Hollywood Master Blasters

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

{{Infobox cricket team

| name = Hollywood Master Blasters

| league = Minor League Cricket

| conference = Western Division (Pacific Conference)

| alt_name =

| image = Hollywood_Master_Blasters_Logo.jpg

| colours = {{color box|darkblue}} Dark Blue, and {{color box|yellow}} Yellow.

| coach =

| captain = Nisarg Patel

| city = Los Angeles, California

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

| dissolved = 2023

| owner = Janak Patel

| ground = Leo Magnus Cricket Complex

| capacity = 5,000

| t_title = T20 kit

| t_pattern_la =

| t_pattern_b =

| t_pattern_ra =

| t_pattern_pants =

| t_leftarm = 00008b

| t_body = FFFF00

| t_rightarm = 00008b

| t_pants = 00008b

| current =

}}

The Hollywood Master Blasters was an American professional Twenty20 cricket franchise that competed in Minor League Cricket (MiLC) till the 2022 season. The team was based in Los Angeles, California. 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 Update |access-date=16 March 2022}} The franchise is owned by Janak Patel.

The team's home ground was the Leo Magnus Cricket Complex, located in Van Nuys, California.{{cite web|url=https://www.majorleaguecricket.com/news/minor-league-division-preview-series-western/ |work=Minor League Cricket |publisher=Major League Cricket |date=1 August 2021 |title=Minor League Division Preview Series – Western |access-date=16 March 2022}} American veteran Nisarg Patel helms captaincy duties, with South African cricketer Cody Chetty standing by as vice-captain.{{cite web|url=https://clubcricket.co.za/international-cricket/corne-dry-joins-atlanta-fire-cody-chetty-to-play-for-hollywood-master-blasters |website=Club Cricket SA Info |date=7 June 2021 |title=Corne Dry joins Atlanta Fire, Cody Chetty to play for Hollywood Master Blasters |first=Jonhenry |last=Wilson |access-date=16 March 2022}}

Cody Chetty and Venukalyan Madireddy top the batting and bowling leaderboards with 470 runs and 13 wickets respectively.{{cite web|url=https://cricclubs.com/MiLC/teamBatting.do?teamId=25&clubId=18036 |website=CricClubs.com |title=Hollywood Master Blasters - Batting |access-date=16 March 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://cricclubs.com/MiLC/teamBowling.do?teamId=25&clubId=18036 |website=CricClubs.com |title=Hollywood Master Blasters - Bowling |access-date=16 March 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=16 March 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=16 March 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=16 March 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=16 March 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=16 March 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=16 March 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=16 March 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=16 March 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=16 March 2022}}

= Exhibition league =

In July 2020, the player registration{{Cite web |date=2022-05-30 |title=About Us - Crickex |url=https://crickex1.in/about-us/ |access-date=2022-07-11 |website=crickex1.in |language=en-US}} 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=16 March 2022}} On August 15, 2020, USA Cricket announced the teams participating in the exhibition league matches, also listing the owners for each team. 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=16 March 2022}} with the Hollywood Master Blasters releasing their squad on August 24.{{cite web|url=https://www.usacricket.org/media-release/minor-league-cricket-draft-results-with-15-squads-selected/ |work=USA Cricket |date=24 August 2020 |title=Minor League Cricket Draft results with 15 Squads Selected |access-date=16 March 2022}} Amitoze Singh was later named as captain for the Hollywood Master Blasters for the exhibition league. However, the Blasters didn't play a single game due to COVID-19 restrictions.{{cite web|url=https://emergingcricket.com/news/usa-cricket-cancels-2020-national-championships-for-men-women-and-youth/ |first=Nate |last=Hays |website=Emerging Cricket |title=USA Cricket cancels 2020 National Championships for men, women and youth |date=7 November 2020 |access-date=17 March 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=17 March 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=17 March 2022}} the Lashings announced Nisarg Patel as captain with Cody Chetty helming vice-captain duties.

In their first match of the season, the Blasters lost by 5 wickets to the Surf Riders.{{cite web|url=https://www.usacricket.org/media-release/dramatic-finishes-highlight-historic-minor-league-cricket-championship-opening-weekend/ |work=Major League Cricket |publisher=USA Cricket |date=5 August 2021 |title=Dramatic Finishes Highlight Historic Minor League Cricket Championship Opening Weekend |access-date=17 March 2022}} The Blasters only won twice throughout the league, once against the Strikers,{{cite web|url=https://www.majorleaguecricket.com/news/the-monday-all-rounder-week-five/ |work=Minor League Cricket |publisher=Major League Cricket |date=30 August 2021 |title=The Monday All Rounder - Week Five |access-date=17 March 2022}} and once against the Lashings.{{cite web|url=https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/119147/minor-league-cricket-week-8-rovman-powell-hits-38-ball-71-cricbuzzcom |first=Ravinder |last=Madhavaram |date=23 September 2021 |website=Cricbuzz |title=Minor League Cricket Week 8: Rovman Powell hits 38-ball 71 |access-date=17 March 2022}} They lost against the Grizzlies twice,{{cite web|url=https://www.majorleaguecricket.com/news/the-monday-all-rounder-week-two/ |work=Minor League Cricket |publisher=Major League Cricket |date=9 August 2021 |title=The Monday All Rounder - Week Two |access-date=17 March 2022}} the Strikers, the Thunderbolts twice,{{cite web|url=https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/118633/minor-league-cricket-week-3-wrap-irving-mustangs-corey-anderson-cricbuzzcom |first=Smit |last=Patel |website=Cricbuzz |title=Minor League Cricket Week 3 Wrap: Irving Mustang's Corey Anderson |date=16 August 2021 |access-date=17 March 2022}} the Blazers twice, the Surf Riders,{{cite web|url=https://www.majorleaguecricket.com/news/the-monday-all-rounder-week-seven/ |work=Minor League Cricket |publisher=Major League Cricket |date=13 September 2021 |title=The Monday All Rounder - Week Seven |access-date=17 March 2022}} the Lashings, the Hurricanes, the Athletics, and the Mustangs.{{cite web|url=https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/118970/minor-league-cricket-week-6-wrap-playoffs-race-intensifies-with-2-weekends-to-go-cricbuzzcom |first=Smit |last=Patel |date=9 September 2021 |title=Minor League Cricket Week 6 Wrap: Playoffs race intensifies with 2 weekends to go |website=Cricbuzz |access-date=17 March 2022}} The Blasters finished off with 2 wins and 13 losses, finishing bottom of the table in their group, thus missing 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. This was also the final season for the Franchise.{{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=9 May 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
\| Aaroh Rawat	{{cr\|USA}}	{{birth date and age\|1996\|4\|17\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Right-arm fast medium	style="text-align:center;"\| 2021
\| Basanta Regmi	{{cr\|NEP}}	{{birth date and age\|1986\|4\|6\|df=y}}	Left-handed	Slow left-arm orthodox	style="text-align:center;" \| 2021	Overseas
\| Cody Chetty	{{cr\|SA}}	{{birth date and age\|1991\|06\|28\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Right-arm off break	style="text-align:center;" \| 2021	Overseas
\| Kanishka Chaugai	{{cr\|USA}}	{{birth date and age\|1986\|01\|24\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Right-arm medium	style="text-align:center;" \| 2021
\| Prithu Baskota	{{cr\|NEP}}	{{birth date and age\|1992\|07\|5\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Right-arm off break	style="text-align:center;" \| 2021	Overseas
\| Pukar Patel	{{cr\|USA}}	{{birth date and age\|1992\|07\|15\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Right-arm fast medium	style="text-align:center;" \| 2021
\| Shehan Fernando	{{cr\|SL}}	{{birth date and age\|1993\|04\|14\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Right-arm off break	style="text-align:center;" \| 2021	Overseas
colspan="7" style="text-align:center;" \| All-rounders
\| Ajay Immadi	{{cr\|USA}}	{{birth date and age\|1990\|3\|10\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Right-arm off break	style="text-align:center;"\| 2021
\| Khalid Khan	{{cr\|HK}}	{{birth date and age\|1971\|2\|7\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Right-arm medium fast	style="text-align:center;"\| 2021	Overseas
\| Nisarg Patel	{{cr\|USA}}	{{birth date and age\|1988\|4\|20\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Slow left-arm orthodox	style="text-align:center;"\| 2021
\| Dhyan Ranatunga	{{cr\|SL}}	{{birth date and age\|1989\|6\|1\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Left-arm medium fast	style="text-align:center;" \| 2021	Overseas
\| Jignesh Patel	{{cr\|IND}}	{{birth date and age\|1987\|1\|3\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Left-arm medium	style="text-align:center;" \| 2021	Overseas
\| Karan Viradiya	{{cr\|IND}}	{{birth date and age\|1994\|10\|17\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Right-arm off break	style="text-align:center;" \| 2021	Overseas
\| Venukalyan Madireddy	{{cr\|USA}}	{{birth date and age\|1992\|11\|14\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Right-arm fast	style="text-align:center;" \| 2021
colspan="7" style="text-align:center;" \| Bowlers
\| Amitoze Singh	{{cr\|IND}}	{{birth date and age\|1989\|2\|14\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Right-arm medium	style="text-align:center;" \| 2021	Overseas
colspan="7" style="text-align:center;" \| Wicket-keepers
\| Samarth Jaydev	{{cr\|USA}}	{{birth date and age\|1991\|6\|3\|df=y}}	Right-handed	Right-arm leg break	style="text-align:center;" \| 2021

References

Category:Minor League Cricket teams

Category:Cricket teams in Los Angeles

Category:Cricket clubs established in 2020

Category:2020 establishments in California

Category:Hollywood, Los Angeles