Baseball United, the first professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent, has announced that four-time Major League Baseball All-Star and Most Valuable Player, Ronald Acuña Jr., has joined its investment and ownership group.
Acuña becomes the youngest and highest-profile active MLB player to join the new league’s ownership group.
The 26-year-old, an All-MLB First Team selection, took home all of baseball’s top awards last season, including the National League MVP (unanimous), the Hank Aaron Award, and The Sporting News Player of the Year.
The Atlanta Braves superstar hit 41 home runs and stole 73 bases last year to become the first player in MLB history with a 40-70 season.
He also hit .337 while leading the league in ten key statistical categories, including hits (217), runs (149), total bases (383) and on-base percentage (.416)
“Ronald is not only a generational athlete and the game’s best player, but he’s a cultural icon who inspires fans all over the world. He truly believes that baseball can be global, and he plays the game with the type of passion, charisma, and style that can help millions of new fans fall in love with the game,” said Kash Shaikh, Chairman, CEO, and Co-Founder of Baseball United.
The best player in baseball is now an investor and co-owner of @BaseballUnited!
Acuña joins 19 other MLB legends within Baseball United’s ownership group, including Hall of Famer’s Barry Larkin, Mariano Rivera, and Adrián Beltré, and icons like Albert Pujols, Robinson Cano, and Bartolo Colón.
The league began play in Dubai last November with an inaugural All-Star Showcase event, the first professional baseball games in the history of the region. The event was broadcast in 127 countries, reaching 200 million households.
Acuña is the fourth Venezuelan-born MLB star to invest in Baseball United, joining Felix Hernandez, Elvis Andrus, and Robinson Chirinos.
“It’s been exciting to watch what Kash, John (Miedreich), and the BU team has built over the past two years. They’ve done things that no one has ever done before. And now, I’m honored to be a part of it. Growing up in Venezuela, I always dreamed of making a big impact on the game of baseball. I’m very blessed to compete everyday with my teammates to do that for Major League Baseball and the Atlanta Braves, and I can’t wait to help carry the game to new fans in the Middle East and South Asia with Baseball United,” said Acuña.
In addition to his ownership stake in Baseball United, Acuña will also play an Ambassador role helping to promote the league, its teams, and its players across his social media and at special events in the Middle East after the MLB season.
The league is scheduled to announce its 2024 plans and expansion franchises this summer. Baseball United’s first full season is slated for the winter of 2025.
The New York Strikers, reigning champions of the Abu Dhabi T10 tournament, are preparing to defend their title with a determined squad. Determined to prove his skills yet again is the explosive Pakistani batsman Asif Ali, whose recent heroics in the Hong Kong Sixes tournament have further cemented his reputation as one of T10 cricket’s most dangerous power-hitters. As preparations intensify for the upcoming season, several key squad members have also shared their vision and commitment to maintaining the Strikers’ dominance in one of cricket’s most dynamic formats.
Fresh from his outstanding performance in the Hong Kong Sixes, where he played a crucial role in powering his team to victory including consecutive sixes against Indian team, Asif Ali shared his excitement “It’s an honor to be part of New York Strikers once again and participate in the Abu Dhabi T10. Having recently demonstrated my abilities in the Hong Kong Sixes, I feel in excellent form to tackle the challenges ahead. The T10 format demands quick thinking and explosive performance exactly the kind of cricket I relish.”
English fast bowler Reece Topley, a significant addition to the squad, expressed his anticipation about joining the defending champions: “I’m really excited about joining the New York Strikers for this year’s T10 in Abu Dhabi. As I’m joining the reigning champions, the standard has been set really high so hopefully we can go just as well as last year and bring that trophy home “
Young pace sensation Muhammad Jawad Ullah demonstrated his commitment to the team’s cause: “I am elated, thanks to New York strikers for trusting me again. I can’t wait to contribute with my skills and determined to apply my learnings to win another trophy for my squad.”
As defending champions, the franchise’s strategic recruitment and retention of key players demonstrates their profound determination to maintain their supremacy in the tournament. The New York Strikers’ preparation and the passionate commitment expressed by their players serve as a clear statement of creating another chapter of cricketing excellence in the fast-paced arena of T10 cricket.
he fireworks continued in the Hong Kong Sixes 2024 on the final day of the tournament. Sri Lanka were crowned champions after they defeated neighbours Pakistan by 3 wickets.
Being out into bat, Pakistan were bowled out for 72 in 5.2 overs. Muhammad Akhlaq top-scored with 48 off 20. Later, Pakistan bowlers did create some pressure in the starting of the chase but the Lankan lions soon pushed the paddle.
Sandun Weerakkody chipped in with a 13-ball 34 while captain Lahiru Madushanka (19 off 5) and Tharindu Ratnayake (16* off 4) made valuable contributions to take the side home.
Earlier, in the day, Australia’s Dan Christian smashed 6 sixes in one over against Pakistan’s Asif Ali in the Cup Semi Final. The Asian side had started off the proceedings with the ball in a steady way but Dan Christian helped the Aussies put up 107/1 in 6 overs. He ended up getting 42*off 10.
Later, Pakistan batters unleashed a stunning show with the bat and chased down the target in 5.5 overs to win the match by 4 wickets and register a place in the final. Muhammad Akhlaq scored 32 off 10 while Asif Ali struck 32 off 8.
The rest of the job was done by Faheem Ashraf (19* off 9) and Aamer Yamin (24* off 8). Sri Lanka made it to the final of the tournament after defeating Bangladesh in a close encounter in the semi-final. The Bangla tigers were bundled out for 103 after Tharindu Rathnayake picked up four wickets.
Sri Lanka were then off to a good start in the chase after Sandun Weerakkody scored fifty before retiring. But Bangladesh did make a comeback and picked up a couple of wickets in quick succession. Sri Lanka needed 14 runs in the final over and they went over the line by 3 wickets.
England and Oman locked horns with each other in the Bowl final.
Oman took away the win by 4 wickets after chasing down a target of 124 runs. Batting first, England put up 123/1 in 6 overs after Ravi Bopara and Jordan Thompson struck fifties before retiring.
Oman got a perfect start to the chase as openers Asif Khan (47* off 17) and Vinayak Shukla (38 off 12) stitched a stand of 75 runs for the first wicket. Oman eventually completed the target in 5.5 overs to win the Bowl final.
The Plate Final was played between South Africa and UAE. The Proteas scored 96/4 after JJ Smuts remained unbeaten at 67 off 18 and then the bowlers unveiled a brilliant show with the ball. UAE were restricted to 95/4 and lost by 1 run.
The Hong Kong Sixes 2024 moved into the third and final day but the tournament continued to produce some brilliant performances and exciting encounters. While Oman clinched a win against India, the highlight of the day was the special women’s exhibition match to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
The final day of the tournament began with the Bowl Match 5 between England and New Zealand. Batting first, England put up 116/4 in 6 overs after Ravi Bopara struck 62* off 15. In reply, the Kiwis were restricted to 108/2. Siddhesh Dixit top-scored for his side with 45 off 18. England won by 8 runs.
Next, it was hosts Hong Kong up against South Africa in the Plate Semi Final 1. Hong Kong could manage 92/4 in 6 overs and it took the Proteas chase down the target in 5.3 overs. Wicket-keeper batter Modiri Litheko struck 41 off 15 for the side as South Africa clinched a win by 4 wickets.
The Plate Semi Final 2 was played between Nepal and UAE. Bibek Yadav’s 49 off 16 helped the side to put 94/3 in 6 overs. Later, UAE captain Asif Khan notched up 55 off 15 before retiring and the side eventually won by 5 wickets.
India locked horns with Oman in the Bowl Match 6. The Men in Blue rode on Robin Uthappa’s 52 off 13 and Bharat Chipli’s 32 off 11 to put up 119/3 in 6 overs. Robin Uthappa retired after scoring a fifty. The Oman batters then took on the Indian bowling unit and chased the target down in 4.2 overs to win by 6 wickets. Asif Khan remained unbeaten at 46 off 12 and Vinayak Shukla struck 54 off 11 before retiring.
The special women’s exhibition match that was played to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China between Hong Kong, China Women and Chinese Women saw Hong Kong, China clinching a win against China. Hong Kong put up 61/0 in 6 overs and then restricted the opponents to 36/3 to win the match by 25 runs.