Bollywood Star To Become Face of New US-Based MLC Cricket Team Backed by New Zealand Cricket

In a landmark move that could reshape international cricket partnerships, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has announced its entry into Major League Cricket (MLC) through a strategic alliance with a new franchise set to debut in the 2027 season.

This bold step marks the first time a national cricket board has invested in a foreign T20 league, demonstrating NZC’s intent to expand beyond traditional boundaries and tap into the rapidly evolving U.S. cricket market.

The Power Behind the Franchise

This untitled franchise of the MLC is owned by True North Sports Ventures (TNS)- a consortium led by MCL's co-founders Sameer Mehta and Vijay Srinivasan- with minority stake participation by the investment arm of the San Francisco For Niners. Talks are also ongoing to bring in a top Bollywood celebrity to enhance the franchise's popularity in the U.S. and South Asia.

A Unique Two-Pronged Partnership

According to Cricbuzz, the NZC-TNS deal is twofold. NZC will acquire a minority equity stake in the franchise while also taking charge of cricketing operations — including high-performance programs, talent development, and operational management.

Their involvement will include cross-utilization of NZC-contracted players, coaches, and support staff, effectively integrating New Zealand’s domestic cricket system with the MLC setup.

“NZC will be providing its expertise to greatly benefit MLC and also cricket in the US. But for us, the massive upside for us is that we are going to be paid for providing these high performance services and being a partner with these MLC franchises,” NZC’s CEO Scott Weenink told Cricbuzz.

“We have the opportunity to take equity stakes in the franchise, and thereby we have the opportunity to benefit from the growth of cricket in the US from a financial perspective when MLC gets lucrative.”

Weenink believes this partnership could eventually allow NZC to reinvest in grassroots and elite cricket back home — something increasingly crucial in a small but competitive cricketing nation.

NZC’s Role Could Grow Further

According to a source close to the deal- said Cricbuzz- although the NZC's initial stake could be small, the board will have the opportunity to substantially scale this up in time. The source added that the NZC's inclusion goes beyond service to emerging as a major minority shareholder in the long-term future of the franchise.

Mehta: A Partnership Rooted in Purpose

TNS co-founder Sameer Mehta highlighted the foresight behind bringing NZC and the 49ers on board well before the franchise’s launch.

“Since the NZC are coming in early with us, they actually have time to analyze and build what they want on the high performance side. In my opinion, they are the world's best entity in high performance,” Mehta told Cricbuzz.

“They really know how to take a small talent pool which also mirrors USA's cricketing landscape… and completely magnify it. They want to make this an example of how they can operate outside of New Zealand.”

Leveraging the NFL's Commercial Might

“They can help the franchise in many aspects like procuring a top merchandising deal, or a great advertising partner. We'd be looking to get connections with mainstream sponsors like Gatorade… NZC will bring the cricketing elements and these guys will bring the American aspect,” he added.

A Decade in the Making

NZC’s push into North America isn’t new. Over a decade ago, they experimented with hosting a T20I series against Sri Lanka in Florida — a venture that didn’t gain traction but laid the groundwork for future initiatives.

“We have a very innovative and forward thinking and strategically minded board. We are constantly on the move,” said Weenink.

“We have smaller playing numbers than most countries but we have a system where we identify talent early and then put a wrap around them… It's a nurture rather than a nature system.”

Toronto Likely Home for the New Franchise

While final decisions are still pending, it’s understood that the franchise will likely be based in Toronto, with discussions already underway between TNS, Cricket Canada, and the city of Brampton. A contingency location in Atlanta is also being explored if the Canadian option doesn’t materialize.