Former Australian captain Steven Smith has been confirmed as a signing for Major League Cricket (MLC) franchise Washington Freedom ahead of the second season of the tournament, starting on July 4. This move comes amidst Smith’s efforts to secure a spot in Australia‘s T20 World Cup squad.
Smith’s involvement with Washington Freedom was widely anticipated, given his previous signing as a brand ambassador for the team last year. With Australia’s international schedule allowing him a clear window to participate in the MLC through July, the timing of his signing aligns well.
The New South Wales (NSW) player has a close connection with Freedom, as NSW has a high-performance partnership with the MLC franchise. Although Greg Shipperd was replaced by Ricky Ponting as the NSW coach in February, the partnership between the teams remains strong.
In 2023, several NSW players, including Moises Henriques, Tanveer Sangha, and Ben Dwarshuis, were part of Freedom’s squad, along with Sixers’ Josh Philippe.
Smith, who owns an apartment in New York, has previously expressed interest in playing cricket in the USA, calling it “pretty cool.”
Despite his excitement for the MLC season, Smith faces a tough challenge in earning a spot in Australia’s final 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup, scheduled for June. His limited recent T20 cricket exposure includes two T20Is in India, two matches in the last BBL season, and two games against New Zealand in February, where he opened the batting but made modest scores.
Regarding his T20 World Cup selection, Smith remains pragmatic, stating, “I’m not really too fussed either way. If I’m there, I’m there; if I’m not, I’m not.”
Smith joins other Australian signings for the MLC’s second season, including Adam Zampa (Los Angeles Knight Riders), Spencer Johnson (Knight Riders), and Tim David (MI New York). More Australian players are expected to join for the tournament, which begins immediately after the T20 World Cup concludes on June 29 in the USA and West Indies.
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