San Francisco Unicorns will take the final spot in this year’s Global Super League (GSL), giving the young tournament a distinctly trans-Atlantic feel. The United States-based side joins Lahore Qalandars, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Desert Vipers and Perth Scorchers for the ten-day event to be staged in Guyana from 23 July to 1 August.
Those dates collide with the Hundred in England yet still squeeze neatly between Major League Cricket (MLC) and the Caribbean Premier League. It means players who finish MLC can, in theory, hop straight on a plane to Providence before moving again for the CPL – provided bodies and visas hold up.
Key facts first, then the detail: the GSL is moving into only its third season, Amazon Warriors are defending champions, and the inclusion of an MLC outfit broadens the competition’s footprint just as organisers had hoped.
“We are delighted to have the San Francisco Unicorns join the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League,” GSL chairman Sir Clive Lloyd said. “Their inclusion reflects the growing global footprint of the game and the strength of franchise cricket in the United States. We look forward to seeing them compete and contribute to what promises to be an outstanding tournament.”
The Qalandars, three-time PSL winners, return after skipping last year’s edition. Owner Sameen Rana welcomed the chance to mix again with an international cast: “The inaugural edition was a fantastic platform for high-quality cricket and meaningful global engagement, and we are proud to once again represent Pakistan on this stage. Lahore Qalandars has always stood for pushing boundaries and this tournament allows us to showcase our talent, our culture, and our ambition to a global audience.”
From Australia, four-time BBL champions Perth Scorchers have shuffled the coaching deck. Adam Voges is tied up with Trent Rockets in the Hundred, so Simon Katich will steer the side in South America. The Scorchers do not expect wholesale player absences, although the overlap with English commitments could yet force late tweaks.
For the record, Rangpur Riders (BPL) lifted the inaugural GSL trophy; Guyana went one better in 2025 and, by showing up again, become the only team to feature in all three seasons. Desert Vipers, runners-up in the UAE’s ILT20 earlier this year, complete the current line-up.
Franchise cricket calendars remain crowded and occasionally chaotic, but the GSL’s organisers are betting that a short, punchy window in the Caribbean – allied to a big-name broadcast deal still being finalised – will keep players, boards and viewers interested.
