Gayle launches KCL with a dose of Gangnam-style dancing

Dubai: West Indies opener Chris Gayle launched the fourth season of the Kerala Cricket League (KCL) in style, appealing to every team to go out and enjoy playing the game.

“Play with passion. Enjoy every moment of the action, entertain everybody,” he remarked addressing a gathering of team owners, sponsors, Dubai Sports Council and Dubai Cricket Council officials.

Gayle, who is the brand ambassador of KCL, went on to entertain the gathering through his trademark Ganganam Style dance while the tournament’s title song was being played. “When the KCL team approached me to become their event ambassador, I was fascinated by their passion for the game. This is the sort of energy I love to see in cricketers. Play hard but maintain the spirt by respecting the game,” he added. A sporting Gayle had accepted the invitation from organisers without taking any remuneration along with former West Indies Test star Dinanath Ramnarine.

Gayle then distributed the team jersey to all the team owners, wished everyone all the best to give their best in the tournament.

The fourth season was launched at the Al Futtaim Honda Showroom and was attended by Vinod G Pillai, the Director of KCL, who said: “This tournament which has started as a community event has grown over the years. With the approval of Dubai Cricket Council and Dubai Sports Council, we are moving to provide a great platform for the players to exhibit their skills,” said Pillai. Ghazi Al Madani of Dubai Sports Council and Shiva Pagarani attended the function along with Colin Cordery, Regional Managing Director of Al Futtaim Honda.

Lauding the enterprise of the organisers, Ramnarine said: “It is not very often you see community cricket grow to high level and I am delighted to see KCL move to great heights and I am looking forward to see some great action.”

KCL is organised by Willows Cricket Club, one of the oldest clubs founded in Thiruvananthapuram and managed by Seashell Events. The tournament will be played on a T20 format and will feature 16 teams. The winners stand to gain Dh75,000 while runners-up can pocket Dh45,000. All the matches will be played at the Sevens Stadium from 6pm to midnight and will commence from Friday, November 13 to December 18.