MAJOR LEAGUE CRICKET 2024: PAT CUMMINS, RASHID KHAN, FAF DU PLESSIS AND OTHER KEY PLAYERS TO KEEP AN EYE ON

NEW DELHI: The second edition of Major League Cricket is set to commence on 4th of July, with the USA aiming to capitalise on their successful run in the T20 World Cup, where they reached the Super 8s stage. The tournament has attracted a diverse array of international stars from England, South Africa, Australia, West Indies, Afghanistan, New Zealand, and Pakistan. Notably, Australian test captain Pat Cummins has committed to a four-year contract with the San Fransco Unicorns.

Jason Roy, one of two English players participating in the tournament, will represent the Los Angles Knight Riders. Despite withdrawing from the Indian Premier League earlier this year, Roy remains a part of the Knight Rider family and will also play for the Trinbago Knight Riders in the 2024 Caribbean Premier League. He will be led by former Surrey and Oval Invincibles teammate Sunil Narine and joined by current Surrey teammate Spencer Johnson.

MI New York boasts the talents of Rashid Khan, widely regarded as one of the best T20 players in the world. After recovering from an injury, Rashid showcased his skills in the T20 World Cup, helping Afghanistan reach their first semi-final. The team also features hard-hitting batsmen such as Nicholas Pooran, Tim David, and Kieron Pollard.

San Franciso Unicorns have secured the services of Australian Test captain Pat Cummins on a four-year deal, highlighting his dedication to the competition. Cummins led the Sunrisers Hyderabad to the IPL 2024 final with consistent bowling performances. He will be joined by English World Cup winner Liam Plunkett, who relocated to the US shortly after being omitted from the England team post the 2019 World Cup.

Aaron Jones, the breakout star of the USA cricket team, will be a key player for the Seattle Orcas. His 94 not out against Canada in the World Cup opener propelled him to instant stardom, and he subsequently took over the captaincy after Monank Patel's injury. The Orcas squad also includes South African players Quinton de Kock and Henrich Klaasen, who narrowly missed out on their country's first World Cup title.

Texas Super Kings will be led by former South African captain Faf du Plessis, who brings extensive experience from his time with the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. The team also features current South African T20 captain Aiden Markram and a trio of New Zealand players: Daryll Mitchell, Mitchell Santner, and Devon Conway.

Washington Freedom possesses a wealth of talent, with the mercurial Glenn Maxwell as their standout player. Maxwell, who has represented both Yorkshire and Lancashire in the T20 Blast, will be looking to bounce back from a relatively quiet IPL and World Cup. The team also includes Australian Test opener Steve Smith, Travis Head, and USA World Cup stars Andries Gous and Saurabh Netravalkar.