England opening batter Jason Roy is reportedly looking to terminate his national contract. It is understood that he is looking forward to playing for the Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR) in the upcoming Major League Cricket later this year. Roy is contracted with Kolkata Knight Riders in the ongoing IPL 2023. The LAKR is another franchise of the Knight Riders group.
Meanwhile, as reported by ESPNcricinfo, the 2019 World Cup winner’s representative has decided not to comment on the matter. Notably, the right-hander missed out on playing in the 20-20 World Cup 2022 which England won. The uncertain international future could be one of the reasons for his reported decision. Apart from him, Reece Topley is set to follow the same path.
Currently, he is rehabbing for the shoulder injury he sustained during the early stages of the IPL 2023. Below are the squads of all MLC teams.
MLC teams
Seattle Orcas
Quinton de Kock, Mitchell Marsh, Harmeet Singh, Shehan Jayasuriya, Shubham Ranjane, Cameron Gannon, Aaron Jones, Nauman Anwar, Phani Simhadri, Angelo Perera, Matthew Tromp
Washington Freedom
Anrich Nortje, Wanindu Hasaranga, Andries Gous, Mukhtar Ahmed, Obus Pienaar, Saurabh Netravalkar, Saad Ali, Dane Piedt, Sujith Gowda, Justin Dill, Akhilesh Bodugum
MI New York
Steven Taylor, Hammad Azam, Ehsan Aiil, Nosthush Kenjige, Monank Patel, Sarbjeet Singh Ladda, Shayan Jahangir, Kyle Phillip, Saideep Ganesh
San Francisco Unicorns
Aaron Finch, Marcus Stoinis, Corey Anderson, Liam Plunkett, Tajinder Singh, Chaitanya Bishnoi, Carmi Le Roux, Brody Couch, David White, Smit Patel, Sanjay Krishnamurthi
Los Angeles Knight Riders
Ali Khan, Unmukt Chand, Jaskaran Malhotra, Nitish Kumar, Corne Dry, Ali Sheikh, Saif Badar, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Bhaskar Yadram
Team Texas
Rusty Theron, Calvin Savage, Lahiru Milantha, Milind Kumar, Sami Aslam, Cameron Stevenson, Cody Chetty, Zia Shahzad, Saiteja Mukkamalla
This is how Twitter reacted
Woah ?
— Dr Khushboo ?? (@khushbookadri) May 25, 2023
You can't blame him cos it's his job but franchise cricket is really ruining the sport
— H (@Hvyyvn04) May 25, 2023
I really don't think this should happen but even if this happens there is definitely a lot of talent who can play internationally…
— Zalak Kansara ?? ?? (@amdavadiZalak) May 25, 2023
Really, time for an Inter-league council to be set up where all the countries conduct their leagues simultaneously so that all these players are able to play only for one team and not 5 teams a year. Leagues run for at Max 4 months. Rest 8 for International.
— Harsh (@186Harsh) May 25, 2023
Shake his hand and wish him well. If that is what he wants, we will find someone else.
Don't think anyone could begrudge him the chance to earn decent money in the latter years of his career.
— Brian McMullan ? (@BMac_19) May 25, 2023
Cricket is going to be knackered very shortly .
The Ecb will be a grassroots organisation. Counties and the Ecb in general needs a major review . Sleeping it’s way into oblivion.— Martin (@Cook209Martin) May 25, 2023
He's 32, in and out of the team, in and out of form and can earn a tonne of money playing franchise cricket.
This is common sense on Roy's part imo, but it's panic stations if and when a regular, in-form player (a Boult equivalent) steps away from one.
— Matt is optimistic about the Sens but not Stoke (@MSwift94) May 25, 2023
Roy knows eventually they will drop him from the squad especially with salt, brook coming in. That's why he chose to play franchise cricket
— P Mukundhan (@PMukundhan8) May 25, 2023
I know I may get a lot of stick for saying this. The privilege of prioritizing international cricket is only with India, England, and Australia. Other countries will not have the same privilege. Blame the flawed gate money sharing system and broadcast money among boards
— Anubhav shahi 48 ?????????? (@anubhavnahinhai) May 25, 2023
Falling out of love with top level cricket. In a world where a player can feature for 5 or 6 different teams each year, there is no identity. Can't blame the players, just sad that cricket works this way now. Associate internationals is where most of my interest sits now.
— Cricket Jon (@cricket_jon) May 25, 2023
