Australia captain Pat Cummins. Photo: Chris Symes / www.photosport.nz
Australia's test and ODI captain Pat Cummins has signed a four-year deal with the San Francisco Unicorns in a major coup for the fledgling Major League Cricket (MLC) T20 competition.
Cummins will join Black Caps Finn Allen and Matt Henry, along with former Black Cap Corey Anderson who is now US-based and is currently playing for the USA at the T20 World Cup.
The second season of MLC starts on 5 July, less than a week after the T20 World Cup co-hosted by the United States and West Indies wraps up.
Fast bowler Cummins will join hard-hitting compatriot Jake Fraser-McGurk at the Unicorns and follows Australia team mates Glenn Maxwell, Travis Head and Steve Smith into the league.
"MLC is developing at a rapid rate, and the U.S. market potential is huge for cricket," Cummins said in a statement.
"While cricket is integral to my involvement, the global network and long-term possibilities offered by the owners specifically, and Silicon Valley more broadly, presented a unique opportunity for me and my life beyond cricket."
Matt Henry is one of three current or former Black Caps playing with the San Francisco Unicorns. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Unicorns are co-owned by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs Anand Rajaraman and Venky Harinarayan.
Cummins is one of cricket's most recognised players as a top performer in all three formats (test, one day and T20) who led Australia to the test and one-day world championships last year.
MLC was awarded "List A" status by the International Cricket Council last month, making it an official T20 league on a par with the Indian Premier League and other established franchise competitions.
MLC organisers plan to expand the six-team competition to 10 in coming years.
-Reuters/RNZ