San Francisco Unicorns

The San Francisco Unicorns are an American franchise cricket team based in San Francisco, California that competes in Major League Cricket (MLC).[1] In 2023, it was announced as one of the six teams to participate in the league's inaugural season. The team is owned by Anand Rajaraman and Venky Harinarayan, co-founders of Cambrian ventures.

San Francisco Unicorns
LeagueMajor League Cricket
Personnel
CaptainAaron Finch
CoachShane Watson
OwnerAnand Rajaraman
Venky Harinarayan
Team information
CitySan Francisco, California, United States
ColoursOrange and Blue
Founded2023 (2023)
Home groundSanta Clara County Fairgrounds Stadium (planned)
Capacity15,000 (planned)
Official websitewww.sfunicorns.com

T20 kit

Plans are underway to build a stadium at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds.[1] The stadium is expected to have a capacity of 15,000 people. During the first MLC season the team will play at Grand Prairie stadium in Texas.[2] In March 2023, Cricket Victoria announced their partnership with the Unicorns for the opening season.[3]

History

Background

Cricket has been growing steadily in San Jose, thanks to cricket clubs like the Northern California Cricket Alliance. Looking at these growing numbers, the county supervisors have been planning to build a stadium in the Santa Clara Fairgrounds.[4] The Unicorns' minor league affiliate are East Bay Blazers, which competes in the developmental league, Minor League Cricket, and were the Western Division champions of the 2023 edition.

In March 2023, the team ownership, name, and logo was unveiled prior to the inaugural MLC domestic draft.[5] The team is owned by Anand Rajaraman and Venky Harinarayan, and the team partnered with the Australia's Cricket Victoria for the first season.[3] Justin Gaele, MLC tournament director emphasizing about the Unicorns, told that the Bay Area could serve as the launchpad for cricket in the United States.

2023 season

The Unicorns signed the first overseas player signed in the inaugural MLC — Australian international Aaron Finch. He was subsequently announced as the captain.[6] Corey Anderson, Liam Plunkett, Tajinder Singh and Smit Patel were prominent names picked in the domestic round of the draft; Marcus Stoinis was also announced as another overseas signing by the Unicorns.[7] In May 2023, the team announced direct signing of South African pacer, Lungi Ngidi.[8]

On 20 June 2023, Unicorns announced former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson as their head coach for the 2023 season.[9]

Current squad
  • Players with international caps are listed in bold.
Name Nationality[lower-alpha 1] Date of birth (age) Batting style Bowling style Year signed Notes
Batters
Aaron Finch  Australia (1986-11-17) November 17, 1986 Right-handed Slow Left-arm orthodox 2023 Direct signing; Captain
David White  South Africa (1991-05-22) May 22, 1991 Right-handed Right-arm medium-fast 2023
Finn Allen  New Zealand (1999-04-22) April 22, 1999 Right-handed Right-arm off-break 2023 Direct signing
Mackenzie Harvey  Australia (2000-09-18) September 18, 2000 Left-handed Right-arm medium-fast 2023 Direct signing; U23 player
All-rounders
Chaitanya Bishnoi  India (1994-08-25) August 25, 1994 Left-handed Slow left-arm orthodox 2023
Corey Anderson  New Zealand December 13, 1990 (age 32) Left-handed Left-arm medium-fast 2023
Marcus Stoinis  Australia (1989-08-16) August 16, 1989 Right-handed Right-arm medium 2023 Direct siging
Sanjay Krishnamurthi  United States (2003-06-02) June 2, 2003 Right-handed Slow left-arm orthodox 2023 U23 player
Tajinder Singh  India (1992-05-25) May 25, 1992 Right-handed Right-arm off-break 2023
Shadab Khan  Pakistan (1998-10-04) October 4, 1998 Right-handed Right-arm leg-break 2023 Direct signing
Wicket-keepers
Smit Patel  United States (1993-05-16) May 16, 1993 Right-handed 2023
Matthew Wade  Australia (1987-12-26) December 26, 1987 Left-handed Right-arm medium 2023 Direct signing
Bowlers
Amila Aponso  Sri Lanka (1993-06-23) June 23, 1993 Right-handed Slow left-arm orthodox 2023 Domestic wildcard signing
Brody Couch  Australia (1999-12-05) December 5, 1999 Left-handed Right-arm medium 2023
Carmi Le Roux  South Africa (1993-03-30) March 30, 1993 Right-handed Left-arm medium-fast 2023
Liam Plunkett  England (1985-04-06) April 6, 1985 Right-handed Right-arm fast 2023
Lungi Ngidi  South Africa (1996-03-29) March 29, 1996 Right-handed Right-arm fast-medium 2023 Direct signing
Qais Ahmad  Afghanistan (2000-08-15) August 15, 2000 Right-handed Right-arm legbreak 2023 Direct signing; Under-23 player
Haris Rauf  Pakistan (1993-11-07) November 7, 1993 Right-handed Right-arm fast 2023 Direct signing

Notes
  1. Nationality refers to the national team that the player represents currently or the one they would be most likely to represent.

References
  1. Kassel, Ethan (March 17, 2023). "Meet San Francisco's Newest Pro Sports Team, the Unicorns". The San Francisco Standard. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  2. Peter Della Penna (March 18, 2023). "USA T20 franchise league MLC projected to spend $110 million on facilities ahead of 2023 launch". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  3. "San Francisco unveil Unicorns in Major League Cricket". Cricket Victoria. March 18, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  4. Nguyen, Kevin V. (November 17, 2022). "San Francisco Is Getting its Own Major League Cricket Team". The San Francisco Standard. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  5. "SAN FRANCISCO UNICORNS CHARGE INTO MAJOR LEAGUE CRICKET". Major League Cricket. March 17, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  6. Penna, Peter Della (March 20, 2023). "Finch first overseas signing at MLC draft, named San Francisco Unicorns captain". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  7. Savage, Nic (March 20, 2023). "Aaron Finch, Marcus Stoinis and Mitchell Marsh sign on for inaugural Major League Cricket tournament". Fox Sports. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  8. Lewis, Simon (May 28, 2023). "Lungi Ngidi signs for San Francisco Unicorns in Major League Cricket". Bets.co.za. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  9. @SFOUnicorns (June 20, 2023). "Coach Watto. A cricketing icon with a championship DNA, @ShaneRWatson33 will be at the helm as our Head Coach. Let's give him a #SparkleArmy welcome #SFOUnicorns #MLC2023 #MajorLeagueCricket" (Tweet). Retrieved 20 June 2023 – via Twitter.
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