Microsoft, Adobe Inc, Paytm CEOs To Invest In Major League Cricket In The US: Report

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Adobe Inc CEO Shantanu Narayen are set to invest in the Major League Cricket (MLC) in the United States of America, Times of India reports.

The MLC is a joint initiative launched by American Cricket Enterprises (ACE) and Shahrukh Khan-led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) that aims to develop and launch a cricket league in the USA.

Nadella is believed to come on board from Seattle, the city from which Microsoft operates. Ross Berrot Jr, a real-estate developer, holds minority stakes in NBA team Dallas Maverics. TOI has reported that Berrot Jr will be investing in the league too.

Furthermore, Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma is said to be in talks to join the ranks of the MLC too, whose first season is slated to be hosted in 2022. “Sharma has been in talks with the ACE founders. We're sure something is going to work out soon,” sources were quoted by the publication.

ACE is founded by Vineet Jain and Satyan Gajwani of the Times Group along with Sameer Mehta and Vijay Srinivasan belonging to Willow TV. Interacting with TOI in the previous week, Srinivasan had claimed that the Indian diaspora in America will aid the company’s vision to drive the philosophy of the sport in the country.

The ACE had signed a 15-year lease to acquire the AirHogs stadium and develop an infrastructure for cricket over there. “We want to bring a truly world-class product to America which will inspire a wider audience to discover the joy of cricket,” Srinivasan was quoted in the report.