Major League Cricket: Liam Plunkett set for coaching stint in the USA
Former England fast bowler Liam Plunkett has been named coach of the Major League Cricket east squad.
At this stage Major League Cricket does not have a hard and fast start date but USA Cricket hopes to get the ambitious T20 tournament off the ground.
Among the players under Plunkett’s direction at the camp will be former South Africa spinner Dane Piedt.
Major League Cricket gathers steam
Major League Cricket recently announced its plans for the development of several international quality venues across the country.
The camp will also serve to prepare players for the upcoming Minor League Cricket campaign.
“There will be an elite training camp and series of Houston Challenge matches at the MLC National Cricket Center at Prairie View Cricket Complex near Houston, Texas, from 26 March to 10 April 2022,” read a statement from Major League Cricket as quoted by Club Cricket SA.
“The training camp and series of matches will feature three teams of professional cricketers from Major League Cricket’s pool of players.
“MLC has also invited USA Cricket to send a representative squad to participate in the series of matches from 4 to 10 April and will confirm the match schedule pending confirmation from USAC.”
Liam Plunkett to coach in the US
“The MLC roster has been divided into squads representing the central, eastern and western regions from the more than three dozen professional cricketers now residing in the United States and helping to raise the standard of the sport across the country.
“MLC-contracted players expected to participate include former New Zealand international Corey Anderson, 2012 Under-19 World Cup winners Unmukt Chand and Smit Patel, 2021 Minor League Cricket MVP Hammad Azam, former South African international Dane Piedt, Pakistan batter Sami Aslam and Sri Lankan Shehan Jayasuriya.
“The camp and matches will provide elite, high-level competition for players ahead of a packed 2022 schedule that includes the return of Minor League Cricket in June.
“In time, Major League Cricket will be the first professional T20 cricket championship in the United States.
“Exclusively sanctioned by USA Cricket, Major League Cricket will feature top players from around the globe while also providing an opportunity for domestic cricketers to showcase their talents to a global audience, bringing world-class T20 cricket to America for the first time.”