Legendary spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will become the first Indian international to ply his trade in Major League Cricket.
The 39-year-old right arm off-spinner has signed a deal with the San Francisco Unicorns.
Ashwin, who retired from international cricket in 2024, will head to the USA after an agreement to join Australia’s Big Bash League fell through due to a knee injury.
“[Major League Cricket] has proven over recent seasons that it can put on a show, bringing in world-class players and offering significant exposure to US domestic cricket talent, and the opportunity to be a part of it with the San Francisco Unicorns was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” Ashwin said in a statement.
“Taking on the mantle as the first Indian-capped player to compete in Major League Cricket is a major responsibility that I fully embrace,” he added. “My absolute focus is to help this franchise win games and push for its first Championship.”
AFRICA PICKS: Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders – IPL preview
MLC is a T20-format featuring six teams who play in a condensed month-long tournament. San Francisco’s season gets under way on 19 June with a clash against the LA Knight Riders at Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium near Dallas, Texas.
Ashwin amassed 765 wickets across 287 appearances for India in Test, ODI and T20I cricket during his career, and was a member of the squad that won the 2011 ODI World Cup.
– AFP
Photo: Alex Davidson/Getty Images
