In the ongoing Major League Cricket (MLC) 2023, the San Francisco Unicorns’ (SFU) fast bowler from Pakistan, Haris Rauf, and the Washington Freedom’s (WAF) South African pacer, Anrich Nortje, have ignited a thrilling competition to deliver the fastest balls on the pitch.

Both speedsters have already unleashed the top five fastest deliveries of this inaugural edition. Despite picking up only two and one wicket respectively, Rauf and Nortje have left spectators awestruck with their remarkable pace in the United States.

Haris Rauf currently holds the record for the fastest delivery in Major League Cricket, clocking an incredible 150.1 km/h against the Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR) on Wednesday, July 19. Additionally, Rauf’s second-fastest delivery reached an impressive 149.6 km/h, securing the second spot on the speedometer. Not to be outdone, he also occupies the fifth position with a lightning-quick delivery at 148.6 km/h.

Anrich Nortje’s rapid bowling for the Washington Freedom is not far behind. His deliveries clocked at 149.2 and 148.7 km/h rank third and fourth, respectively. Such immense pace is a rarity in MLC 2023, with few bowlers, including Kagiso Rabada, capable of matching their speeds.

The thrilling ‘Battle of Speed’ between Haris Rauf and Anrich Nortje is expected to intensify further in the upcoming matches, providing fans with an exhilarating spectacle of pace and skill.

MLC 2023: Everything You Need to Know About the Inaugural Season

Get ready for the first-ever franchise-based T20 league in the United States as Major League Cricket (MLC) 2023, organized by USA Cricket, kicks off with six teams competing for the coveted title.

The inaugural edition of MLC will comprise a total of 19 matches, including playoffs, following the pattern of other esteemed leagues worldwide. These matches will be held at two different venues.

Spanning across 15 days, the tournament will showcase a mix of international stars and domestic talents from the United States. To provide you with a comprehensive understanding of MLC 2023, here are the key details regarding the rules, format, and more:

Format:
MLC will adopt the T20 format, similar to popular franchise leagues such as IPL, BBL, PSL, SA20, and LPL. Each team will play with a maximum of 20 overs. The matches will feature 11 players from each side, including a blend of overseas stars and domestic players.

Overseas Player Limit:
Each MLC squad can consist of a maximum of 19 and a minimum of 16 players. Among them, up to nine overseas players are allowed. However, the final playing XIs can have a maximum of six overseas players and five domestic players.

Start and End Dates:
MLC 2023 Season 1 commences with a single round-robin stage, where each team will face off against every other team once. This stage runs from Thursday, July 13 to Tuesday, July 25. The tournament concludes with the playoffs held from Thursday, July 27 to Sunday, July 30.

Match Timings:
Most matches in MLC 2023 will start at 7:30 PM CDT / 8:30 PM ET / 5:30 PM PT. For viewers in India, matches that start at 7:30 PM CDT will begin at 6 AM IST the following day. In the UK, matches will commence at 1:30 AM BST, while the GMT start time will be 12:30 AM GMT. On double-header days, the first match will start at 3:30 PM CDT / 4:30 PM ET / 1:30 PM PT. In India, the first match on double-header days will begin at 3 AM IST, and in the UK, at 10:30 PM BST. The GMT start time for the first match on double-header days will be 9:30 PM GMT.

Venues:
Grand Prairie Stadium near Dallas, Texas, will host 12 of the 19 matches, including the playoffs. The remaining 7 round-robin matches will take place at Church Street Park in Morrisville, North Carolina.

Playoff Format and Team Determination:
The playoff format in MLC 2023 follows the pattern of other T20 leagues. The top four teams on the points table after the round-robin phase advance to the playoffs. The playoffs will consist of the Qualifier, Eliminator, Challenger, and the Final. The Qualifier features the teams placed first and second, with the winner securing a direct spot in the final. The losing team in the Qualifier gets another chance to reach the final via the Challenger, where they face the winner of the Eliminator, a match between the third and fourth-placed teams.

Prepare yourself for an exhilarating T20 cricket extravaganza as MLC 2023 gets underway, promising thrilling matches and fierce competition among the top teams.