The Indian Premier League (IPL)’s most successful franchise, the Chennai Super Kings is following in the footsteps of another IPL Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to expand its brand outside India also. After bagging the Joburg Super Kings in South Africa, it’s now time for Texas Super Kings in the Major League Cricket in USA.
The CSK owned Texas Super Kings (TSK) yesterday announced its 7 out of 9 foreign players. The Texas team for the upcoming Major League Cricket (MLC) 2023 season will include Chennai Super Kings (CSK) players Devon Conway, Mitchell Santner, Ambati Rayudu, as well as David Miller from the Gujarat Titans (GT).
This season marks the beginning of the Major League Cricket (MLC) competition in the United States. The team will be under the guidance of former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, who has been the coach for the CSK team in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for several years. Additionally, Fleming also coaches the Joburg Super Kings franchise that participates in SA20.
This development will bring together a mini-reunion of CSK players in Texas, with Conway, Santner, Rayudu, and Fleming, all of whom were part of the Chennai squad that recently won the IPL trophy in Ahmedabad.
Rayudu had previously announced that the IPL would be his final game in the league, but he is now free to participate in leagues around the world, and the MLC will be his first assignment. Conway’s outstanding performance in the rain-curtailed IPL final, where he scored a quick 25-ball 47 and played a crucial role in the successful chase, earned him the Player of the Match title.
Interestingly, Dwayne Bravo, who served as CSK’s bowling coach in the IPL 2023 season, will be returning as a player for the Major League Cricket 2023.
Joining the Texas Super Kings team alongside the previously mentioned players are Australia’s pace-bowling all-rounder Daniel Sams, who decided not to sign a state contract with New South Wales in order to focus on T20 leagues worldwide.
Additionally, Gerald Coetzee, who impressed as the third-highest wicket-taker in the inaugural SA20 tournament with 17 wickets playing for the Joburg Super Kings, will also be part of the Texas Super Kings squad.
During the MLC drafts held in March, the Super Kings secured the services of former international players Sami Aslam and Rusty Theron. The team also picked USA’s Saiteja Mukkamalla to bolster their lineup. Assisting head coach Stephen Fleming in his duties will be Eric Simmons and Albie Morkel, forming part of the coaching staff.
Pakistan players in Texas Super Kings
The Texas Super Kings have a pretty good squad that can compete for the title in the inaugural season of the Major League Cricket. They have really talented and experienced players in the squad. And talking about players, Texas also has 2 Pakistani players in the squad.
The Texas Super Kings squad includes former Pakistan international opening batter Sami Aslam. Aslam played for Pakistan between 2015 and 2017. He played 13 Tests and 4 ODIs for Pakistan. But, due to lack of opportunities, Aslam quit Pakistan and moved to the United States with a hope of playing for the USA team. He was picked by TSK in the MLC Player Draft 2023.
Other than Aslam, Texas also has former Pakistan cricketer Zia Shahzad. The player never played international cricket for Pakistan but represent Lahore in the Pakistan domestic cricket. And just like Aslam, he also moved to USA with the hope of playing for USA team.
Texas Super Kings Full Squad List: Ambati Rayudu, David Miller, Devon Conway, Dwayne Bravo, Mitchell Santner, Gerald Coetzee, Daniel Sams, Rusty Theron, Cameron Stevenson, Calvin Savage, Saiteja Mukkamalla, Cody Chetty, Milind Kumar, Lahiru Milantha, Sami Aslam, Zia Shahzad
