Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, PayTM founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma and Adobe Systems CEO Shantu Narayen are among the angel investors to join an increasing list of high-profile entities and individuals throwing their weight behind the American T20 league, namely Major League Cricket (MLC), sources close to Major League Cricket have claimed. As per a Cricbuzz report, the investments were made by these marquee investors in the last quarter of 2019 in the holding company of the American T20 League.Nadella's affinity and passion towards cricket is no secret. He represented his alma mater Hyderabad Public School in the much competitive Hyderabad Schools cricket. This instance also isn't the first time Nadella is clubbing his passion with profession as Microsoft partnered with Anil Kumble's SPEKTACOM to design and build a chip-enabled smart bat called the Power Bat in October 2018.
Nadella and his wife also own a stake in the Seattle based MLS soccer club Seattle Sounders FC. It is also learnt the Dallas-based real estate tycoon and billionaire Ross Perot Jr. and his partner Anurag Jain have acquired the Dallas franchise of the said league. Ross Perot Jr. is also a minority stakeholder of the Dallas NBA team Dallas Mavericks. The US-based league is gaining momentum with a series of announcements, including the unveiling of the Shakrukh Khan-owned Knight Riders franchise as one of the top investors. In terms of player accquistion New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson, who once held the record for fastest ODI hundred, has signed a three-year deal with the US league. Another player on USA Cricket’s radar is England 2019 World Cup-winning pacer Liam Plunkett. USA Cricket has also roped in Pakistan’s Test opener Sami Aslam.
