Major League Cricket have fully opened their Minor League Cricket Player Registration Portal for the 2021 season, giving all American-based domestic cricketers until May 31 to register to be drafted into MiLC.
After informally-opened registration last week, more than 1,000 players have already registered in hopes of being picked by a franchise. Applicants must be over the age of 16 and residents of the United States. Eligible applicants will be submitted to one of many MiLC drafts based upon location, to be held next month.
‘We were really pleased to be able to get some cricket in last year in spite of all the challenges with the global pandemic, but we are all now just hugely excited at getting the first full season of Minor League Cricket going in 2021,’ Tournament Director of Minor League Cricket, Justin Geale, commented in USA Cricket’s announcement.
‘The primary aim with Minor League Cricket is to give a platform and opportunity for the best cricketers in America to showcase their abilities at a national level. Minor League Cricket would like to request that all players register ASAP to have a chance of getting involved in this historic first season. The Player Registration Portal is now fully open so please ensure to sign up now.’
In spite of the pandemic, MiLC managed an abbreviated exhibition season in the late summer/early fall of 2020, with 51 games played and division award winners being recognized by the league. While providing a platform for the best domestic cricketers in America, MiLC also showed potential as a bridge for players in a challenging period between their teenage years and mid 20s, with 77 players under the age of 21 contributing in the exhibition.
‘We will have more details about the first full season of the tournament over the coming weeks and we will provide regular updates with our partners at USA Cricket building up to the inaugural season with more details on the Minor League Cricket Draft, the schedule, teams, grounds and much more,’ Gaele continued. ‘We are thankful to all of our owners and the players, officials and volunteers who are joining us on this journey for the inaugural season of Minor League Cricket in 2021.’
USA Cricket Chief Executive, Iain Higgins, added ‘It is a hugely exciting project and one we are dedicated to providing our full support to. Minor League Cricket represents the only nationwide tournament involving the best male players playing against each other on the best available facilities and therefore forms a critical part of our evolving domestic cricket structure and pathway. We are thankful to MLC for their investment and energy into making MiLC a reality and encourage all domestic male cricketers to make sure they do not miss out and sign up for the Player Registration Portal with Minor League Cricket as soon as possible.’
The inaugural MiLC season is currently on track for a late July start.
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