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Major League Cricket’s third season springs to life on Thursday (June 12) when the San Francisco Unicorns face Washington Freedom at Oakland Coliseum. Hours before the tournament curtain-raiser, MI New York handed the captaincy baton to a star explosive batter, rewriting their leadership script for 2025.
MI New York appoints a new skipper
MI New York have appointed star batter Nicholas Pooran as their new captain. The 29-year-old left-hander is no stranger to headline acts: he smashed 388 runs in the inaugural 2023 campaign, including that scarcely believable 55-ball 137* in the title decider, the highest knock in MLC history. Those fireworks—plus a strike rate flirting with 250 on finals night—convinced the owners that their “pocket dynamite” should steer the ship full-time.
Also READ: Nicholas Pooran retires: Here’s the international stats of West Indies power-hitter
Retirement from West Indies adds focus on franchise duties
Pooran’s surprise decision last week to quit international cricket now frees him for an unbroken stretch of franchise commitments. He bows out as West Indies’ most-capped and leading T20I run-scorer (2,275 runs in 106 matches) and with 1,983 ODI runs at a shade under 40—numbers that underscore the calibre MI New York have secured.
Pooran will marshal a dressing room stacked with star power: Quinton de Kock’s lightning starts, Kieron Pollard’s finishing muscle, and Rashid Khan’s box-office leg-spin headline a squad intent on defending the crown it lifted in 2023. The franchise believes the blend of Pooran’s flair and their seasoned campaigners is the recipe for back-to-back titles.
Notably, MI New York open their season on Friday (June 13) at Grand Prairie Stadium, where Pooran’s first toss as full-time skipper will mark the beginning of a 34-match sprint that now features a full double round-robin. With Washington Freedom entering as defending champions, and the calendar squeezed between global leagues, the spotlight on Pooran’s debut campaign could scarcely be brighter.
Also SEE: In pics: Meet Kathrina Miguel, the gorgeous wife of retiring Nicholas Pooran
