- The Hundred and Major League Cricket (MLC) to face direct scheduling clash in late July 2024.
- Overlapping fixtures pose challenges for player availability, raising questions about league priorities.
- Financial differences and regulatory exemptions add complexity to the evolving landscape of franchise cricket.
In a groundbreaking development for the cricketing world, The Hundred and Major League Cricket (MLC) are set to go head-to-head in late July 2024, creating the first-ever direct clash between these prominent leagues. MLC, bolstered by investments from Indian and American backers, announced the launch of its second season on July 4, aiming to conclude “by early August.”
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) disclosed The Hundred’s fixture list, revealing that The Oval would host the opening men’s and women’s matches on July 23. However, a significant challenge arises with England’s third Test against West Indies beginning on July 26, leading to potential clashes and impacting player availability.
While the England women’s team, concluding a T20I series against New Zealand on July 17, avoids a direct clash with The Hundred, concerns persist regarding player pools and scheduling conflicts. The Hundred aims to avoid overlapping with the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) in 2024, striving to secure better player availability.
The men’s and women’s finals of The Hundred are slated for August 18 at Lord’s, adding a pinnacle to the league’s summer campaign. However, MLC’s launch during the northern hemisphere summer poses a challenge, particularly in terms of overlapping schedules affecting player participation.
The ECB has expressed reservations about new lucrative franchise leagues during the summer, restricting centrally-contracted players from participating in MLC. Notably, Jason Roy, the sole English player in MLC last season, is anticipated to return for at least part of the 2024 season.
Amidst this cricketing clash, the ICC has introduced a global limit of four overseas players per team in franchise leagues, a regulation that MLC currently exceeds due to its exemption as an existing league. Richard Thompson, ECB’s chair, criticized leagues such as MLC, referring to them as “international tournaments masquerading as domestic competitions.”
Financial considerations also come into play, with MLC paying top earners around US$175,000 (£137,500) in the inaugural season for a minimum of five games, while The Hundred’s highest men’s salary remains at £125,000 (US$159,000) for a minimum of eight games in the 2024 season.
The potential scheduling clash and the differing financial structures of The Hundred and MLC raise questions about player preferences, league priorities, and the evolving landscape of franchise cricket. As both leagues compete for the best cricketing talent, the situation underscores the dynamic nature of the cricketing ecosystem.
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