Cricket (MLC) as well after being retained by their respective teams. The second edition of the competition is going to take place right after the T20 World Cup, scheduled to be played in the Caribbeans and the United States of America in June 2024.

MLC 2024 is scheduled to start on July 4, five days after the final of the T20 World Cup. Several players, who will be playing in the World Cup, will be joining their franchises for the tournament. According to a report in ESPNcricinfo, big names such as Rashid Khan, Heinrich Klaasen, Trent Boult, and Haris Rauf have been retained by their respective teams.

Big names retained for MLC 2024:

The report further stated that a total of 23 overseas players have been retained by the franchises for the highly-awaited second edition of the MLC. Reigning champions MI New York have retained seven overseas players including West Indies star Nicholas Pooran who scored a blazing century in the final last year. The other notable names retained by the franchise are Kieron Pollard, Dewald Brevis, Kagiso Rabada, Boult, Rashid and Tim David.

Most of the players retained by the New York-based franchise are set to ply their trade in the T20 World Cup. South Africa star Klaasen will be plying his trade for Seattle Orcas once again. He will have the company of his compatriots Wayne Parnell and Quinton de Kock on the team. The Orcas have also retained Pakistan allrounder Imad Wasim.

LA Knight Riders have retained Jason Roy, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Adam Zampa, and Spencer Johnson. Texas Super Kings will continue to avail the services of Faf du Plessis, Devon Conway, and Mitchell Santner. On the other hand, Washington Freedom, who recently appointed Ricky Ponting as their head coach, has retained just two overseas players – Akeal Hosein and Marco Jansen.

San Francisco Unicorns have also retained just two players – Rauf and Finn Allen. The franchises will now be looking to sign overseas players to complete their squads. The franchise is permitted to sign a maximum of nine overseas players.