New Zealand Cricket ends partnership with True North Sports Ventures

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) and US-based sports investment firm True North Sports Ventures (TNS) have mutually agreed to terminate their partnership. The decision halts plans to jointly launch a Major League Cricket (MLC) franchise in the United States, which had been scheduled for 2027.

The original agreement, established in April 2025, intended for NZC to provide technical, high-performance, and operational support for the American T20 market expansion. Potential host cities for the franchise included Atlanta, Las Vegas, and Toronto. Under the initial terms, NZC also held an option to support a second MLC team in 2031.

NZC CEO Geoff Allott stated that while the American market holds potential, the organization determined the timing was not right. The leadership concluded that expanding international operations risked diverting administrative focus and technical resources away from core domestic initiatives. NZC confirmed that no capital was invested during the exploratory phase and the organization retains no financial liabilities or ongoing equity commitments.