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Too Many Qualifiers, Too Little Competition: Why MLC Must Rethink Rewarding Inconsistency

Abhinav Tyagi

Texas Super Kings Crash Out - (Source : @Texas/X.com)Texas Super Kings Crash Out - (Source : @Texas/X.com)

The T20 leagues around the world are on the rise, but Major League Cricket is rising at a rapid pace. The USA Cricket-backed competitive league is in its third edition and has already reached a $6.9 million valuation, bigger than the likes of Lanka Premier League, Bangladesh Premier League, and Caribbean Premier League, according to Cricket Panda.

MLC features players from across the globe, and there is no shortage of star power in America's top T20 league. The tournament has significantly contributed to the growth of cricket in the USA and North America. With the backing of IPL franchises, MLC certainly has the potential to become one of the world's largest leagues. 

Notably, MLC features six teams, and four are backed by IPL owners, which speaks a lot about the potential of the league. However, the league’s playoff structure—where four out of six teams qualify for the knockout stage— is stopping the tournament from becoming big. 

The Core Issue: Too Many Qualifiers, Too Few Teams

Dilutes the Value of the League Stage

With two-thirds of the teams advancing, the league stage loses its competitive edge. Teams can afford multiple slip-ups and still make the playoffs, reducing the urgency and intensity of each match. Thus, the fans lose interest, and then the wait is just for the playoffs, and the league stage's value is reduced to little. 

Teams that perform consistently throughout the league stage are not sufficiently rewarded. A team finishing fourth with a mediocre record has nearly the same shot at the title as the table-toppers.

It happened in the ongoing edition, where Washington Freedoms, Texas Super Kings, and San Francisco Unicorns were the best teams in the league stage, but MI New York, who only won three matches out of ten played, finished fourth and now have won the eliminator and the challenger to qualify for the the finals.

No denying the quality of the MI franchise, but the format itself is so flawed that consistency in the league stage was not rewarded; rather, a team with just 30% winning percentage in a tournament are in the finals. 

Notably, the Unicorns finished the league stage with 14 points in ten matches, more than double of what MI New York did in the group-stage.

Encourages Mediocrity

Even teams with losing records can sneak into the playoffs like MI did this year. This can lead to a scenario where a team with more losses than wins still competes for the championship. The excitement of late-season matches, where every game should matter, is diminished since most teams are almost assured of qualification regardless of their performance.

League
No. Of Teams
Playoff Spots
% Teams Qualifying
MLC6466%
IPL 10440%
BBL84
50%
PSL6466%

MLC Take A Leaf Out Of IPL And WPL's Book

With only 40% of teams qualifying, the IPL rewards consistency and ensures that every league match is crucial. Looking at IPL, this year, Mumbai Indians were the fourth-placed team, who qualified for the playoffs with eight wins in 14 matches, which is a 58% winning percentage. 

Thus, for MLC and other leagues to increase their viewership, valuation, they need to learn from IPL and rather than the WPL, where there is more drama around qualification and values the league stage. 

Notably, WPL also face a crunch of teams as only five teams take part. However, the format is such that the top-placed team advances to the final, while the second and third-placed teams engage in a qualifier game and then advance to the finals.

Other Leagues With Similar Problems

MLC should avoid repeating the mistake as PSL. Notably, India and Pakistan are two nations filled with cricket fanatics. Thus, it is natural to expect PSL have a similar viewership and turnout as IPL. However, it not the case because of PSL's format. When it started, five teams took part in the league, out of which four advanced further, totally eliminating the league stage structure. 

With a 80% qualification chances, the league stage made little to no difference, making it difficult for viewers to watch it with same intensity. 

Impact on Fans and Viewership

Fans may lose interest in the league stage, knowing their team is likely to qualify regardless of performance. The thrill of must-win matches and do-or-die scenarios is largely absent, which can hurt TV ratings and stadium attendance.

What Should Change, Before Its Too Late?

Reduce Playoff Spots

Three-Team Playoff: Only the top three teams should qualify, with the first-placed team advancing directly to the final, and the second and third teams playing an eliminator.

Top Two Only: For a truly elite competition, only the top two teams could contest the final, making every match in the league stage matter.

The current MLC format, where four out of six teams qualify for the playoffs, undermines the competitive spirit and reduces the stakes of the league stage. Amending the format to allow fewer teams into the knockout rounds would increase competition, reward consistency, and enhance fan engagement, ultimately elevating the quality and credibility of Major League Cricket.