Steve Smith MLC 2023: After snubbing IPL 2023, Australian superstar Steve Smith is reportedly close to joining Major League Cricket. The Aussie batter is in talks with US Cricket League which has received $174 million in funding from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadela and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. However, Smith won’t be taking part in MLC 2023 as it will clash with Ashes 2023. Instead, he is eying a bumper offer in MLC 2024. Smith already has a home in New York. Follow India vs Australia LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
As per NewsCorp, Steve Smith is looking to play in US ahead of T20 World Cup 2024. US and West Indies will host the Mega event in October-November 2024.
“We’ve been in touch with Steve about his plans and what he’s thinking. What he’d love to do at some point is play cricket in the US as his schedule permits. His view was that if he could make it work and if we could make it work,” MLC co-founder Sameer Mehta told News Corp.
Steve Smith MLC 2023: After SNUBBING IPL 2023, Steve Smith eyes BUMPER contract in Microsoft & Shah Rukh Khan-backed $174 million Major League Cricket, Check OUT
Smith did not put his name in IPL 2023 Auction after going unsold in IPL 2022. However, he put up some terrific performances in BBL, smashing two centuries in just 5 matches, averaging 86.5.
“I know this season, he has commitments. I don’t know what the Australian calendar is next year but I believe there is enough space for him to potentially play. Long-term … our view is that we might see a lot of him in the US,” Mehta said.
As for Smith, already 33, and juggling between three formats, he will have to take a call on one format. The former Australia captain may choose to step close his international T20 chapter after T20 World Cup 2024 and ODI chapter after World Cup 2023. But before that, he would like to finish his career in the US. His added incentive is wife Dani who resides in the New York.
“There’s obviously leagues popping up everywhere around the world now. I think you’ll probably see more players in the back end of their career going down that route. So it’s potentially something I’ll look at in the future. The US has been a market that cricket’s been trying to get into for some time. So yeah, I think it’d be interesting to see how it goes,” Smith told Sydney Morning Herald earlier.
Despite his interest in playing in T20 World Cup 2024, he has been out of favour in Australia team. After Australia’s early exit from T20 WC 2022, there has been a widespread call for an overhaul. Captain Aaron Finch has also stepped down as the captain before retiring from international cricket.
The selectors will take a call on whether to look for fresh blood in T20 setup in place of veterans like Smith, David Warner, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Glenn Maxwell. Smith is currently in India playing in the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
Steve Smith MLC 2023: After SNUBBING IPL 2023, Steve Smith eyes BUMPER contract in Microsoft & Shah Rukh Khan-backed $174 million Major League Cricket, Check OUT
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