Minor League Cricket (MiLC) have announced global car makers Toyota as the sponsor of its inaugural season in 2021. The 27-team based franchise tournament will hold its first full season starting July 31 played across the USA. ACE also announced the overall budget of the tournament to be roughly around $4 million, which is understood to supersede the budget of the GT20 Canada which saw the likes of Yuvraj Singh, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson swarming to Toronto. With more than 200 games announced over a 6-week window, MiLC is set to become the most comprehensive cricket tournament. It is the first time a company with a stature as that of Toyota has forayed into the US cricketing landscape which one would assume bodes well for the future and sustainability of a grassroots or pathway cricket tournament such as the MiLC. Toyota North America has followed the footsteps of their counterpart Toyota Australia in making their presence felt at the grassroot level.
"We're honored to be part of the first-ever Minor League Cricket season and to help support the growth of the sport as it embarks on its most extensive competition to ever take place in the United States. Hopefully, the foundations are strong enough and cricket is here to flourish" said Ozawa.After a successful soft launch of the MiLC last year by staging a few exhibition games, MiLC has lofty plans for this year's edition. More than 100 games out of roughly 200 games will be played on turf wickets with most games to be live-streamed. MiLC has been touted as a pathway tournament for USA Cricket national teams and the much-awaited Major League T20 (MLC), a fully professional world-class franchise T20 tournament scheduled to be launched next year.Former New Zealand cricketer Corey Anderson feels that the launch of his first minor league cricket championship has created a legacy.“The level of cricket will be higher. We saw a lot of talent in last year’s exhibition game. We will share our experiences with young local players on and off the field. We will make a legacy here,” Anderson participates. did. Pakistani cricket player Samia Slam and others with the online launch of the league.“I’ve seen young people in the camp. They’re talented and have a chance to show it off. This is an opportunity to strengthen American cricket and make sports popular here in America. It takes time, but You can speed it up, with the talent we have and the exposure the tournament offers, “added Anderson, who represented the Black Cap with 13 tests, 49 ODIs and 31 T20Is.