Former India U-19 World Cup-winning captain Unmukt Chand has signed a deal with Silicon Valley Strikers for the 2021 season of the Minor League Cricket (MLC) in USA.
Unmukt Chand signs for Silicon Valley Strikers
Unmukt Chand announces his retirement from Indian cricket on 13th August 2021. Post the resignment, Chand has signed up with the Silicon Valley Strikers for the 2021 season of the Minor League Cricket, a national T20 competition in the United States.
He will make his debut in the tournament against the Socal Lashings on Saturday.
“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,” Unmukt said in a statement on Saturday.
“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 an impressive passion for the game of cricket,” he added.
The Minor League Cricket Championship is a national Twenty20 cricket competition in the USA that sees participation from 27 city-based teams from across the country. It was launched in 2021.
Over 200 matches will be held across 26 venues, featuring more than 400 players.
“Minor League Cricket will provide a foundational structure for cricket in the United States, providing a pathway to Major League Cricket and the United States National Team for the nation’s best players,” MLC said on its website.
Unmukt, 28, will make his debut for Strikers on Saturday against Socal Lashings.
On Friday, he expressed optimism for what lies ahead for him professionally while announcing his retirement from Indian cricket.
“Being an eternal optimist, I feel the road ahead of me is going to lead me to an exciting new journey and I can add much more value to it. I feel more complete as a cricketer and a human being and I am ready to take the leap of faith and enter into new territory and contribute my best,” he said.
Unmukt Chand calls his decision of leaving India a painful call
After ending his cricket career in India, Chand termed it as a very tough call and that he is very emotional at the moment while taking this step.
“It’s a tough one for someone like me, who has always dreamed of playing for the country. And most of it very emotional one as well and obviously, having played every other cricket, except for the senior team, I think it was a very painful call,” said Chand.
