{{Short description|Washington DC-based cricket team in Minor League Cricket}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2022}} {{Infobox cricket team | name = Baltimore Royals | league = Minor League Cricket | conference = Eastern Division (Atlantic Conference) | alt_name = | image = Baltimore Royals Logo.png | colours = {{color box|orange}} Orange, and {{color box|darkorange}} Dark Orange. | coach = | captain = Sunny Sohal | city = Baltimore, Maryland | founded = {{start date and age|2020}} | owner = Rajit Passey | ceo = | ground = Veterans Memorial Park | capacity = | t_title = T20 kit | t_pattern_la = | t_pattern_b = | t_pattern_ra = | t_pattern_pants = | t_leftarm = ff8c00 | t_body = FFA500 | t_rightarm = ff8c00 | t_pants = ff8c00 | current = }}
The '''Baltimore Royals''' (formerly the '''DC Hawks''') are an American professional Twenty20 cricket team based in the Washington metropolitan area that competes in Minor League Cricket (MiLC). It was formed in 2020 as part of 24 original teams to compete in Minor League Cricket.<ref name="owner">{{cite web|url=https://www.usacricket.org/media-release/minor-league-cricket-announces-franchise-owners-and-draft-update/ |work=USA Cricket |date=15 August 2020 |title=Minor League Cricket Announces Franchise Owners and Draft Update |access-date=5 March 2022}}</ref><ref name="NameChange">{{cite tweet|author=Minor League Cricket |author-link=Minor League Cricket |user=MiLCricket |number=1630621435650621457 |date=28 February 2023 |title=New season, new name! The DC Hawks are now the Baltimore Royals. The name might be new, but the attitude is still the same. Join us in welcoming the Royals for the upcoming 2023 MiLC Season!}}</ref> The franchise is currently owned by Rajit Passey.<ref name="owner" />
The team's home ground is Veterans Memorial Park, located in Woodbridge, Virginia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.majorleaguecricket.com/news/minor-league-division-preview-series-eastern/ |work=Minor League Cricket |publisher=Major League Cricket |date=27 July 2021 |title=Minor League Division Preview Series - Eastern |access-date=5 March 2022}}</ref> American international Sunny Sohal currently helms as captain, with former IPL cricketer Bipul Sharma standing by as vice-captain.<ref name="cap">{{cite web|url=https://hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/punjab-cricketers-move-tous-with-eye-on-national-team-101625600837963.html |website=Hindustan Times |date=7 July 2021 |title=Punjab cricketers move to US with eye on national team |access-date=5 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://baltimoresun.com/maryland/howard/cng-ho-cricket-popularity-grows-league-20221004-mzlylpceynefdgglwmr6daeuba-story.html |first=Ethan |last=Ehrenhaft |date=4 October 2022 |publisher=The Baltimore Sun |title=Cricket's popularity takes off in Howard County as adult and youth leagues gain hundreds of players and youth pitch opens |access-date=14 March 2023}}</ref>
Ravi Inder Singh tops the batting leaderboard for the team with 564 runs,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricclubs.com/MiLC/teamBatting.do?teamId=7&clubId=18036 |website=CricClubs.com |title=DC Hawks - Batting |access-date=5 March 2022}}</ref> while Sarabjit Ladda tops the bowling team with 29 wickets.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricclubs.com/MiLC/teamBowling.do?teamId=7&clubId=18036 |website=CricClubs.com |title=DC Hawks - Bowling |access-date=5 March 2022}}</ref>
== Franchise history == === Background === thumb|left|The logo for the then-DC Hawks
Talks of an American Twenty20 league started in November 2018 just before USA Cricket became the new governing body of cricket in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/25714489/usa-formally-approved-rejoin-icc-associate-member-usa-cricket |first=Peter Della |last=Penna |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=8 January 2019 |title=USA formally approved to rejoin ICC as Associate Member under USA Cricket |access-date=5 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/usa-plan-to-launch-their-t20-league-in-2021-1167043 |first=Peter Della |last=Penna |date=27 November 2018 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |title=USA plan to launch their T20 League in 2021 |access-date=5 March 2022}}</ref> In May 2021, USA Cricket announced they had accepted a bid by American Cricket Enterprises (ACE) for a US$1 billion investment covering the league and other investments benefitting the U.S. national teams.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usacricket.org/media-release/usa-cricket-chooses-partner-to-fund-and-develop-u-s-based-professional-t20-cricket-league/ |work=USA Cricket |date=23 May 2019 |title=USA Cricket Chooses Partner to Fund and Develop U.S.-Based Professional T20 Cricket League |access-date=5 March 2022}}</ref>
In an Annual General Meeting on February 21, 2020, it was announced that USA Cricket was planning to launch Major League Cricket in 2021 and Minor League Cricket that summer,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usacricket.org/media-release/usa-cricket-board-meeting-february-2020/ |work=USA Cricket |date=27 February 2020 |title=USA Cricket Board Meeting February 2020 |access-date=5 March 2022}}</ref> but it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/major-league-cricket-debut-poised-to-be-pushed-back-to-2022/ |work=SportBusiness |date=2 August 2021 |title=USA Cricket re-evaluating Major League Cricket debut timing due to Covid-19 concerns |access-date=5 March 2022}}</ref> and due to the lack of high-quality cricket stadiums in the USA.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1108173/major-league-cricket-2023 |work=Inside the Games |date=24 May 2021 |title=American Major League Cricket tournament launch pushed to 2023 at Annual General Meeting |access-date=5 March 2022}}</ref> Major League Cricket was pushed to a summer-2023 launch<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/usa-s-mlc-t20-tournament-pushed-back-to-2023-at-agm-1263761 |first=Peter Della |last=Penna |date=21 May 2021 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |title=USA's MLC T20 tournament pushed back to 2023 at AGM |access-date=5 March 2022}}</ref> and Minor League Cricket was pushed back to July 31, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/minor-league-cricket-2021-t20-league-in-usa-kicks-off-with-sami-aslam-corey-anderson-in-the-mix-1271536 |first=Peter Della |last=Penna |date=30 July 2021 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |title=Minor League Cricket: T20 league in USA kicks off with Sami Aslam, Corey Anderson in the mix |access-date=5 March 2022}}</ref>
USA Cricket CEO Iain Higgins also pointed out cities such as New York City, Houston and Los Angeles with a large cricket fanbase, and targeted them among others as launch cities for Minor League Cricket.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/new-york-boston-chicago-la-among-22-targeted-launch-cities-for-usa-t20-competition-1217780 |first=Peter Della |last=Penna |date=27 February 2020 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |title=New York, Boston, Chicago, LA among 22 targeted launch cities for USA T20 competition |access-date=5 March 2022}}</ref>
=== Exhibition league === In July 2020, the player registration for the Minor League Cricket exhibition league began.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usacricket.org/media-release/minor-league-cricket-announces-player-registration-opening/ |work=USA Cricket |date=7 July 2020 |title=Minor League Cricket Announces Player Registration Opening |access-date=5 March 2022}}</ref> On August 15, 2020, USA Cricket announced the teams participating in the exhibition league matches, also listing the owners for each team.<ref name="owner"/> The draft for the exhibition league began on August 22, 2020,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usacricket.org/media-release/inaugural-minor-league-cricket-draft-to-take-place-today/ |work=USA Cricket |date=22 August 2020 |title=Inaugural Minor League Cricket Draft to Take Place Today |access-date=5 March 2022}}</ref> with the DC Hawks releasing their squad on September 2.<ref name="captain">{{cite web|url=https://www.usacricket.org/media-release/17-of-the-24-squads-confirmed-as-inaugural-minor-league-cricket-draft-is-completed/ |work=USA Cricket |date=2 September 2020 |title=17 of the 24 Squads Confirmed as Inaugural Minor League Cricket Draft is completed |access-date=5 March 2022}}</ref> Navin Stewart was later named as captain for the DC Hawks in the exhibition league.<ref name="captain" />
=== 2021 season === {{See also|2021 Minor League Cricket season#Atlantic Conference}}
After the conclusion of the exhibition league, USA Cricket announced that they were planning to launch the inaugural season of Minor League Cricket in spring 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usacricket.org/media-release/usa-cricket-launches-foundational-plan/ |work=USA Cricket |date=15 October 2020 |title=USA Cricket Launches Foundational Plan |access-date=6 March 2022}}</ref> Ahead of the official season, which was announced to kick off on July 31,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usacricket.org/media-release/american-cricket-history-to-be-made-on-minor-league-cricket-opening-weekend/ |work=Major League Cricket |date=29 July 2021 |publisher=USA Cricket |title=American Cricket History to be Made on Minor League Cricket Opening Weekend |access-date=6 March 2022}}</ref> they announced Sunny Sohal as captain and Adil Bhatti as vice-captain.<ref name="cap" />
In their first match of the season, they beat the Florida Beamers by 65 runs, but lost to the New England Eagles by 33 runs the same day.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.majorleaguecricket.com/news/the-monday-all-rounder-opening-weekend/ |work=Minor League Cricket |publisher=Major League Cricket |date=2 August 2021 |title=The Monday All Rounder - Opening Weekend |access-date=6 March 2022}}</ref> They then went on to win against the Philadelphians,<ref name="njsc">{{cite web|url=https://www.majorleaguecricket.com/news/the-monday-all-rounder-week-two/ |work=Minor League Cricket |date=9 August 2021 |publisher=Major League Cricket |title=The Monday All Rounder - Week Two |access-date=6 March 2022}}</ref> the Eagles twice,<ref name="stallions">{{cite web|url=https://www.majorleaguecricket.com/news/the-monday-all-rounder-week-3/ |work=Minor League Cricket |date=16 August 2021 |publisher=Major League Cricket |title=The Monday All Rounder - Week 3 |access-date=6 March 2022}}</ref><ref name="apv">{{cite web|url=https://www.majorleaguecricket.com/news/the-tuesday-all-rounder-week-six/ |work=Minor League Cricket |publisher=Major League Cricket |date=7 September 2021 |title=The Tuesday All Rounder - Week Six |access-date=6 March 2022}}</ref> the Titans,<ref name="titan">{{cite web|url=https://cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/118860/minor-cricket-league-week-5-ricardo-powell-turns-back-the-clock-usa-cricket-unmukt-chand-cricbuzzcom |first=Smit |last=Patel |date=2 September 2021 |publisher=CricBuzz |title=Minor Cricket League Week 5: Ricardo Powell turns back the clock |access-date=6 March 2022}}</ref> the Stallions,<ref name="stallions" /> the Yorkers,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/118717/minor-league-cricket-week-4-unmukt-chand-makes-his-presence-felt-cricbuzzcom |first=Smit |last=Patel |website=CricBuzz.com |date=25 August 2021 |title=Minor League Cricket Week 4: Unmukt Chand makes his presence felt |access-date=6 March 2022}}</ref> and the Cavaliers.<ref name="philly">{{cite web|url=https://www.majorleaguecricket.com/news/the-monday-all-rounder-week-seven/ |work=Minor League Cricket |publisher=Major League Cricket |date=13 September 2021 |title=The Monday All Rounder - Week Seven |access-date=6 March 2022}}</ref> They additionally lost against the Philadelphians,<ref name="philly" /> the Titans,<ref name="titan" /> the Stallions,<ref name="stallions" /> the Yorkers,<ref name="group">{{cite web|url=https://www.majorleaguecricket.com/news/the-monday-all-rounder-week-eight/ |work=Minor League Cricket |publisher=Major League Cricket |date=20 September 2021 |title=The Monday All Rounder - Week Eight |access-date=6 March 2022}}</ref> the Cavaliers,<ref name="njsc" /> the Fire,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/your-opinion/cricket-in-the-usa-minor-league-cricket-unmukt-chand-arunkumar-niraj-patel-usa-cricket/article36425040.ece |first=Nilesh |last=Mehta |date=13 September 2021 |publisher=Sportstar |title=The rise of cricket in the United States of America |access-date=6 March 2022}}</ref> and the Param Veers.<ref name="apv" />
The '''Hawks''' placed 4th in their group, thus missing the quarter-finals.<ref name="group" />
=== 2022 season === {{See also|2022 Minor League Cricket season#Atlantic Conference}} Ahead of the 2022 season, Major League Cricket announced that the draft for that season would take place on May 12.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.majorleaguecricket.com/news/title-and-presenting-partners-announced-for-2022-minor-league-cricket-championship/ |work=Minor League Cricket |publisher=Major League Cricket |date=5 May 2022 |title=Title and Presenting Partners Announced for 2022 Minor League Cricket Championship |access-date=9 May 2022}}</ref> Ahead of the official season, it was announced that American international Sunny Sohal would continue to captain the team, with former IPL cricketer Bipul Sharma taking over the role of vice-captain following Adil Bhatti's departure to the Empire State Titans.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.majorleaguecricket.com/news/milc-previews-eastern-division/ |author=Tom Nielson |date=23 June 2022 |publisher=Major League Cricket |title=MiLC Previews - Eastern Division |access-date=14 March 2023}}</ref>
Throughout the season, the Hawks lost twice against the Stallions, the Titans, and the Yorkers,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/123225/dallas-mustangs-and-silicon-valley-strikers-surge-ahead-cricbuzzcom |first=Smit |last=Patel |date=26 July 2022 |publisher=Cricbuzz |title=Dallas Mustangs and Silicon Valley Strikers surge ahead |access-date=16 March 2023}}</ref> lost once against the runners-up Atlanta Fire,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/123325/milc-week-6-east-bay-blazers-end-silicon-valley-strikers-11-game-winning-streak-cricbuzzcom |first=Smit |last=Patel |date=3 August 2022 |publisher=Cricbuzz |title=MiLC Week 6: East Bay Blazers End Silicon Valley Strikers 11-game Winning Streak |access-date=16 March 2023}}</ref> won once and lost once against the Eagles and the Philadelphians,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.majorleaguecricket.com/news/the-milc-all-rounder-week-one/ |work=Minor League Cricket |publisher=Major League Cricket |date=28 June 2022 |title=The MiLC All Rounder - Week One |access-date=16 March 2023}}</ref> won once against the Lions, and won twice against the Cavaliers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/123396/minor-league-t20-week-7-teams-tantalizingly-poised-for-final-round-of-league-stage-cricbuzzcom |author=Smit Patel |date=10 August 2022 |title=Minor League T20 Week 7: Teams tantalizingly poised for final round of league stage |publisher=Cricbuzz |access-date=16 March 2023}}</ref> Overall, the Hawks ended with a 5-9 win-loss record, securing them fifth in their division and unable to go to the play-offs.
=== 2023 season === Before the start of the 2023 season, it was announced that the DC Hawks would undergo a name-change to the Baltimore Royals.<ref name="NameChange" />
== Current squad == * Players with international caps are listed in '''bold'''. <!--* {{color box|border=darkgray|#EEE8AA|<nowiki>*</nowiki>}} denotes a player who is currently unavailable for selection. * {{color box|border=darkgray|#FFCCCC|<nowiki>*</nowiki>}} denotes a player who is unavailable for rest of the season --> {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%;" |- ! Name ! Nationality ! Birth date ! Batting style ! Bowling style ! Year signed ! Notes |- ! colspan="7" style="text-align:center;" | Batsmen |- || Abdullah Ghazi || {{cr|UAE}} || {{birth date and age|1988|5|18|df=y}}|| Right-handed || Right-arm medium fast || style="text-align:center;"| 2021 || Overseas |- |- || Franklin Clement || {{cr|USA}}||{{birth date and age|1993|4|21|df=y}}|| Right-handed || Right-arm medium || style="text-align:center;" | 2021 || |- |- || '''Ritwik Behera''' || {{cr|USA}}||{{birth date and age|2003|11|10|df=y}}|| Right-handed || Right-arm off break|| style="text-align:center;" | 2021 || |- || Shehan Perera || {{cr|SL}}||{{birth date and age|1987|2|11|df=y}}|| Right-handed || Right-arm off break || style="text-align:center;" | 2021 || Overseas |- |- || '''Sunny Sohal''' || {{cr|USA}}||{{birth date and age|1987|11|10|df=y}}|| Right-handed || Right-arm leg break|| style="text-align:center;" | 2021 || Captain |- || Talal Zia || {{cr|PAK}}||{{birth date and age|1986|3|25|df=y}}|| Right-handed || Right-arm medium|| style="text-align:center;" | 2021 || Overseas |- ! colspan="7" style="text-align:center;" | All-rounders |- || '''Shukri Rahim''' || {{cr|MYS}} || {{birth date and age|1986|10|06|df=y}}|| Right-handed || Right-arm off break || style="text-align:center;"| 2021 || Overseas |- || '''Adil Bhatti''' || {{cr|USA}} || {{birth date and age|1984|10|28|df=y}}|| Right-handed || Right-arm medium || style="text-align:center;"| 2021 || Vice-captain |- || '''Dane Piedt''' ||{{cr|SA}} || {{birth date and age|1990|3|6|df=y}}|| Right-handed ||Right-arm off break || style="text-align:center;"| 2021 || Overseas |- || Ishan Sharma || {{cr|USA}}||{{birth date and age|2003|5|17|df=y}}|| Right-handed || Right-arm fast medium || style="text-align:center;" | 2021 || |- || '''Naseer Islam''' || {{cr|USA}}||{{birth date and age|1972|9|23|df=y}}|| Right-handed || Right-arm medium fast|| style="text-align:center;" | 2021 || |- || Rasesh Behera || {{cr|USA}}||{{birth date and age|2001|8|30|df=y}}|| Right-handed || Right-arm medium|| style="text-align:center;" | 2021 || |- || Ravi Inder Singh || {{cr|IND}}||{{birth date and age|1987|12|4|df=y}}|| Left-handed || Right-arm off break|| style="text-align:center;" | 2021 || Overseas |- || Raviteja Reddy || {{cr|USA}}||{{birth date and age|1993|2|11|df=y}}|| Right-handed || Right-arm leg break || style="text-align:center;" | 2021 || |- || Sahil Kapoor || {{cr|USA}}||{{birth date and age|1986|8|11|df=y}}|| Right-handed || Right-arm medium fast || style="text-align:center;" | 2021 || |- || Waleed Karimullah || {{cr|USA}}||{{birth date and age|1993|6|8|df=y}}|| Right-handed || Right-arm medium || style="text-align:center;" | 2021 || |- ! colspan="7" style="text-align:center;" | Bowlers |- || Hassan Khan || {{cr|USA}}||{{birth date and age|1998|10|16|df=y}}|| Right-handed || Right-arm medium fast || style="text-align:center;" | 2025 || |- ! colspan="7" style="text-align:center;" | Wicket-keepers |- || Christopher van Tull || {{cr|USA}}||{{birth date and age|1986|10|05|df=y}}|| Right-handed || Right-arm fast|| style="text-align:center;" | 2021 || |}
== See also == * 2021 Minor League Cricket season
== References == {{reflist}} {{Cricket in the United States}}
Category:Minor League Cricket teams Category:Cricket teams in Washington, D.C. Category:Cricket clubs established in 2020 Category:2020 establishments in Washington, D.C.