Washington Freedom sign Steve Smith for 2024 Major League Cricket

Steve Smith is confirmed to play in the 2024 Major League Cricket (MLC) after the MLC franchise Washington Freedom signed the Australian batter. While this deal was always in the making, considering that Freedom had a partnership with New South Wales (NSW), a team that Smith represents. 

𝐒𝐦𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞 x 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦 = 😍

Welcome the the family, 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐡 ❤️#WashingtonFreedom #MLC2024 #SteveSmith pic.twitter.com/bGrzxlsr61

— Washington Freedom (@WSHFreedom) April 11, 2024

Earlier last year, in a promotional event, Smith had insisted that he would be looking forward to being part of cricket in the United States of America (USA), hinting at a MLC deal. Smith will join the likes of Moises Henriques, Ben Dwarshuis, Josh Philippe and Tanveer Sangha, who all represented Freedom in the inaugural edition of the competition. 

"As a New South Wales boy, the partnership the Freedom has with my home state means a lot to me," Smith said in a promotional video. "Cricket in Australia has a rich history and I look forward to being part of taking cricket to the United States of America."

It will not be the first time that Smith has played cricket in the North American region, after playing an edition of the Global T20 League in Canada shortly before making his international comeback following the ban.