Major League Cricket debuts at Oakland's oldest sports stadium

Major League Cricket to get underway at Oakland Coliseum

Major League Cricket to get underway at Oakland Coliseum.

OAKLAND, Calif. - Oakland's oldest sports stadium will host a new sport for the first time on Thursday evening: Major League Cricket.

And there's even a home team to root for: The San Francisco Unicorns. 

Organizers of Major League Cricket say this is the first time that cricket matches of this level will be played on the West Coast. The other MLC matches are being held in Texas and Florida.

MLC is now in its third season, and the home team, the Unicorns, came in second in the league last year.

For the past two years, the Unicorns have played at neutral sites.

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee said watching cricket – a game more popular in India and England – will be worth watching in a stadium vacated by the Raiders and the A's. 

"Now we're bringing that global energy and that global focus to Oakland in a way that has never been done before," Lee said this week at a news conference. "This isn't only about  a game. It's about putting Oakland on the map in a new way."

Cricket etiquette explained ahead of MLC tournament at the Oakland Coliseum

Cricket etiquette explained ahead of MLC tournament at the Oakland Coliseum.

There could be a wrinkle with two players from Afghanistan. 

Major League Cricket Tournament Director Justin Geale said both have pending visa applications to come to the United States and play for Seattle, which he said could be a typical problem, noting there were similar issues in traveling to Britain.

Or, the problems could stem from President Trump's travel ban. 

Geale was unclear what would happen. 

The Unicorns will face off against the Washington Freedom at 6 p.m. on Thursday, which will be one of nine matches through June 18.

Fremont Mayor Raj Salwan said the sport is so popular with the South Asian community that BART is providing in-service Unicorn fan trains from Fremont to the Coliseum station.

All six teams in the league will play at the Coliseum. This includes the Unicorns, Los Angeles Knight Riders, MI New York, Seattle Orcas, Texas Super Kings, and Washington Freedom. 

Cricket matches will be held at 6 p.m. every day, while Saturday and Sunday have an additional 2 p.m. game. 

The six teams will then continue playing matches in Texas and Florida throughout the season.

Cricket players congregate at the Oakland Coliseum. June 11, 2025

Fremont Mayor Raj Salwan and Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee talk ahead of the MLC tournament at the Oakland Coliseum. June 11, 2025 

Cricket players walk on the pitch at the Oakland Coliseum. June 12, 2025