San Francisco Unicorns – Unicorns sign international star Lungi

• South African International joins The Bay Area’s star-studded team ahead of inaugural Major League Cricket (MLC) season

• The former Cricket South Africa Cricketer of the Year offers over eight years of Indian Premier League (IPL) and T20 International experience and joins international stars including Aaron Finch, Liam Plunkett, Corey Anderson, and Marcus Stoinis
  
• The Unicorns will be one of six teams competing in MLC this summer, featuring world-class players in a historic competition, playing the fast-paced Twenty20 (T20) cricket format.

SAN FRANCISCO, Ca. (May 26, 2023) — The San Francisco Unicorns has signed former South African Cricketer of the Year Lungi Ngidi to its roster ahead of Major League Cricket’s inaugural season.

Ngidi, who has won multiple Cricketer of the Year awards in his native South Africa, has represented his national team since 2017 at Test Match, ODI Match, and Twenty20 International (T20I) levels. Most recently, at Twenty20 (T20) level, the 27-year-old right-arm fast-medium bowler competed for the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Paarl Royals in South Africa’s SA20 tourname

Ngidi will take an International slot on the roster alongside Australian T20 International champions Aaron Finch and Marcus Stoinis. The domestic roster, which was populated at Major League Cricket’s historic Inaugural Draft event at Space Center Houston 2023, features 2019 Cricket World Cup champion Liam Plunkett and highly accomplished United States National Cricket Team batting all-rounder Corey Anderson.

“I can’t wait for the inaugural MLC season and am really excited to get over to the States, to play for the San Francisco Unicorns and catch up with my new teammates”

said Ngidi.

Major League Cricket’s historic inaugural season will begin on July 13, 2023 at the league’s newly-constructed venue, Grand Prairie Stadium, in Grand Prairie, TX

The San Francisco Unicorns will be joined by five other teams from major U.S. metropolitan areas – representing Dallas, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Seattle, and New York City – who will each feature world-renowned cricket stars on their respective rosters alongside the best talent based in the United States, playing the fast-paced and exciting T20 format of the game.

In partnership with MLC, the Unicorns are planning to build a world-class stadium in the Bay Area, which will seat up to 15,000 people and be capable of hosting major international cricket events.

“We are thrilled to have Lungi join the Unicorns’ roster for what is set to be a sensational inaugural season of Major League Cricket,” said San Francisco Unicorns co-owner Anand Rajaraman. “His track record and reputation in IPL and in the international game speaks for itself, and he will be paramount to our success when we take to the field in Grand Prairie.”

Five further International players will be added to the roster before play commences in July, with a coach to be confirmed. 

“Our team is being built with the spirit of a Silicon Valley startup, with growth, tenacity, and a path to unbridled success firmly in our sights,” said San Francisco Unicorns co-owner Venky Harinarayan. “With a little over seven weeks remaining until Major League Cricket begins, we are confident in our roster build and truly excited about shining a spotlight on this sport in the United States.”