True North Sports Ventures (TNS) has finalised a partnership with New Zealand Cricket (NZC) to launch a new Major League Cricket (MLC) franchise, which is set to debut in the 2027 season.
Sameer Mehta and Vijay Srinivasan, co-founders of MLC, are the primary stakeholders in entities holding exclusive rights to develop and operate two MLC expansion teams. The first of these franchises will be introduced by TNS in 2027.
TNS aims to capitalise on the surging popularity of cricket across North America, home to an estimated 25 million fans, a growth trend reflected in the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup and cricket’s planned return to the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028. Potential franchise locations under review include Toronto and Atlanta. NZC may also collaborate on a second franchise slated for 2031.
“TNS is delighted to partner with NZC, an organisation admired for its sustained success,” said MLC Co-Founder and TNS Owner Sameer Mehta. “As founders of start-ups that have rapidly grown to established businesses, we see NZC as a perfect fit for our new franchise. With NZC’s expertise, our expansion franchise will elevate MLC’s world-class T20 product and support cricket’s rapid growth and immense potential in North America, and we look forward to working with NZC to deliver on both our ambitions and theirs, including broader strategic and corporate opportunities globally.”
This groundbreaking collaboration between a full member of the International Cricket Council and a franchise within a major professional league will see NZC offering high-performance expertise, including coaching, team management, and staff support, while incorporating the franchise into its domestic elite player pathway.
A second stage will focus on infrastructure guidance, where NZC will provide insights into facility development and turf maintenance. As part of the agreement, NZC has also taken an initial equity stake in TNS and retains the option to increase its investment by the end of 2025.
NZC Chief Executive Scott Weenink highlighted the partnership as a move that strategically positions NZC within cricket’s evolving global landscape, and enhances the organisation’s footprint in the highly lucrative US sports market.
“This agreement marks a unique and exciting milestone for NZC,” said NZC CEO Scott Weenink. “As franchise cricket grows globally, NZC needs to adapt to seize strategic opportunities that ensure the sustainability of our cricket network. This helps diversify our revenue streams, expands our global brand and fan base, and creates new talent development and retention pathways for both our players and coaches.”
Weenink praised MLC as a world-class T20 league and expressed enthusiasm in joining forces with Mehta, Srinivasan and the broader TNS investor community. Notably, TNS investors include 49ers Enterprises — the investment division of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers — which also owns English football club Leeds United.
Mehta and Srinivasan, who previously co-founded Willow TV — North America’s leading cricket broadcaster — were also instrumental in launching Major League Cricket in 2023.
Now recognised as a “List A” competition, MLC is held annually in June and July, featuring international broadcast reach through Willow TV and coverage in markets such as New Zealand.
Currently, the league features six founding teams, with plans to expand to eight in 2027 and ten by 2031. It already showcases talent like BLACKCAPS stars Trent Boult, Matt Henry, Rachin Ravindra and Finn Allen, as well as global icons including Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Steve Smith and David Miller. MLC also supports grassroots development via its youth academy system and semi-professional Minor League Cricket competition in the United States.
