Minor League Cricket (MiLC) congratulates the Houston Hurricanes for announcing a groundbreaking tour to Pakistan, with the Central Division franchise to face off with the Quetta Gladiators at the National Stadium in Karachi later in January. This will mark the first time a team from the United States has played a Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise, with a best of three match T20 series set to take place on Jan. 27-29, 2023.
The Hurricanes, who compete in Minor League Cricket’s Central Division, will travel with a squad featuring players from their 2021 roster alongside multiple professionals contracted to Major League Cricket residing in the United States. Players traveling include Nauman Anwer, Shayan Jahangir, Lahiru Milantha, Shehan Jayasuriya, Nosthush Kenjige, Usman Rafiq, Mohammad Mohsin and Mathew Tromp.
The opposing Quetta Gladiators are one of the leading teams in the Pakistan Super League, itself recognized as one of the top T20 competitions globally. The Gladiators have proved to be one of the most successful teams in the PSL, winning the competition in 2019 and finishing as runners-up in both 2016 and 2017.
The occasion will be marked by ceremonial proceedings with a formal opening for the event featuring special guests Donald Blome (U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan), William K. Makaneole (U.S. Consul General in Lahore) and Nicole Theriot (Consul General of U.S. Consulate General Karachi) alongside Quetta Gladiators owner Nadeem Omar and other dignitaries.
“Minor League Cricket is proud to see the Houston Hurricanes innovating in high performance development by heading to Pakistan for this series, a huge step for American cricket that will open further doors to elite-level competition for our players,” said Zubin Surkari, MiLC Tournament Director. “MiLC congratulates the Houston Hurricanes and their ownership, including Tanweer Ahmed and Mangesh Chaudhari, on their vision for this historic tour.”
“This tour will be a landmark in the continued rapid growth of the Houston Hurricanes franchise and we are proud to represent Minor League Cricket in a series against top class opposition from the Pakistan Super League,” said Tanweer Ahmed, Houston Hurricanes owner. “We are thankful to the Quetta Gladiators for hosting this series and look forward to some outstanding T20 action at one of the world’s most renowned cricket venues.”
All three matches will be available free to watch in the United States on the MLC Network YouTube channel, with the schedule as follows:
- Hurricanes vs. Gladiators, Friday, Jan. 27, 7 p.m. PKT / 9 a.m. EST
- Hurricanes vs. Gladiators, Saturday, Jan. 28, 7 p.m. PKT / 9 a.m. EST
- Hurricanes vs. Gladiators, Sunday, Jan. 29, 7 p.m. PKT / 9 a.m. EST
