Dubai: A galaxy of past masters of cricket have converged here to resume battle in the inaugural Masters Champions League (MCL) commencing on Thursday.
The star players were busy on Wednesday limbering up for their respective teams through practice matches at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, ICC Academy and 7evens ground.
The 17-day tournament, with the final scheduled for February 13, is expected to be keenly-fought as all the teams have legends whose skills were an inspiration not so long ago.
The first match between Libra Legends and Gemini Arabians, to be played at the Dubai International stadium from 7.30pm on Thursday, will be keenly watched to gauge the quality of the contest in the coming matches.
Gemini has players like Kumar Sanagakkara, Saqlain Mushtaq and Muttiah Muralitharan, while Libra has the world’s finest all-rounder in Jacques Kallis and spinner Graeme Swann. However, the question on everybody’s mind is: whether the players will be able to play entertaining cricket like they used to in the past?
All the captains of the six teams have assured that their players are fit and raring to go. The organisers of this league have made sure to include the best of players who are keen to play. Even umpire, match referees and commentators who had made a mark in international cricket have arrived.
Zafar Shah, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the MCL, said: “The match officials for the inaugural edition of the MCL features a brilliant set of experienced men. We are certain to witness umpiring and refereeing of world class standards. A fantastic panel of commentators involving some of the world’s finest cricketers is a brilliant addition to the MCL. With our key broadcasters carrying the feed in cricket’s key territories, we will have a very wide audience watching all the 18 games of the tournament.”
Roshan Mahanama, formerly of the Elite Panel of the ICC Match Referees, who recently stepped down from his position, will be the match referee. The on-field umpires will be headed by former member of Elite Panel of ICC Umpires Steve Davis and on-field umpires are England’s Billy Taylor, Graham Lloyd, Peter Hartley and Jeremy Lloyds. Incidentally, Graham Lloyd is a former England cricketer who had played six ODIs and is the son of former England player and broadcaster, David Lloyd. The local umpires Sachin Solanki and Iftikhar Ali will be the fourth umpires.
The broadcasters include New Zealand pacer Danny Morrison, ex-England player Mark Butcher and former Pakistan captain Aamir Sohail.
The tournament has also given an opportunity for these legends to train at the ICC Academy. Brian Lara, the captain of Leo Lions, said after a training session: “The ICC Academy is perfect for us to get the training hours in. I can’t think of a better place to get in the nets and get ready for the MCL. There is a great atmosphere here ahead of the competition. It’s pretty special to be training at the same place as some of the world’s best-loved cricketers. I’m just very pleased to a part of it all.”
Daniel Vettori of Sagittarius Strikers and Brad Hogg of Libra Legends summed up the expectation from the contest. “If you look across the teams, there are still a lot of players playing to an exceptionally high standard,” said Vettori, while Hogg said: “This is a tournament that promotes the game. It’ll tell the fans how much we enjoy and miss the game.”
Fixtures
January 28: 7.30pm, Dubai — Libra Legends v Gemini Arabians
January 29: 3pm, Dubai — Capricorn Commanders v Leo Lions; 7.30pm — Virgo Super Kings v Sagittarius Strikers
January 30: 3pm, Dubai — Arabians v Lions; 7.30pm — Strikers v Commanders
February 3: 3pm, Sharjah — Legends v Super Kings; 7.30pm — Arabians v Commanders
February 4: 3pm, Sharjah — Legends v Strikers; Lions v Super Kings
February 5: 3pm, Sharjah — Strikers v Arabians; 7.30pm — Legends v Commanders
February 6: 3pm, Sharjah — Arabians v Super Kings; 7.30pm — Lions v Strikers
February 7: 3pm, Sharjah — Super Kings v Commanders; 7.30pm — Legends v Lions
Semi-final 1 — February 11, 7.30pm, Dubai
Semi-final 2 — February 12, 7.30pm, Dubai
Final — February 13, 7.30pm, Dubai.
Live telecast on Ten Cricket.
