Chicago Kingsmen

{{Short description|Chicago-based cricket team in Minor League Cricket}}

{{Infobox cricket team

| name = Chicago Kingsmen

| league = Minor League Cricket

| conference = Central Division (Pacific Conference)

| alt_name =

| image =

| colours = {{color box|darkblue}} Dark Blue, and {{color box|maroon}} Burgundy.

| coach = Aamir Saddique

| captain = Fawad Alam

| city = Chicago, Illinois

| founded = {{Start date and age|2020}}

| owner = Kingsmen Global Sports Group{{cite web|url=https://www.abc27.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/625381899/new-world-class-cricket-stadium-and-training-facility-to-be-built-in-chicago/ |first=Serena |last=Thynne |website=WHTM-TV |date=March 31, 2023 |title=New world-class cricket stadium and training facility to be built in Chicago |access-date=August 5, 2023}}

| ground = Kingsmen Stadium

| capacity =

| t_title = T20 kit

| t_pattern_la = _blueborder

| t_pattern_b =

| t_pattern_ra = _blueborder

| t_pattern_pants =

| t_leftarm = 00008B

| t_body = FFFF00

| t_rightarm = 00008B

| t_pants = 00008B

| current =

}}

The Chicago Kingsmen (formerly the Chicago Blasters) are an American professional Twenty20 cricket team based in Chicago, Illinois, that competes in Minor League Cricket (MiLC). It was formed in 2020 as part of 24 original teams to compete in Minor League Cricket.{{cite web|url= https://www.usacricket.org/media-release/minor-league-cricket-announces-franchise-owners-and-draft-update/ |work=USA Cricket |date=15 August 2020 |title=Minor League Cricket Announces Franchise Owners and Draft Owners |access-date=23 May 2022}} The franchise was owned by Iftekhar Shareef until the team's acquisition by Fawad Sarwar of the Kingsmen Global Sports Group. The franchise is currently run by Salman Abbasi and Mohammad Iqra Farooqui,{{cite web|url=https://www.stadia-magazine.com/news/cricket-in-chicago-new-illinois-stadium-announced.html |first=Benedict |last=Evans |newspaper=Stadia Magazine |title=Cricket in Chicago? New Illinois stadium announced |date=June 12, 2023 |access-date=August 5, 2023}} with Khurram Syed also associated.{{cite web|url=https://emergingcricket.com/events/major-league-cricket/minor-league-cricket-announces-teams-and-owners-list-draft-on-august-22-exhibition-games-tentative/ |first=Nate |last=Hays |publisher=Emerging Cricket |date=18 August 2020 |title=Minor League Cricket announces teams and owners list, draft on August 22, exhibition games tentative |access-date=23 May 2022}}

The team's planned home ground is Kingsmen Stadium, located in Illinois. Pakistan international Fawad Alam helms captaincy duties, while former Pakistani cricketer Saad Ali stands by as vice-captain.{{cite web|url=https://www.usacricket.org/media-release/pre-draft-selections-confirmed-by-21-minor-league-cricket-teams-as-draft-day-looms/ |work=Major League Cricket |publisher=USA Cricket |date=4 June 2021 |title=Pre-Draft Selections Confirmed by 21 Minor League Cricket Teams as Draft Day Looms |access-date=23 May 2022}}

Franchise history

= Background =

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/25714489/usa-formally-approved-rejoin-icc-associate-member-usa-cricket |first=Peter Della |last=Penna |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=8 January 2019 |title=USA formally approved to rejoin ICC as Associate Member under USA Cricket |access-date=23 May 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/usa-plan-to-launch-their-t20-league-in-2021-1167043 |first=Peter Della |last=Penna |date=27 November 2018 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |title=USA plan to launch their T20 League in 2021 |access-date=23 May 2022}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.usacricket.org/media-release/usa-cricket-chooses-partner-to-fund-and-develop-u-s-based-professional-t20-cricket-league/ |work=USA Cricket |date=23 May 2019 |title=USA Cricket Chooses Partner to Fund and Develop U.S.-Based Professional T20 Cricket League |access-date=23 May 2022}}

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,{{cite web|url=https://www.usacricket.org/media-release/usa-cricket-board-meeting-february-2020/ |work=USA Cricket |date=27 February 2020 |title=USA Cricket Board Meeting February 2020 |access-date=23 May 2022}} but it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic{{cite web|url=https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/major-league-cricket-debut-poised-to-be-pushed-back-to-2022/ |work=SportBusiness |date=2 August 2021 |title=USA Cricket re-evaluating Major League Cricket debut timing due to Covid-19 concerns |access-date=23 May 2022}} and due to the lack of high-quality cricket stadiums in the USA.{{cite web|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1108173/major-league-cricket-2023 |work=Inside the Games |date=24 May 2021 |title=American Major League Cricket tournament launch pushed to 2023 at Annual General Meeting |access-date=23 May 2022}} Major League Cricket was pushed to a summer-2023 launch{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/usa-s-mlc-t20-tournament-pushed-back-to-2023-at-agm-1263761 |first=Peter Della |last=Penna |date=21 May 2021 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |title=USA's MLC T20 tournament pushed back to 2023 at AGM |access-date=23 May 2022}} and Minor League Cricket was pushed back to July 31, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/minor-league-cricket-2021-t20-league-in-usa-kicks-off-with-sami-aslam-corey-anderson-in-the-mix-1271536 |first=Peter Della |last=Penna |date=30 July 2021 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |title=Minor League Cricket: T20 league in USA kicks off with Sami Aslam, Corey Anderson in the mix |access-date=23 May 2022}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/new-york-boston-chicago-la-among-22-targeted-launch-cities-for-usa-t20-competition-1217780 |first=Peter Della |last=Penna |date=27 February 2020 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |title=New York, Boston, Chicago, LA among 22 targeted launch cities for USA T20 competition |access-date=23 May 2022}}

= Exhibition league =

In July 2020, the player registration for the Minor League Cricket exhibition league began.{{cite web|url=https://www.usacricket.org/media-release/minor-league-cricket-announces-player-registration-opening/ |work=USA Cricket |date=7 July 2020 |title=Minor League Cricket Announces Player Registration Opening |access-date=23 May 2022}} On August 15, 2020, USA Cricket announced the teams participating in the exhibition league matches, also listing the owners for each team.{{cite web|url=https://www.usacricket.org/media-release/minor-league-cricket-announces-franchise-owners-and-draft-update/ |work=USA Cricket |date=15 August 2020 |title=Minor League Cricket Announces Franchise Owners and Draft Update |access-date=23 May 2022}} The draft for the exhibition league began on August 22, 2020,{{cite web|url=https://www.usacricket.org/media-release/inaugural-minor-league-cricket-draft-to-take-place-today/ |work=USA Cricket |date=22 August 2020 |title=Inaugural Minor League Cricket Draft to Take Place Today |access-date=23 May 2022}} with the Chicago Blasters releasing their squad on September 12.{{cite web|url=https://www.usacricket.org/domestic/four-more-minor-league-teams-complete-squad-selections/ |website=USA Cricket |date=12 September 2020 |title=Four More Minor League Teams Complete Squad Selections |access-date=23 May 2022}} Ibrahim Khaleel was later named as captain for the Blasters, with Fahad Babar down for vice-captaincy duties for the exhibition league.{{cite web|url=https://emergingcricket.com/news/four-new-minor-league-teams-set-for-exhibition-debuts/ |first=Nate |last=Hays |date=19 September 2020 |website=Emerging Cricket |title=Four new Minor League teams set for exhibition debuts |access-date=23 May 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cricket/usa-cricket-team-indian-origin-players-saurabh-netravalkar-ibrahim-khaleel-nosthush-kenjige-covid-19/article31273339.ece |first=Shayan |last=Acharya |date=6 April 2020 |website=Sportstar |title=Lockdown diaries: What's keeping USA's Indian players going? |access-date=23 May 2022}}

= 2021 season =

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.usacricket.org/media-release/usa-cricket-launches-foundational-plan/ |work=USA Cricket |date=15 October 2020 |title=USA Cricket Launches Foundational Plan |access-date=23 May 2022}} Ahead of the official season, which was announced to kick off on July 31,{{cite web|url=https://www.usacricket.org/media-release/american-cricket-history-to-be-made-on-minor-league-cricket-opening-weekend/ |work=Major League Cricket |date=29 July 2021 |publisher=USA Cricket |title=American Cricket History to be Made on Minor League Cricket Opening Weekend |access-date=23 May 2022}} the Blasters announced Fahad Babar as captain with Abul Hasan helming vice-captain duties.

Throughout the group stage, the Blasters won against the Athletics once, the Catchers twice, and the Americans once.{{cite web|url=https://dailyherald.com/submitted/20210917/chicago-blasters-defend-title-against-chicago-catchers |first=Suresh |last=Bodiwala |date=17 September 2021 |website=Daily Herald |title=Chicago Blasters defend title against Chicago Catchers |access-date=23 May 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://stltoday.com/sports/other/st-louis-americans-are-part-of-new-u-s-cricket-league/article_335c2241-4d91-5728-b933-872127fd3d75.html |first=Joe |last=Lyons |date=23 August 2021 |website=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |title=St. Louis Americans are part of new U.S. cricket league |access-date=23 May 2022}} However, the Blasters lost once against the Strikers, the Grizzlies and the Americans, while losing twice to the Mustangs, the Hurricanes, and the Stars.{{cite web|url=https://arabnews.com/node/2085421/sport |first=Jon |last=Pike |date=19 May 2022 |website=Arab News |title=Cricket adapts to changing post-pandemic landscape |access-date=23 May 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://timesnownews.com/sports/cricket/article/what-is-major-league-cricket-why-are-indian-cricketers-retiring-early-to-play-in-mlc/798996 |first=Sahil |last=Bakshi |website=Times Now |date=14 August 2021 |title=What is Major League Cricket? Why are Indian cricketers retiring early to play in MLC? |access-date=23 May 2022}} The Blasters finished 6th in their group, thus not advancing to the play-offs.

= 2022 season =

Ahead of the 2022 season, Major League Cricket announced that the draft for that season would take place on May 12.{{cite web|url=https://www.majorleaguecricket.com/news/title-and-presenting-partners-announced-for-2022-minor-league-cricket-championship/ |work=Minor League Cricket |publisher=Major League Cricket |date=5 May 2022 |title=Title and Presenting Partners Announced for 2022 Minor League Cricket Championship |access-date=23 May 2022}} Ahead of the official season, it was announced that the captaincy role would be shifted from Khaleel to local Blasters cricketer Ashhar Medhi, with Babar once again given vice-captaincy duties.{{cite web|url=https://easterneye.biz/illinois-player-fahad-babar-at-the-icc-cricket-world-cup-league-2 |date=30 May 2022 |title=Illinois player Fahad Babar at the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 |publisher=Eastern Eye |access-date=30 November 2022}}

Throughout the season, the Blasters lost to the Tigers, Hurricanes, and the Stars twice, and lost to the Blazers, the Blasters, the Grizzlies, the Mustangs, and the Americans once.{{cite web|url=https://cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/123225/dallas-mustangs-and-silicon-valley-strikers-surge-ahead-cricbuzzcom |first=Smit |last=Patel |publisher=Cricbuzz |date=26 July 2022 |title=Dallas Mustangs and Silicon Valley Strikers surge ahead |access-date=30 November 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://dailyherald.com/submitted/20201001/chicagoblasters-cricket-team-clinch-spectacular-win-against-the-michigan-stars |title=Chicago Blasters cricket team clinch spectacular win against the Michigan Stars |date=2 October 2020 |first=Suresh |last=Bodiwala |publisher=The Daily Herald |access-date=30 November 2022}} The Blasters finished last in their group, despite three of their games being washed out.{{cite web|url=https://cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/123396/minor-league-t20-week-7-teams-tantalizingly-poised-for-final-round-of-league-stage-cricbuzzcom |first=Smit |last=Patel |date=10 August 2022 |title=Minor League T20 Week 7: Teams tantalizingly poised for final round of league stage |access-date=30 November 2022}}

Current squad

Players with international caps are listed in bold.

Name !Nationality !Birth date !Batting style !Bowling style !Year signed !Notes
class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%;"
colspan="7" style="text-align:center;" \| Batsmen
\| Awais Zia	{{cr\|PAK}}	{{birth date and age\|1986\|9\|1\|df=y}}	Left-handed	Right-arm off break	style="text-align:center;"\| 2022	Overseas
\| Homayoon Ahmadzai	{{cr\|USA}}	{{birth date and age\|1993\|7\|18\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Right-arm off break	style="text-align:center;" \| 2021
\| Shreyas Ramesh	{{cr\|USA}}	{{birth date and age\|1988\|11\|12\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Right-arm medium	style="text-align:center;" \| 2022
\| Jay Patel	{{cr\|USA}}	{{birth date and age\|1996\|1\|30\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Right-arm medium fast	style="text-align:center;" \| 2022
\| Najam Iqbal	{{cr\|USA}}	{{birth date and age\|1988\|8\|10\|df=y}}	Left-handed	Right-arm off break	style="text-align:center;" \| 2021
colspan="7" style="text-align:center;" \| All-rounders
\| Abul Hasan	{{cr\|BAN}}	{{birth date and age\|1992\|8\|5\|df=y}}	Left-handed	Right-arm medium fast	style="text-align:center;"\| 2021	Overseas
\| Mohit Patel	{{cr\|USA}}	{{birth date and age\|2003\|5\|29\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Right-arm medium fast	style="text-align:center;"\| 2022
\| Abdullah Quadri	{{cr\|USA}}	{{birth date and age\|2000\|7\|15\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Left-arm fast medium	style="text-align:center;" \| 2022
\| Pankaj Kampli	{{cr\|USA}}	{{birth date and age\|1983\|6\|22\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Right-arm leg break googly	style="text-align:center;" \| 2022
\| Chiranjeevi Akunuri	{{cr\|USA}}	{{birth date and age\|1993\|6\|16\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Right-arm medium	style="text-align:center;" \| 2022
\| Fahad Babar	{{cr\|USA}}	{{birth date and age\|1992\|2\|19\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Right-arm off break	style="text-align:center;" \| 2021	Vice-captain
\| Ankush Agrawal	{{cr\|USA}}	{{birth date and age\|1990\|2\|21\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Right-arm fast	style="text-align:center;" \| 2022
\| Datta Prakash Yadavalli	{{cr\|USA}}	{{birth date and age\|1992\|02\|27\|df=y}}	Left-handed	Left-arm off break	style="text-align:center;"\| 2021
\| Abir Chippa	{{cr\|USA}}	{{birth date and age\|1987\|8\|11\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Left-arm off break	style="text-align:center;" \| 2022
\| Arjun Reddy	{{cr\|USA}}	{{birth date and age\|2004\|4\|26\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Right-arm fast	style="text-align:center;" \| 2022
colspan="7" style="text-align:center;" \|Bowlers
\| Mohammad Waqas	{{cr\|PAK}}	{{birth date and age\|1987\|5\|15\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Right-arm off break	style="text-align:center;"\| 2022
\| Umair Mir	{{cr\|PAK}}	{{birth date and age\|1990\|1\|27\|df=y}}	Left-handed	Right-arm medium fast	style="text-align:center;"\| 2022
\| Zia-ul-Haq	{{cr\|PAK}}	{{birth date and age\|1994\|12\|11\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Left-arm fast medium	style="text-align:center;"\| 2022
\| Kevin Philip	{{cr\|USA}}	{{birth date and age\|2006\|2\|01\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Right-arm leg spin	style="text-align:center;"\| 2022
\| Sai Daggupati	{{cr\|USA}}	{{birth date and age\|1995\|5\|21\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Right-arm leg spin	style="text-align:center;"\| 2022
colspan="7" style="text-align:center;" \| Wicket-keepers
\| Aayush Thakkar	{{cr\|USA}}	{{birth date and age\|2004\|7\|17\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Right-arm medium fast	style="text-align:center;"\| 2022
\| Shaheer Hassan	{{cr\|USA}}	{{birth date and age\|1994\|2\|23\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Right-arm fast medium	style="text-align:center;" \| 2021
\| Ashhar Mehdi	{{cr\|USA}}	{{birth date and age\|1975\|9\|13\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Right-arm off break	style="text-align:center;" \| 2021	Captain

References

Category:Minor League Cricket teams

Category:Cricket teams in Chicago

Category:Cricket clubs established in 2020

Category:2020 establishments in Illinois