2023 Washington Freedom season

Washington Freedom
2023 season
CoachGreg Shipperd
CaptainMoises Henriques
Overseas player
Ground(s)Grand Prairie Stadium
MLCEliminator
Most runsMatthew Short (152)
Most wicketsSaurabh Netravalkar (10)
2024 →

The 2023 Washington Freedom season was the inaugural season of the Washington Freedom franchise in Major League Cricket (MLC).[1] The team was one of six franchises that competed in the inaugural MLC season.[2] The team was captained by Moises Henriques and coached by Greg Shipperd.[3][4]

Steve Smith joined Washington Freedom as the team's brand ambassador.[5]

Washington Freedom began their inaugural MLC campaign with a five-wicket defeat to the Seattle Orcas.[6] The team subsequently recorded victories over the Texas Super Kings, Los Angeles Knight Riders and San Francisco Unicorns, finishing the league stage with a 3–3 record.[7]

The Freedom qualified for the playoffs, where they faced MI New York in the Eliminator on July 27. Washington Freedom scored 126 runs in their allotted overs in pursuit of New York's 141/7 and lost by 16 runs, ending their inaugural season.[8]

Background

The Freedom's 2023 squad included international players such as Anrich Nortje, Marco Jansen[9], Glenn Phillips, Adam Milne[10], Josh Philippe[11], Ben Dwarshuis[12], Akeal Hosein[13] and Matthew Short[14], alongside United States and domestic players including Saurabh Netravalkar, Andries Gous, Mukhtar Ahmed and Obus Pienaar.[15]

Tanveer Sangha has signed as a replacement for Wanindu Hasaranga.[16]

Squad

  • Players with international caps are listed in bold.
Washington Freedom 2023 roster
Name Nat. Date of Birth Batting Style Bowling Style Year signed Notes
Batters
Matthew Short  Australia August 8, 1995 Right-handed Right-arm off break 2023 Injury replacement
Mukhtar Ahmed  Pakistan December 20, 1992 Right-handed Right-arm leg break googly 2023 Draft selection
Saad Ali  Pakistan October 1, 1993 Left-handed Right-arm medium 2023 Draft selection
Sujith Gowda  United States April 25, 1999 Right-handed Right-arm off break 2023 Draft selection
All-rounders
Moises Henriques  Australia February 1, 1987 Right-handed Right-arm medium 2023 Direct signing; captain
Obus Pienaar  United States December 12, 1989 Right-handed Left-arm off spin 2023 Draft selection
Marco Jansen  South Africa May 1, 2000 Left-handed Left-arm fast-medium 2023 Direct signing
Glenn Phillips  New Zealand December 6, 1996 Right-handed Right-arm off break 2023 Direct signing
Akeal Hosein  West Indies April 25, 1993 Left-handed Slow left-arm orthodox 2023 Direct signing
Justin Dill  United States November 10, 1994 Right-handed Right-arm medium-fast 2023 Draft selection
Wicket-keepers
Andries Gous  United States November 24, 1993 Right-handed 2023 Draft selection
Josh Philippe  Australia June 1, 1997 Right-handed 2023 Direct signing
Bowlers
Saurabh Netravalkar  United States October 16, 1991 Right-handed Left-arm medium-fast 2023 Draft selection
Anrich Nortje  South Africa November 16, 1993 Right-handed Right-arm fast 2023 Direct signing
Adam Milne  New Zealand April 13, 1992 Right-handed Right-arm fast 2023 Direct signing
Ben Dwarshuis  Australia June 23, 1994 Left-handed Left-arm fast-medium 2023 Direct signing
Dane Piedt  United States October 6, 1990 Right-handed Right-arm off break 2023 Draft selection
Tanveer Sangha  Australia November 26, 2001 Right-handed Right-arm leg break 2023 Replacement for Wanindu Hasaranga
Akhilesh Bodugum  United States April 28, 2000 Right-handed Right-arm off break 2023 U23 player
Usman Rafiq  United States August 24, 1990 Right-handed Right-arm off break 2023
Wanindu Hasaranga  Sri Lanka July 29, 1997 Right-handed Right-arm leg break 2023 Withdrew

League stage

Match 3
July 14, 2023
19:30 (N)
Scorecard
Washington Freedom
144/7 (20 overs)
v
Seattle Orcas
148/5 (19.4 overs)
Akeal Hosein 33* (22)
Harmeet Singh 2/24 (4 overs)
Nauman Anwar 48 (37)
Moises Henriques 1/8 (2 overs)
Seattle Orcas won by 5 wickets
Grand Prairie Stadium, Texas
Umpires: Wayne Knights (NZ) and Rushane Samuels (WI)
Player of the match: Imad Wasim (Seattle Orcas)
  • Seattle Orcas won the toss and elected to field.
Match 5
July 16, 2023
15:30 (D/N)
Scorecard
Washington Freedom
163/5 (20 overs)
v
Texas Super Kings
157/7 (20 overs)
Matthew Short 80 (50)
Gerald Coetzee 2/26 (4 overs)
Dwayne Bravo 76* (39)
Akeal Hosein 2/25 (4 overs)
Washington Freedom won by 6 runs
Grand Prairie Stadium, Texas
Umpires: Jermaine Lindo (USA) and Paul Wilson (Aus)
Player of the match: Matthew Short (Washington Freedom)
  • Washington Freedom won the toss and elected to bat.
Match 9
July 20, 2023
17:30 (D/N)
Scorecard
v
Washington Freedom
177/4 (18.1 overs)
Andre Russell 70* (37)
Moises Henriques 3/26 (3 overs)
Matthew Short 43 (35)
Sunil Narine 1/20 (4 overs)
Washington Freedom won by 6 wickets
Church Street Park, Morrisville
Umpires: Billy Taylor (Eng) and Paul Wilson (Aus)
Player of the match: Andre Russell (Los Angeles Knight Riders)
  • Washington Freedom won the toss elected to field.
  • Los Angeles Knight Riders were eliminated as a result of this match.
Match 11
July 22, 2023
17:30 (D/N)
Scorecard
Washington Freedom
133/8 (20 overs)
v
San Francisco Unicorns
103 (19.5 overs)
Moises Henriques 30 (27)
Haris Rauf 3/20 (4 overs)
Corey Anderson 34 (34)
Saurabh Netravalkar 6/9 (3.5 overs)
Washington Freedom won by 30 runs
Church Street Park, Morrisville
Umpires: Rushane Samuels (WI) and Paul Wilson (Aus)
Player of the match: Saurabh Netravalkar (Washington Freedom)
  • San Francisco Unicorns won the toss and elected to field.
  • Washington Freedom qualified for the play-offs as a result of this match.
Match 13
July 23, 2023
17:30 (D/N)
Scorecard
Washington Freedom
160/6 (20 overs)
v
MI New York
161/2 (15.3 overs)
Glenn Phillips 47 (35)
Kieron Pollard 2/33 (4 overs)
Nicholas Pooran 62* (33)
Akeal Hosein 1/9 (2 overs)
MI New York won by 8 wickets
Church Street Park, Morrisville
Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pak) and Paul Wilson (Aus)
Player of the match: Nicholas Pooran (MI New York)
  • MI New York won the toss and elected to field.

Standing

Points table

Pos Team Pld W L NR Pts NRR Qualification
1 Seattle Orcas 5 4 1 0 8 0.725 Advanced to Qualifier
2 Texas Super Kings 5 3 2 0 6 0.570
3 Washington Freedom 5 3 2 0 6 0.097 Advanced to Eliminator
4 MI New York (C) 5 2 3 0 4 1.004
5 San Francisco Unicorns 5 2 3 0 4 −0.303
6 Los Angeles Knight Riders 5 1 4 0 2 −2.028
Source: ESPNcricinfo
(C) Champions

Match summary

Team Group matches Playoffs
1234 5 Q/E C F
Washington Freedom 0 2 4 6 6 L
Win Loss Tie No Result

Playoffs

Eliminator
July 27, 2023
15:30 (D/N)
Scorecard
MI New York
141/7 (20 overs)
v
Washington Freedom
125/9 (20 overs)
Dewald Brevis 57 (41)
Saurabh Netravalkar 2/25 (4 overs)
Marco Jansen 28 (18)
Trent Boult 4/20 (4 overs)
MI New York won by 16 runs
Grand Prairie Stadium, Texas
Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pak) and Rushane Samuels (WI)
Player of the match: Dewald Brevis (MI New York)
  • Washington Freedom won the toss and elected to field.

Administration and support staff

Washington Freedom staff
Position Name
Head coach Australia Greg Shipperd[4]
Bowling coach South Africa Dale Steyn[17]

References

  1. ↑ Della Penna, Peter (November 15, 2022). "Major League Cricket set for July 2023 launch in Grand Prairie". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Website Welcome". Washington Freedom. May 1, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Moises Henriques signs as skipper". Washington Freedom. May 26, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Aussie legend Shipperd joins as Head Coach". Washington Freedom. May 30, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Steve Smith joins as Washington Freedom Ambassador". Washington Freedom. July 12, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Freedom suffer narrow defeat against Orcas". Washington Freedom. July 15, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Freedom reflect on successful first campaign". Washington Freedom. August 15, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Freedom knocked out of Major League Cricket". Washington Freedom. July 28, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Washington Freedom welcome Marco Jansen". Washington Freedom. June 5, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Adam Milne signs for Freedom". Washington Freedom. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Josh Philippe joins Washington Freedom". Washington Freedom. June 1, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Left-armer Ben Dwarshuis signs for Freedom". Washington Freedom. June 7, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  13. ↑ "West Indies all-rounder Hosein joins Freedom". Washington Freedom. June 8, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Matthew Short signs for Freedom". Washington Freedom. June 9, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Major League Cricket 2024". Major League Cricket. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Tanveer Sangha replaces Wanindu Hasaranga". Washington Freedom. July 12, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Legendary fast-bowler Dale Steyn joins coaching staff". Washington Freedom. May 31, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
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