MiLC season kicks off amid uncertainty looming over domestic US Cricket

The MiLC returned last week, in what will be it's fifth season, amid complete uncertainty over the future of domestic US cricket, following USA's cricket recent termination notice to American Cricket Enterprises (ACE), the ownership entity of both MLC and MiLC. In a statement that USAC posted, they clarified that the MiLC will still be recognised as 'approved' cricket this year, since the tournament was sanctioned before the termination notice was issued.

Since the MiLC's inception, it has become a beginning of a long conveyor belt of young American cricket talent, with the 26 teams being a major part of the pipeline of talent that comes through the league and graduates to the MLC and US National Team. Players like Sai Teja and Sanjay Krishnamurthy are proof of this! The timing of this termination notice has put a dampener on the start of the MiLC 2025 season but the show must go on.

It's not just the player development of the league that will be hindered but also it could have an effect on how the MiLC is shaping cricket to be played in the US for years to come. The MiLC is responsible for creating more than 15 turf-wicket grounds and last season over 80% of matches were played on turf, with this season's matches being scheduled to play on turf wickets for 90% of games.

It is a shame for MiLC team owners, who have allegedly spent around $150,000 of personal wealth to keep the engine of domestic US Cricket alive, with the promise and belief in the sports long term promise, this being the fact that MLC offered the prospect of financial stability and pathway legitimacy for players.  Some would say this has been thrown back in their faces.