Grand stage set for MLC's inaugural Championship Final match
By MI New York Media
Mrs. Nita Ambani, MI New York Team Owner, to attend landmark occasion for cricket in the United States. Satya Nadella, Seattle Orcas co-owner and Microsoft Chairman and CEO, to deliver first ball.
Grand Prairie Stadium will welcome cricket enthusiasts and fans from across the nation Sunday for the inaugural Major League Cricket (MLC) Championship Final. The Seattle Orcas and MI New York will battle to claim the MLC title and make American cricket history on a day that will feature a spectacle on- and off-the-field for fans to enjoy starting at 7:30 p.m. The championship match will also have Mrs. Nita Ambani, Team Owner of MI New York and Satya Nadella, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft and Co-Owner of the Seattle Orcas, in attendance.
The historic match at Grand Prairie Stadium is sold-out and will be followed worldwide by millions of fans of the world’s second most popular sport. The match-up will feature two teams stacked with the world’s best cricketers and America’s strongest domestic talent, led by Seattle Orcas captain Wayne Parnell and MI New York captain Nicholas Pooran.
Fans can look forward to a spectacular evening that will feature pre-game parachutists from the All Veteran Group, an innings break drone show and post-match fireworks. The first ball for the championship match will be delivered by Satya Nadella, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft and Co-Owner of the Seattle Orcas.
“We are delighted to have Orcas co-owner Satya Nadella here in Texas tonight alongside all of our ownership group supporting Seattle in the first-ever Major League Cricket Championship Final,” said Soma Somasegar, co-owner, Seattle Orcas. “It has been an incredible journey for our Seattle Orcas “pod” in this inaugural Major League Cricket season. We’re thrilled to be competing in this historic occasion and the Orcas team will leave it all out on the field to win the trophy for Seattle.”
In attendance at Grand Prairie Stadium supporting MI New York will be Team Owner Mrs. Nita Ambani, the Founder and Chairperson of the Reliance Foundation and owner of Mumbai Indians, one of the biggest cricket clubs in the world. Ranked as India’s “Most Powerful Woman” by Fortune India and the first Indian woman to be elected to the International Olympic Committee, Ambani is an educationist, philanthropist, businesswoman, patron of arts and sports, and champion of women and children’s rights.
“This season has been a great opportunity to help develop cricket in the USA and showcase the MI brand of cricket in a new geography,” said an MI New York spokesperson. “It is a massive source of pride and joy to have our team owner Mrs. Nita Ambani, the most passionate supporter of the sport, attend the final in Dallas and cheer the team on.”
The Seattle Orcas secured their spot in the championship match after winning the “Qualifier” match Thursday evening, having finished top of the round-robin group stage with four victories and only one defeat. Seattle’s superb batting performances included notable knocks by Heinrich Klaasen, Quinton de Kock and Nauman Anwar.
MI New York advanced to the championship match after battling through both the “Eliminator” match (d. Washington Freedom) and the “Challenger” match (d. Texas Super Kings) to claim their spot in the historic occasion, with Trent Boult the stand-out star for New York with the ball.
“Tomorrow will be one tough game,” said Wayne Parnell, Captain of the Seattle Orcas. “We have to lock up and start again. It is about which team can soak up pressure the best and play really good cricket. That team is going to win. For us it's about locking up tomorrow and being ready to win.”
“For the last four games, we have prepared our minds and bodies and we have been prepared for the finals for a week,” said Nicholas Pooran, Captain of MI New York. “Tomorrow is a big game and we as a group are ready.”
Fans can watch the game live in North America on Willow TV
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