Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, and Travis Head are set to form a formidable core of the revamped Washington Freedom squad for the second season of Major League Cricket (MLC). The Freedom were expected to bring in some Australian flavor after the appointment of Ricky Ponting as their head coach last month. The new-look side will also feature New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra as Freedom made sweeping changes. Marco Jansen and Akeal Hossein are the only foreign recruitments retained ahead of the second season.
Smith, 34, played Australia’s last T20I game against New Zealand in February but admitted uncertainty about the selectors’ plans regarding his T20 World Cup spot. While Smith’s T20I stocks may be declining, Freedom are certain to leverage his tactical nous and leadership abilities, considering former captain Moises Henriques’ absence from the retainee list.
Freedom will hope for Head to continue his purple patch that began with a blistering hundred against India in the World Cup final. The 31-year-old has set the IPL ablaze with his pyrotechnics, including a sensational 39-ball hundred against RCB last week. Maxwell’s lean patch puts him on the opposite end of the spectrum in the IPL, leading him to drop himself from the XI. A white-ball certainty for Australia, Maxwell has already embarked on a 4-month T20 voyage that will culminate with his stint at The Hundred in August.
Freedom boasts a robust domestic roster with the retentions of former Pakistan international Mukhtar Ahmed, Andries Gous, Justin Dill, former USA captain Saurabh Netravalkar, Akhilesh Bodugum, and Obus Pienaar. They further bolstered their squad by drafting Lahiru Milantha, Ian Holland, Yasir Mohammad, and former Sri Lanka left-arm spinner Amila Aponso in the domestic draft.
“We warmly welcome everyone to the Washington Freedom family and are honored to be associated with them. It is a matter of great pride that they have decided to be part of the MLC. Collectively, all MLC teams will work hard to have the best product for our fans,” said Sanjay Govil, the owner of Washington Freedom.
