The Sunoco Minor League Cricket (MiLC) Championship kicked off its third season with a series of 12 matches held in America’s largest cricket tournament. The season’s opening event was celebrated on August 5th at Sixes Social Cricket in Dallas, TX. Star players, cricket community leaders, and MiLC partners joined in the festivities to mark the start of seven weeks of thrilling T20 cricket featuring the country’s top players.
Among the attendees at Sixes were MiLC players such as Unmukt Chand (Atlanta Lightning), Sujith Gowda (Dallas Mustangs), Rushil Ugarkar (Dallas Mustangs), and Karthik Gattepalli (Houston Hurricanes).
Sunoco, the Title Partner of Minor League Cricket, was represented by Patrick Albo, Director of Business Development, at the kickoff party. Sunoco’s support for cricket in the community dates back over a decade in Texas. They’ve been a national partner of Minor League Cricket since its second season.
Albo expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We’ve been sponsoring cricket locally in the Houston market for the last 15 years. Getting involved on a national level with Minor League Cricket is a perfect match for Sunoco. Witnessing the crowds and excitement is incredible. It’s amazing to see the trajectory of cricket. As Sunoco grows, so does Minor League Cricket. It’s a great way to connect with our customers, and we’re thrilled to be here.”
Sundeep Lamba, Head of Sales & Marketing for the Laxmi brand at House of Spices, spoke on behalf of Laxmi, an Official Partner of Minor League. He highlighted the significance of cricket within the South Asian community and its potential for growth across the United States. Lamba stated, “Laxmi has been a part of America for 50 years and is present in nearly every household. We’re pleased that cricket has arrived here. This sport will undoubtedly flourish, and Laxmi is excited to contribute to bringing ‘desi’ culture back to the United States, as we’re already doing with our food. It’s a great pleasure to now associate with cricket.”
Unmukt Chand, who is part of the Atlanta Lightning for the 2023 season and formerly captained the 2021 MiLC title-winning Silicon Valley Strikers, shared his perspective: “Minor League Cricket has played a crucial role in the growth of American cricket in recent years. I’m thrilled to compete for the Atlanta Lightning this year. Winning the inaugural MiLC title in 2021 was a highlight in my American cricket journey. After Major League Cricket’s successful launch in July, it’s exciting to see the next generation of players vying for a spot in MLC next summer.”
Minor League Cricket also receives support from Bru, the event’s “Cricket for the Community” partner, and Dolphin Media, MiLC’s Outdoor Partner.
The opening weekend witnessed victories for the East Bay Blazers and SoCal Lashings in the Pacific Conference, as well as a win for the Chicago Tigers against the Chicago Kingsmen in a derby match. In the Atlantic Conference, five teams secured wins: the Morrisville Raptors, New Jersey Somerset Cavaliers, Baltimore Royals, The Philadelphians, and the Manhattan Yorkers.
The regular season and two weeks of playoff matchups will feature a total of 140 additional games. This T20 league, America’s most extensive cricket competition, serves as a crucial pathway to Major League Cricket, which successfully concluded its inaugural season in July.
The 2023 edition of MiLC involves 26 teams playing across 17 venues nationwide, with 19 matches scheduled at Grand Prairie Stadium, a newly redeveloped premier cricket venue in Grand Prairie, TX. Fans can follow the action live via free streams on the MLC Network on YouTube throughout the two-month competition. All matches are open to fans at no charge, and the complete schedule is accessible at www.minorleaguecricket.com.