England’s World Cup wining star has signed a three-year deal with USA’s Major League Cricket.
Plunkett, who featured for Welsh Fire in the recently concluded The Hundred, will play for The Philadelphians in the 2022 edition of Minor League Cricket (MiCL), a farm league of Major League Cricket, scheduled for 2022.
Being married to an American, who resides in the Philadelphia, made it a natural choice for Plunkett to sign for The Philadelphians.
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to join Major League Cricket and focus my attention on helping to grow the sport in the United States. I’ve enjoyed a fantastic career with England, and after retiring from international cricket, I am delighted to be able to help build cricket in America in both playing and coaching capacities,” stated Plunkett to the MLC website.
“In addition, I am looking forward to supporting the team closest to our home in America by being able to play for The Philadelphians in Minor League Cricket,” he added.
The 36-year-old has represented England in 13 Tests, 89 ODIs and 22 T20Is bagging 41, 135 and 25 wickets respectively.
Earlier, 2012 U-19 World Cup winning India captain – Unmukt Chand hasd signed a multi-year contract with Silicon Valley Strikers for the ongoing 2021 season of the Minor League Cricket.
The announcement had come just after he had announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in India.
In a statement posted on his social media accounts, Chand, who was is USA since April, had said that he is now ‘ready to take the leap of faith and enter into a new territory and contribute my best’.
“I’m delighted to take the next step in my cricket career by being part of the long-term growth of American cricket and the launch of Major League Cricket. I’m excited to have the opportunity to play for the Strikers in Minor League Cricket starting this weekend and help grow the sport locally in the Bay Area, where I have already seen impressive passion for the game of cricket,” said Chand in a statement..
The MLC, sponsored by Toyota, is a national T20 competition for 27 city-based teams from all over USA. It was launched earlier this year.