Wikipedia

Golden State Grizzlies

The Golden State Grizzlies are an American professional Twenty20 franchise cricket team that compete in Minor League Cricket (MiLC). The team is based in Sacramento, California. It was formed in 2020 as part of 24 original teams to compete in Minor League Cricket.[1] The franchise is owned by ACE (American Cricket Enterprises).[2]

Golden State Grizzlies
LeagueMinor League Cricket
ConferenceWestern Division (Pacific Conference)
Personnel
CaptainSami Aslam
OwnerACE
Team information
CitySacramento, California
Colours  Red, and   Gold.
Founded2020; 4 years ago (2020)
Home groundArroyo Park

T20 kit

The team's home ground is Arroyo Park, located in Davis, California.[3] Sami Aslam currently helms captaincy duties, with Hammad Azam helming vice-captain duties.[4]

Franchise history edit

Background edit

Talks of an American Twenty20 league started in November 2018 just before USA Cricket became the new governing body of cricket in the United States.[5][6] In May 2021, USA Cricket announced they had accepted a bid by American Cricket Enterprises (ACE) for a US$1 billion investment covering the league and other investments benefitting the U.S. national teams.[7]

In an Annual General Meeting on February 21, 2020, it was announced that USA Cricket was planning to launch Major League Cricket in 2021 and Minor League Cricket that summer,[8] but it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic[9] and due to the lack of high-quality cricket stadiums in the USA.[10] Major League Cricket was pushed to a summer-2023 launch[11] and Minor League Cricket was pushed back to July 31, 2021.[12]

USA Cricket CEO Iain Higgins also pointed out cities such as New York City, Houston and Los Angeles with a large cricket fanbase, and targeted them among others as launch cities for Minor League Cricket.[13]

Exhibition league edit

In July 2020, the player registration for the Minor League Cricket exhibition league began.[14] On August 15, 2020, USA Cricket announced the teams participating in the exhibition league matches, also listing the owners for each team.[15] The draft for the exhibition league began on August 22, 2020,[16] with the Golden State Grizzlies releasing their squad on August 24.[17] Saurabh Netravalkar was later named as captain for the Golden State Grizzlies for the exhibition league.[17]

2021 season edit

See also: 2021 Minor League Cricket season § Pacific Conference

After the conclusion of the exhibition league, USA Cricket announced that they were planning to launch the inaugural season of Minor League Cricket in spring 2021.[18] Ahead of the official season, which was announced to kick off on July 31,[19] the Grizzlies announced Sami Aslam as captain with Hammad Azam helming vice-captain duties.[4]

Throughout the group stage, the Grizzlies lost to the Strikers twice, and won twice against the Blazers, the Blasters, the Lashings, the Surf Riders, and the Thunderbolts.[20] The Grizzlies additionally won against the Chicago Blasters and the Americans once.[21][a] The Grizzlies topped the group, thus qualifying for the play-offs.[22]

In the quarterfinals, the Grizzlies bested the Houston Hurricanes in a best-of-three game series 2-0.[23] The Grizzlies headed to the semi-finals to face eventual winners, the Silicon Valley Strikers.[24] The Grizzlies lost by 33 runs against the Strikers as they placed 3rd in the tournament.[25]

2022 season edit

Ahead of the 2022 season, Major League Cricket announced that the draft for that season would take place on May 12.[26]

Current squad edit

  • Players with international caps are listed in bold.
Name Nationality Birth date Batting style Bowling style Year signed Notes
Batsmen
Aditya Srinivas   United States (1991-08-19) 19 August 1991 (age 32) Right-handed Right-arm fast medium 2021
Hammad Azam   Pakistan (1991-03-16) 16 March 1991 (age 33) Right-handed Right-arm medium 2021 Overseas
Zia Shahzad   Pakistan (1996-06-18) 18 June 1996 (age 27) Right-handed Right-arm leg break googly 2021 Overseas
All-rounders
Abbas Jafri   United States (1992-12-15) 15 December 1992 (age 31) Right-handed Right-arm off break 2021
Abheyender Singh   United States (1987-09-21) 21 September 1987 (age 36) Left-handed Slow left-arm orthodox 2021
Asad Khan   Afghanistan (1997-12-06) 6 December 1997 (age 26) Right-handed Right-arm off break 2021 Overseas
Bhavesh Jain   India (1982-06-22) 22 June 1982 (age 41) Left-handed Left-arm medium 2021 Overseas
Karan Chandel   United States (1991-01-27) 27 January 1991 (age 33) Right-handed Right-arm medium fast 2021
Junaid Malik   Pakistan (1990-04-25) 25 April 1990 (age 34) Left-handed Right-arm off break 2021 Overseas
Mohit Nataraj   United States (1985-05-28) 28 May 1985 (age 38) Right-handed Right-arm off break 2021
Neeraj Goel   United States (1991-03-17) 17 March 1991 (age 33) Right-handed Right-arm fast medium 2021
Sami Aslam   Pakistan (1995-12-12) 12 December 1995 (age 28) Left-handed Right-arm medium 2021 Overseas captain
Samson Bhatti   United States (1990-06-29) 29 June 1990 (age 33) Right-handed Right-arm fast medium 2021
Sheryar Khan   Pakistan (1986-04-11) 11 April 1986 (age 38) Right-handed Left-arm medium 2021 Overseas
Shivam Mishra   India (1992-08-30) 30 August 1992 (age 31) Right-handed Right-arm medium fast 2021 Overseas
Vatsal Vaghela   United States (2002-03-20) 20 March 2002 (age 22) Left-handed Slow left-arm orthodox 2021
Wicket-keepers
Saideep Ganesh   United States (1997-05-16) 16 May 1997 (age 26) Right-handed Right-arm off break 2021

Notes edit

  1. ^ This reference covers everything up to Week 7 of Minor League Cricket. Please do not replace this reference.

References edit

  1. ^ "Minor League Cricket Announces Franchise Owners and Draft Owners". USA Cricket. August 15, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  2. ^ Hays, Nate (August 18, 2020). "Minor League Cricket announces teams and owners list, draft on August 22, exhibition games tentative". Emerging Cricket. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  3. ^ "Minor League Division Preview Series - Eastern". Minor League Cricket. Major League Cricket. July 27, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Sami Aslam announces 'new beginning' in California". The News International. December 4, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  5. ^ Penna, Peter Della (January 8, 2019). "USA formally approved to rejoin ICC as Associate Member under USA Cricket". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  6. ^ Penna, Peter Della (November 27, 2018). "USA plan to launch their T20 League in 2021". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  7. ^ "USA Cricket Chooses Partner to Fund and Develop U.S.-Based Professional T20 Cricket League". USA Cricket. May 23, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  8. ^ "USA Cricket Board Meeting February 2020". USA Cricket. February 27, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  9. ^ "USA Cricket re-evaluating Major League Cricket debut timing due to Covid-19 concerns". SportBusiness. August 2, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  10. ^ "American Major League Cricket tournament launch pushed to 2023 at Annual General Meeting". Inside the Games. May 24, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  11. ^ Penna, Peter Della (May 21, 2021). "USA's MLC T20 tournament pushed back to 2023 at AGM". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  12. ^ Penna, Peter Della (July 30, 2021). "Minor League Cricket: T20 league in USA kicks off with Sami Aslam, Corey Anderson in the mix". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  13. ^ Penna, Peter Della (February 27, 2020). "New York, Boston, Chicago, LA among 22 targeted launch cities for USA T20 competition". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  14. ^ "Minor League Cricket Announces Player Registration Opening". USA Cricket. July 7, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  15. ^ "Minor League Cricket Announces Franchise Owners and Draft Update". USA Cricket. August 15, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  16. ^ "Inaugural Minor League Cricket Draft to Take Place Today". USA Cricket. August 22, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  17. ^ a b "Minor League Cricket Draft results with 15 Squads Selected". USA Cricket. August 24, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  18. ^ "USA Cricket Launches Foundational Plan". USA Cricket. October 15, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  19. ^ "American Cricket History to be Made on Minor League Cricket Opening Weekend". Major League Cricket. USA Cricket. July 29, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  20. ^ Patel, Smit (September 23, 2021). "Minor League Cricket Week 8: Rovman Powell hits 38-ball 71". CricBuzz. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  21. ^ Larkin, Zoe (September 15, 2021). "Cricket comes to Sacramento: Startup league brings professional talent and big dreams". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  22. ^ Dunmore, Tom (September 20, 2021). "Teams and Venues Set for Inaugural Minor League Cricket Playoffs". Major League Cricket. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  23. ^ Bisesi, Ryan (September 25, 2021). "Morrisville going crazy for cricket ahead of national tournament". WRAL-TV. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  24. ^ Patel, Smit (October 1, 2021). "Can Unmukt inspire Silicon Valley Strikers to clinch Minor League Cricket title?". CricBuzz. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  25. ^ Friedlander, Brett (February 3, 2022). "Morrisville cricket venue to get significant upgrades". North State Journal. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  26. ^ "Title and Presenting Partners Announced for 2022 Minor League Cricket Championship". Minor League Cricket. Major League Cricket. May 5, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
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