Major League Cricket (MLC), the season-old T20 tournament in the USA, has become the second Associate-run franchise competition to acquire List A status from the ICC, following the UAE's ILT20 earlier this year. This status means that MLC will now be recognized as an official T20 league, with tournament playing records counted as official format statistics.

"We are really excited for the news as it's a recognition of the standard and high quality of players taking part in the tournament," said tournament director Justin Geale.

"By awarding MLC List A status for the upcoming season, it assists to acknowledge the strength and growing stature of the tournament and ultimately will help to enhance the credibility of the sport in the USA on a global scale.

"The most important part for me though is it ensures the performances of some of the world's best players alongside their peers are adequately reflected in their career statistics.

"Really thankful to the ICC for taking the time to look at it as cricket in the USA doesn't always fit into a template. We are an Associate nation and proud of that, one with a unique opportunity in front of us. It's our hope that on the back of the upcoming World Cup and a successful season we can continue to build a platform for the sport to grow and ultimately succeed in the USA."

The 2024 edition of MLC will begin on July 5, one week after the T20 World Cup concludes on June 29 in Bridgetown.