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Champions still mean business

Dubai - 90 ex-internationals to turn out for six teams in Masters League beginning Thursday

They may be old and greying and some on the other side of 40, but they meant business near Business Bay in downtown Dubai, on Monday morning.
An array of top class retired cricketers from around the world had descended at the JW Marriott Marquis for the inaugural Masters Champions League (MCL), which begins on Thursday.
Former international stars featured in a series promoted by Indian and Australian legends Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne but that was more to spread the game in the United States.
But the MCL is a first of its kind with a host of cricketers, some legends of the game, featuring in a franchise-based T20 cricket league which will run for close to 15 days.
Ninety players are spread across the six teams which 15 members in each squad. And the 90 players are some of the top names who sparkled on the world stage like Brian Lara, Adam Gilchrist, Saurav Ganguly, Jonty Rhodes, Jacques Kallis, Virender Sehwag, Kumar Sangakkara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Mahela Jayawardene, Daniel Vettori, Shane Bond, Graeme Smith, Brett Lee, Saqlain Mushtaq, Mushtaq Ahmed, Paul Collingwood, Michael Vaughan, Andrew Symonds, Shaun Tait, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Heath Streak, Scott Styris, Herschelle Gibbs and many others.
These players have been picked up the six teams namely Capricorn Commanders, Gemini Arabians, Leo Lions, Sagittarius Strikers, Libra Legends and Virgo Super Kings.
The MCL has received a 10-year approval from the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) and matches will be held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The competition runs till February 13.
MCL chairman Zafar Shah had said last June that their aim was to provide a platform for international cricketers who have retired.
"Our ultimate vision is for the MCL to become the natural next step for all international players retiring from the professional game to extend their careers in a Masters league," Shah had said.
The competition also provides a golden opportunity for the fans as well as the younger generation who probably haven't seen such legends of the game, up close and in the flesh.
The six teams and their players, who landed here in Dubai from different parts of the globe, got to work with practice sessions as well as practice matches against local teams.
Libra Legends, captained by former India skipper Saurav Ganguly, will square off against dashing former India opener Virender Sehwag's Gemini Arabians in the opener in Dubai on Thursday.
james@khaleejtimes.com