Washington Freedom (cricket)
The Washington Freedom are an American professional Twenty20 cricket team that competes in Major League Cricket (MLC).[2] The team is based in Washington, D.C. and was announced in 2023 as one of six inaugural franchises to play in Major League Cricket.[3] The Freedom is owned by Indian American entrepreneur Sanjay Govil.[1]
| League | Major League Cricket | |
|---|---|---|
| Personnel | ||
| Captain | Moises Henriques | |
| Coach | Greg Shipperd | |
| Owner | Sanjay Govil[1] | |
| Team information | ||
| City | Washington, D.C., United States | |
| Colours | Red, White, and Blue | |
| Founded | 2023 | |
| Home ground | George Mason Cricket Stadium (planned) | |
| Capacity | 12,000 (planned) | |
| Official website | www | |
| ||
The team plans to have their home ground at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.[4] The stadium is planned to host both cricket and baseball games and support up to 12,000 spectators upon its completion in summer 2025.[5] The team is coached by Greg Shipperd, who currently coaches the Sydney Sixers, and is captained by Sixers captain Moises Henriques.[6]
Franchise history edit
Background edit
In May 2022, Major League Cricket announced that it had secured $120 million from various investors across the United States.[7] One of these investors was Sanjay Govil, who was later announced to be the lead investor and owner of the Washington DC-based franchise team.[8] Alongside MLC, Govil partnered up with George Mason University to launch a feasibility study into a 12,000-seat hybrid cricket/baseball stadium later that year in December.[9] The stadium would be on track to finish its completion around summer of 2025 and play host to the DC franchise.[10]
In February 2023, Major League Cricket announced that Govil had entered a partnership with Cricket New South Wales to help accelerate the growth of the DC-based franchise.[11] The agreement included initiatives to further player development opportunities, as well as cricket content, within the U.S., an exchange program of coaches and support staff, and opportunities for NSW-based players to play in MLC.[12] Cricket NSW chief executive Lee Germon stated that "... he [Govil] was very keen to not have an IPL partner... [and wanted to] partner with someone outside who could really bring what we wanted to the table."[13]
In March 2023, the team's name, the Washington Freedom, and logo were officially revealed to the public.[14] Upon the unveiling of the team name and logo, Govil said that, "the team's mark and colors are a perfect for a team from the nation's capital to compete on the global stage."[15]
2023 season edit
The Freedom had the second overall pick of the MLC's inaugural domestic draft and selected Thunderbolts vice-captain Andries Gous as their first draft pick.[16] Dane Piedt, Mukhtar Ahmed, and Saad Ali were also all picked up by the team, with Sri Lanka international Wanindu Hasaranga (who later pulled out of the competition) and South African quick Anrich Nortje both being announced as direct signings during the draft.[17][18] Marco Jansen, Glenn Phillips, and Adam Milne were all also announced as direct signings in May.[19][20] The team then later announced it would be led by Sixers captain Moises Henriques.[21] Shortly after, they announced that they had appointed Greg Shipperd as their head coach and Dale Steyn as their bowling coach.[22] Later the following month, they announced Josh Philippe, Ben Dwarshuis, and Akeal Hosein all as additional direct signings.[23][24] Tanveer Sangha was signed in the days leading up to the tournament as a replacement for Hasaranga, while Matthew Short was added to the squad as an injury replacement for Josh Philippe.
Freedom's season started with a narrow defeat against Seattle Orcas, before they bounced back in the second fixture against Texas Super Kings, winning by six runs thanks to a fantastic all-round bowling display that backed up 80 off 50 balls from Matt Short.
Two more wins would follow against LA Knight Riders and San Francisco Unicorns, before a defeat at the hands of MI New York would see Freedom forced to settle for a place in the third v fourth Eliminator fixture in Finals week. The highlight of Freedom's group stage campaign came against the Unicorns, where Saurabh Netravalkar starred with an outstanding bowling performance, claiming 6-9 as Freedom successfully defended 133.
Current squad edit
- Players with international caps are listed in bold.
| Position | Name | Nationality | Date of Birth (age) | Batting style | Bowling style | Year signed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batters | Mukhtar Ahmed | Pakistan | December 20, 1992 | Right-handed | Right-arm leg break googly | 2023 | |
| Saad Ali | Pakistan | December 20, 1992 | Left-handed | Right-arm medium | 2023 | ||
| Sujith Gowda | United States | October 23, 1996 | Right-handed | Right-arm off spin | 2023 | ||
| Matthew Short | Australia | November 8, 1995 (age 27) | Right-handed | Right-arm off spin | 2023 | Injury replacement | |
| All-rounders | Obus Pienaar | South Africa | December 12, 1989 | Right-handed | Left-arm off spin | 2023 | |
| Justin Dill | South Africa | November 10, 1994 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium fast | 2023 | ||
| Moises Henriques | Australia | February 1, 1987 | Right-handed | Right arm Fast medium | 2023 | Captain, Direct signing | |
| Marco Jansen | South Africa | May 1, 2000 | Right-handed | Left-arm fast medium | 2023 | Direct signing | |
| Bowlers | Anrich Nortje | South Africa | November 16, 1993 | Right-handed | Right-arm fast | 2023 | Direct signing |
| Saurabh Netravalkar | United States | October 16, 1991 | Right-handed | Left-arm medium fast | 2023 | ||
| Dane Piedt | South Africa | March 6, 1990 | Right-handed | Right-arm off spin | 2023 | ||
| Akhilesh Bodugum | United States | April 28, 2000 | Right-handed | Right-arm off spin | 2023 | U23 player | |
| Adam Milne | New Zealand | April 13, 1991 | Right-handed | Right-arm fast | 2023 | Direct signing | |
| Ben Dwarshuis | Australia | June 23, 1994 | Left-handed | left-arm fast-medium | 2023 | Direct signing | |
| Akeal Hosein | West Indies | April 25, 1993 | Left-handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | 2023 | Direct signing | |
| Tanveer Sangha | Australia | November 26, 2001 (age 21) | Right-handed | Right-arm leg spin | 2023 | Direct signing | |
| Wicket-keepers | Andries Gous | South Africa | November 24, 1993 | Right-handed | 2023 | ||
| Glenn Phillips | New Zealand | December 6, 1996 | Right-handed | Right-arm off spin | 2023 | Direct signing | |
| Josh Philippe | Australia | June 1, 1997 | Right-handed | 2023 | Injured |
References edit
- ^ a b Kumar, Arun (March 20, 2023). "Sanjay Govil brings professional cricket to Washington". The American Bazaar. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
- ^ Lyons, Ivy. "Washington Freedom is DC's new Major League Cricket team". WTOP. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
- ^ Kenny, Katie (March 15, 2023). "Say Hello to DC's New Major League Cricket Team, the Washington Freedom". Washingtonian. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
- ^ Martz, Michael (December 30, 2022). "George Mason steps up to bat with potential cricket, baseball stadium". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
- ^ Bird, Jensen (November 30, 2022). "George Mason University, Major League Cricket partner up for cricket and baseball facility". WJLA. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
- ^ Seeley, David (June 13, 2023). "Major League Cricket Announces 2023 Season Schedule With First Ever Match in Grand Prairie July 13". Dallas Innovates. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
- ^ Schlosser, Kurt (May 18, 2022). "Major League Cricket secures $120M funding from Microsoft CEO and others to launch in U.S." GeekWire. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
- ^ Patel, Smit (December 7, 2022). "MLC to adopt reformist approach to build new stadium in Washington DC". Cricbuzz. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
- ^ Hays, Nate (December 1, 2022). "MLC and George Mason University announce feasibility study for DC area stadium". Emerging Cricket. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
- ^ Woolsey, Angela (February 27, 2023). "Potential GMU cricket facility has county board intrigued but cautious". FFXnow. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
- ^ McGlashan, Andrew (February 17, 2023). "Coming to America: New South Wales signs deal with Major League Cricket". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
- ^ "Cricket NSW partners with America in new T20 league". AAP. Cricket Australia. February 17, 2023. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
- ^ Lavalette, Tristan (March 11, 2023). "How America's New Pro T20 Cricket League Can Lure Top Australian Players". Forbes. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
- ^ Singh, Shubham (March 19, 2023). "Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, GMR Group secure rights for a team in US' T20 franchise Major League Cricket". Business Today. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
- ^ "Washington Freedom chosen as name for DC's professional cricket team". Fox 5 DC. March 15, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
- ^ Peter Della Penna (March 20, 2023). "Harmeet Singh goes first in MLC Draft to Seattle Orcas; Ali Khan and Unmukt Chand snapped by LA Knight Riders". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
- ^ Kasari, Kingshuk (March 20, 2023). "Finch, Hasaranga highlight MLC Draft". India Today. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
- ^ "From India to the USA: Five IPL 2023 stars set to light up Major League Cricket". Wisden. April 17, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
- ^ "Marco Jansen joins Washington Freedom in Major League Cricket, USA". ClubCricketSA. May 17, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
- ^ Mathur, Nitesh (May 23, 2023). "11 Overseas Cricketers in Major League Cricket (MLC) in USA: Aaron Finch, Quinton de Kock… Can You Guess the Rest?". Broken Cricket Dreams. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
- ^ Paynter, Jack (May 28, 2023). "Zampa, Wade, Henriques add to MLC's Aussie influx". Cricket Australia. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ Patel, Smit (May 31, 2023). "Dale Steyn appointed bowling coach of Washington Freedom". Cricbuzz. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ ANI (May 28, 2023). "Australian trio Matthew Wade, Moises Henriques, Adam Zampa to feature in Major League Cricket". ThePrint. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
- ^ Johnson, Kristen (June 16, 2023). "Major League Cricket is coming to Morrisville. How to go to the games this summer". The News & Observer. Retrieved June 18, 2023.