Aaron Finch, Marcus Stoinis and Mitchell Marsh sign on for inaugural Major League Cricket tournament

Three of Australia’s T20 World Cup champions, along with several other white-ball superstars, have signed on for the inaugural Major League Cricket tournament in the United States, which gets underway in July.

During the MLC Player Draft on Monday AEDT, former Australian captain Aaron Finch was announced as captain of the San Francisco Unicorns, where he will be joined by overseas signings Marcus Stoinis and Brody Couch.

Meanwhile, the Seattle Orcas have secured the services of Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, who smacked an unbeaten 66 (36) during Sunday evening’s ODI against India. Australian wicketkeeper Matthew Wade is also reportedly expected to join Team Texas.

The Orcas also signed West Australian paceman Cameron Gannon — the dual US/Australia citizen represented the United States in four T20Is in 2019.

New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson and World Cup champion Liam Plunkett were also snapped up the Unicorns, while Proteas quick Anrich Nortje and South African wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock signed for the Washington Freedom and Orcas respectively.

Sri Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, currently No. 1 on the ICC’s T20I bowling rankings was another high-profile signing, joining the Freedom.

The inaugural MLC competition will be played across three weeks in Texas and North Carolina later this year. The six-team tournament has received financial backing from wealthy Indian businessmen and celebrities, with more than AU$174 million invested by the likes of Microsoft boss Satya Nardella and Bollywood legend Shah Rukh Khan.

Each of the six franchises — based in Dallas, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Seattle and New York City — has a $1.5 million salary cap to secure 18 players, with a maximum of seven overseas stars.

Australian vice-captain Steve Smith, who has turned New York into his second home, will not be available for this year’s MLC competition because it clashes with the Ashes, but the 33-year-old has reportedly been in talks with the competition’s bosses about an appearance in 2024.

The Men’s T20 World Cup is scheduled to get underway in the United States and the West Indies in June next year, and Smith could have a vacant window after the tournament.

The United States has been earmarked as one of cricket’s growing markets, with the nation’s financial power and sizeable South Asian diaspora fast-tracking the sport’s development.

The first season of the MLC is slated to begin on July 13 in Texas.