![India Women and MLC schedule [Source: @BCCIWomen, @MLCricket/x]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1774024689773_IndiaWomenandMLCschedule.jpg?type=hq)
India Women and MLC schedule [Source: @BCCIWomen, @MLCricket/x]
India Women and Australia Women teams to tour South Africa in late 2026 and early 2027 respectively. The entire schedule of the upcoming MLC 2026 season has been unveiled. The KKR franchise has dropped a major injury and recovery update about Sri Lanka fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana before the IPL 2026 season.
Capping an eventful day in the world of cricket, here we take a look at five of the biggest cricketing news that emerged out of Friday, March 20.
MLC 2026 schedule unveiled
The schedule for the entire upcoming MLC 2026 season has been finally unveiled. As per the official itinerary, the Texas Super Kings and Seattle Orcas will be crossing paths in the opening match of the tournament on June 18. Defending champions MI New York will be taking on Washington Freedom a couple of days later to launch their title-defence.
The MLC 2026 season will be played up until July 18, and will be hosted by three USA venues, namely the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Grand Prairie, the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland and the Knight Riders Cricket Field in Fairplex Pomona.
IML to return with second season in late 2026
The International Masters League (IML) will be making its return to the cricketing lore through its second season later this year. After successfully hosting the inaugural edition back in March 2025 last year, the IML 2026 season will also be hosted by India; with Mumbai, Vadodara and Vizag being earmarked as official venues of the tournament.
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Much like last year, the MLC 2026 season will also likely feature legendary former cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Chris Gayle, Kumar Sangakkara, Yuvraj Singh, Shane Watson among others. The India Masters team will start out as defending champions, and the tournament will be played between October 24 and November 14.
South Africa Women to host India, Australia in 2026-27 home summer
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has unveiled a blockbuster home summer for the South Africa Women’s team. As per the announcement, the Proteas Women will be hosting India and Australia between December later this year and April next year.
The India Women’s team will be touring South Africa in December to play a series of three ODIs and one Test match between December 9 and December 23. The tour will mark India’s fourth visit to the rainbow nation for a bilateral series, and second within a year. The Australia Women’s team, meanwhile, will be facing South Africa in a series of three T20Is, three ODIs and a Test match in March and April 2027.
SLC to conduct fitness tests for IPL 2026 players
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) will conduct fitness tests for some of its IPL 2026-bound players. As reported by Cricbuzz, the board will issue No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to those players for participating in IPL 2026 only after they clear the fitness tests.
Players like Wanindu Hasaranga (LSG), Eshan Malinga (SRH), Nuwan Thushara (RCB), Kamindu Mendis (SRH), Dushmantha Chameera and Pathum Nissanka (both Delhi Capitals) are all expected to join their respective franchises in the tournament. However, Chameera, Nissanka and Mendis have already received their NOCs.
Matheesha Pathirana to miss early part of IPL 2026 for KKR
Sri Lanka fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana is set to miss the initial stage of the IPL 2026 season for the KKR franchise owing to his injury. KKR coach Abhishek Nayar himself confirmed that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has informed the franchise about Pathirana’s availability from mid-April, in case he achieves full fitness by the time.
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