Several high-profile cricketers, including Travis Head, Pat Cummins, Kagiso Rabada, and David Miller, have been released ahead of the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 draft on February 19.
Despite being joint-highest scorer for Washington Freedom last season, Travis Head was let go by the defending champions, who opted to retain 15 players, the highest among all six teams.
Other notable releases include:
- San Francisco Unicorns dropped Pat Cummins, Matt Henry, and Josh Inglis.
- Seattle Orcas let go of Quinton de Kock, Michael Bracewell, and Obed McCoy, keeping only seven players—the fewest among all franchises.
- LA Knight Riders retained just three overseas stars: Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Spencer Johnson, but released David Miller, Jason Roy, Shakib Al Hasan, and Adam Zampa.
- MI New York kept Kieron Pollard, Trent Boult, Nicholas Pooran, and Rashid Khan, but parted ways with Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tim David, and Dewald Brevis.
- Texas Super Kings retained Faf du Plessis, Devon Conway, Marcus Stoinis, and Noor Ahmad, while letting go of Mitchell Santner, Daryl Mitchell, and Naveen-ul-Haq.
Which Teams Retained the Most Players?
The Washington Freedom held onto the largest squad, keeping 15 players, including star names Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Lockie Ferguson, and Marco Jansen.
In contrast, Seattle Orcas made the fewest retentions with only seven players, signaling a major squad overhaul in the upcoming draft.
| Team | Total Players Retained | Key Players Retained |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Freedom | 15 | Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Lockie Ferguson, Marco Jansen |
| San Francisco Unicorns | 12 | Finn Allen, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Haris Rauf |
| MI New York | 10 | Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran, Rashid Khan, Trent Boult |
| Texas Super Kings | 10 | Faf du Plessis, Devon Conway, Noor Ahmad, Marcus Stoinis |
| LA Knight Riders | 11 | Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Spencer Johnson |
| Seattle Orcas | 7 | Heinrich Klaasen, Ryan Rickelton |
Which Domestic Players Were Not Retained?
Some domestic players were also released, including:
- Steven Taylor (MI New York)
- Shehan Jayasuriya (Seattle Orcas)
- Jasdeep Singh (Washington Freedom)
These players will now be available in the MLC 2025 draft pool.
Full List of Retained Players for MLC 2025
LA Knight Riders:
- Ali Khan, Adithya Ganesh, Unmukt Chand, Nitish Kumar, Corne Dry, Saif Badar, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Matthew Tromp, Spencer Johnson, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine
MI New York:
- Ehsan Adil, Nosthush Kenjige, Monank Patel, Heath Richards, Rushil Ugarkar, Sunny Patel, Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran, Rashid Khan, Trent Boult
San Francisco Unicorns:
- Corey Anderson, Hassan Khan, Liam Plunkett, Carmi Le Roux, Brody Couch, Karima Gore, Juanoy Drysdale, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Haris Rauf, Finn Allen, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Matthew Short
Seattle Orcas:
- Harmeet Singh, Cameron Gannon, Ali Sheikh, Ayan Desai, Aaron Jones, Heinrich Klaasen, Ryan Rickelton
Texas Super Kings:
- Joshua Tromp, Calvin Savage, Milind Kumar, Mohammad Mohsin, Zia-ul-Haq, Saiteja Mukkamalla, Faf du Plessis, Devon Conway, Noor Ahmad, Marcus Stoinis
Washington Freedom:
- Andries Gous, Mukhtar Ahmed, Obus Pienaar, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ian Holland, Amila Aponso, Justin Dill, Lahiru Milantha, Yasir Mohammad, Marco Jansen, Glenn Maxwell, Lockie Ferguson, Rachin Ravindra, Steven Smith, Jack Edwards
What to Expect from the MLC 2025 Draft?
The MLC 2025 draft on February 19 will be crucial for teams like Seattle Orcas and LA Knight Riders, who have retained fewer players and need to rebuild their squads.
Several international stars, including Head, Rabada, Miller, Cummins, and de Kock, are now available in the draft, making it one of the most competitive selections yet.
Franchises will look to balance their squads, securing key overseas players and strengthening their domestic rosters.
FAQs
Which team retained the most players for MLC 2025?
Washington Freedom retained 15 players, the highest among all teams.
Who are the biggest names not retained for MLC 2025?
Travis Head, Kagiso Rabada, David Miller, Pat Cummins, and Quinton de Kock were among the major international stars released ahead of the draft.
Which team made the fewest retentions?
Seattle Orcas retained only seven players, indicating a major squad revamp in the draft.
When is the MLC 2025 draft?
The draft is scheduled for February 19, 2025.
Why did Washington Freedom release Travis Head?
Despite being joint-highest scorer last season, Head was not retained as the team opted for different overseas players.
Which domestic players were released?
Notable domestic releases include Steven Taylor (MI New York), Shehan Jayasuriya (Seattle Orcas), and Jasdeep Singh (Washington Freedom).
Can teams still sign released players?
Yes, released players will be available in the MLC 2025 draft, allowing teams to reacquire or replace them.
Who are the top international stars available in the draft?
Rabada, Head, Miller, Cummins, and de Kock are among the biggest names up for grabs in the MLC 2025 draft.
Click here to know more.
Aanchal is a passionate writer with a keen interest in storytelling, content creation, and creative expression. She enjoys exploring diverse topics and crafting engaging narratives that captivate readers.
