Global Celebrity League (United States) 2025/26

The Global Cricket League operates as a professional T20 franchise league within the United States. It features six teams: Washington DC Eagles, New York Liberty, Miami Waves, Las Vegas Aces, Houston Riders, and Chicago Windchasers. Organized and approved by USA Cricket, the national governing body, the competition holds recognition from the International Cricket Council (ICC). Unlike other domestic structures, it functions as a closed franchise system with no promotion or relegation. The season format begins with a round-robin group stage, followed by semi-finals and a final. All matches are played in the T20 (20-over) format. The inaugural season took place in late 2025, running from October to November, with a subsequent season scheduled for early 2026. While the league is distinguished from Major League Cricket (MLC) by its 'hybrid sports-entertainment' branding, which emphasizes a festival atmosphere and celebrity appeal, the players involved are professional cricketers rather than entertainment celebrities. The league is not part of the official USA Cricket domestic hierarchy in the same way MLC is, but it holds official approval. The founder of the separate 'Global Celebrity League' brand, Sheikh Saud Abdullah Al Thani, is distinct from the US GCL organizer, USA Cricket. The winner of the inaugural 2025 season was not found in available sources.