Shane Watson, a former Australian player, and the San Francisco Unicorns in Major League Cricket have finished their surprising time together. On 23 October 2025, the team said they agreed to separate from their first head coach after three seasons.
They mentioned his work with the media and growing the BEON Performance business. Shane Watson joined the new Major League Cricket team in 2023 and helped the group grow, making it a strong competitor for the playoffs.
The breakup has caused a lot of talk in the MLC community and made people wonder about the league’s future, the Unicorns’ new path, and what the famous World Cup winner will do with his time away from the game.
The former all-rounder and Major League Cricket – Building the Unicorns Legacy
The old Australian player was closely linked to the San Francisco Unicorns. As the team’s first head coach, he built the base for the Bay Area team’s way of doing things and finding new players.
Shane Watson helped young American cricketers grow while mixing them with skilled players from other countries. With his help, the Unicorns came in fifth in their first season in 2023.
They got to the playoffs in 2024 and 2025, and even played in the championship game in 2024. The team won six times in a row at the beginning of the 2025 season.
He was good at changing plans quickly when needed. Like a skilled leader steering through rough seas, he accepted the ups and downs of Major League Cricket using local players when he could and adding top stars from around the world to improve the game.
Unicorns CEO David White praised Shane Watson as “the best pick for our first head coach” and said he helped create the club from the start. Anand Rajaraman and Venky Harinarayan, the co-owners, spoke highly of his work ethic and love for helping young players grow.
Even when they lost, like in the tough game against Washington Freedom in the 2024 final, the coach stayed calm. At the end of his time, the former all-rounder was a big part of Major League Cricket, and when he left, fans felt like their favorite storyteller had stopped telling the story too soon.
The San Francisco Unicorns and Head Coach Shane Watson have mutually agreed to part ways.
We thank Shane for his commitment to the team for the past three seasons and wish him continued success.
Full statement here ➡️ https://t.co/BzHs1EGamh pic.twitter.com/oygA3FWCAs
— San Francisco Unicorns (@SFOUnicorns) October 22, 2025
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Why Shane Watson Left Major League Cricket – A New Coaching Model
Even though the coach and the team cared for each other, many things made Shane Watson leave. The Unicorns said they are changing to a coaching plan that will help the club grow over time.
The job went from part-time and temporary to full-time and steady, like going from freelance work to a regular office job. His many commentary jobs and his BEON Performance coaching business made it hard to stick to that schedule.
The franchise said that those duties stopped him from having a full-time job.
Here are the reasons:
- Year-round coaching demands: the Unicorns want a coach available throughout the year to develop players, scout talent, and prepare for successive seasons.
- Media commitments: his work as a commentator for international broadcasts means he is often on air when off-season training would occur.
- BEON Performance: his performance-coaching business has grown rapidly, requiring personal oversight and international travel.
- Mutual respect: both sides acknowledged the need for a fresh approach and separated amicably.
The change to a full-time coaching model shows that Major League Cricket is growing for the MLC organizers. Major League Cricket is new to the world of cricket.
It wants to compete with other well-known leagues by putting money into facilities and keeping things going. The Unicorns think that having a coach in the Bay Area all year will help grow local talent and make fans more involved.
The team is looking for someone who is always focused on the game, just like a band needs a conductor to lead them all the time.
The Path Ahead for Shane Watson and Major League Cricket
What is next for Shane Watson? People will talk about where he might coach next, but he has a few things going on.
The 42-year-old has been a coach in the Indian Premier League, helping the Delhi Capitals in 2022 and 2023, and then leading the Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League in 2024. His skill and charm make him a sought-after person for leagues everywhere.
He has also suggested that he will work on growing his BEON Performance platform and keep doing media work, implying that future coaching roles might be more like special guest spots instead of ongoing shows. The Unicorns will look for someone to continue what he started.
📰| MLC 2026
Shane Watson has stepped down as head coach of the San Francisco Unicorns after three years in charge. The franchise is moving to a year-round coaching model and has yet to name his replacement.#MLC2026 pic.twitter.com/AHD0D67Wny
— T20 Franchise Rosters (Men) (@t20tracker) October 22, 2025
The club’s leaders said that his memory will always be part of their story, showing the trust he built in the group. The new coach will take over a team that can make the playoffs and has fans eager for a title. Moreover, the competition is getting tougher in the United States. Choosing to have coaching all year shows we want to be like the big leagues, like the IPL and the Big Bash League. It shows our goals and how serious we are.
In Shane Watson’s goodbye note, he shared his pride in the journey and thanked them for the chance to work with top stars and new American players. He said Major League Cricket is “an exciting new place for the sport”, a place he helped start.
That idea matches what David White said, that the coach helped make the team from the start. Like a leader passing the baton to the next person, he leaves a guide filled with lessons and important points for others who come after.
Amit Mishra’s Thoughts
The split between the former all-rounder and the San Francisco Unicorns marks an important moment in the early days of Major League Cricket. He changed a new team into a strong playoff team, helping local players and raising the league’s visibility.
Both sides decided to go their separate ways because the Unicorns want a full-time coach, and he wants to focus on his media and business projects. The Unicorns start a new time, built on the work of one of Australia’s best all-rounders.
Shane Watson can enjoy some time off to follow other interests, but he might still come back to coaching later. This part of the competition will be seen as the time the league grew up.
FAQs
- Why did Watson leave Major League Cricket?
Shane Watson and the San Francisco Unicorns agreed to part ways because the franchise is moving to a year-round coaching model. His busy commentary schedule and the rapid growth of his BEON Performance coaching business made it impossible to commit to a full-time role. Both parties agreed the separation was amicable and in the team’s best interest. - How successful was Shane Watson in Major League Cricket?
In his three years as head coach, Shane Watson helped the Unicorns go from fifth place in the first season of 2023 to making the playoffs in 2024 and 2025, even reaching the championship game in 2024. - What is Major League Cricket’s new coaching model?
The Unicorns and other franchises are adopting a year-round coaching model that requires coaches to be based in the United States throughout the year to oversee off-season training, scouting, and community engagement. The move reflects the league’s ambition to professionalize operations and compete with established global T20 leagues. - What will Shane Watson do after leaving MLC?
He wants to work on his commentary jobs and grow his BEON Performance coaching brand. He has coached in the IPL and PSL and might take short coaching jobs in different leagues. He is leaving Major League Cricket, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be involved later. It shows he wants to have more flexible plans.
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