The 2023 Major League Cricket players' draft took place on March 19, 2023, at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.^[1]

The draft was conducted over 9 rounds via a "snake" format, where the team order is reversed every round.^[2] Out of the 9 rounds, 8 were general draft picks, with the final round being exclusively for U-23 players.^[3]

Out of the total of over 100 players who entered, a total of 54 players were drafted, with another 6 overseas players announced during the draft.^[4][5]

Each team had to mandatorily pick a U-23 player in the ninth round, irrespective of whether or not they selected one in rounds before.^[6] Each team also had only three minutes to select a player in rounds 1–5, with the time shortened to 2 minutes for rounds 6–9.^[7] Additionally, there were no trading of picks allowed during the draft.^[8]

The draft had fixed salary caps for each round, with the highest being $75,000 in the first round and the lowest being $2,500 in the ninth round.^[4]

Following a randomized order drew held at the Westin Oaks Houston on March 13, the Seattle Orcas had the first pick followed by the Washington Freedom, the MI New York, the San Francisco Unicorns, the Los Angeles Knight Riders, and the Texas Super Kings.^[9] As the draft was held in a "snake" format, the Super Kings then had the first pick in the second round, with the Orcas having the first pick again in the third.^[10]

During the draft, a total of 6 overseas players were announced.^[11] Among these were Aaron Finch and Marcus Stoinis, who are set to play for the San Francisco Unicorns,^[12] Mitchell Marsh and Quinton de Kock, who are set to play for the Seattle Orcas,^[13] and Wanindu Hasaranga and Anrich Nortje who are set to play for the Washington Freedom.^[14]

These were the squads for each team following the draft.^[15]