Cricket sensation Jason Roy is set to depart from his England contract to participate in the inaugural season of Major League Cricket (MLC) in the United States.

The dynamic opening batsman, fresh off his stint with the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League, is said to have received an offer from the Los Angeles Knight Riders, the MLC franchise associated with his former team.

According to reports, the 32-year-old has been presented with a lucrative deal worth approximately £300,000 ($370,000) for the first two seasons of the upcoming American Twenty20 tournament, slated to commence in July.

Roy’s demotion from England’s central contract list last year resulted in him being placed on an incremental contract, entitling him to earn between £60,000 and £70,000.

In a statement released on Thursday, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that Roy’s participation in the US league is contingent upon him relinquishing the remainder of his ECB incremental contract, an agreement that has been mutually accepted by both parties.

The ECB would like to clarify that Jason’s decision will not impact his future selection for England teams,” the statement emphasized. “We have complete confidence and trust in Jason’s dedication to English cricket.”

Although the explosive opening batsman did not participate in England’s successful T20 World Cup campaign in October and November, he has retained his position in the 50-over squad and aims to be part of the team’s defense in this year’s 50-over World Cup in India.

In a statement shared on Twitter, the Surrey player assured that he would never turn his back on England. “Representing my country remains the proudest moment of my career as a professional cricketer,” stated Roy, who has amassed close to 6,000 international runs across all formats. “My priority is to continue playing for England for many more years.”

He further explained, “As a player without a central contract, focusing on a single format, I saw the opportunity to participate in this competition since it doesn’t clash with England’s schedule. Engaging in competitive cricket benefits me as an England player, and I aim to play as much as possible.”

The landscape of international cricket is evolving rapidly, with franchise leagues worldwide offering substantial salaries to top players. Major League Cricket organizers have promised the introduction of “six new teams and a new sport at the world-class level in the United States.”

Notable signings for the league include Australian stars Aaron Finch, Marcus Stoinis, and Mitchell Marsh, as well as former South Africa captain and wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock.