Masters Champions League (MCL) is a Twenty20 cricket league held in the United Arab Emirates and contested by former international cricketers. The inaugural season consisting of six teams was held in January and February 2016 and won by the Gemini Arabians. The MCL has received a 10-year approval from the Emirates Cricket Board but faced difficulties before its first season over the status of "retired" international players who were still contracted to other domestic cometitions, as well as delays in player payments which almost led to players abandoning the tournament mid-season.
Masters Champions League (MCL) is a annual Twenty20 cricket competition involving retired international cricketers to be held in the United Arab Emirates in Jan-Feb 2016. Six franchises comprising the top cricket legends and all-time stars will participate. Wasim Akram, Brian Lara, Adam Gilchrist and Jacques Kallis are named icon players. The first edition of MCL is slated to start on January 28, 2016, and will go on till February 14, 2016.
Player auction
Former South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis attracted the highest bid of US $175,000 at the first player auction and joined the Libra Legends franchise. Former Australia wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist was the second-highest signing, purchased by the Sagittarius Soldiers for $170,000. Other players with high bids included former England captain Paul Collingwood ($140,000), Muttiah Muralitharan ofSri Lanka ($120,000), West Indies' Brian Lara ($100,000) and Brett Lee of Australia ($100,000).
Teams
Team | Captain | Owner(s) | Icon Player | |
Libra Legends | Jacques Kallis | Grand Midwest Group | Jacques Kallis | |
Gemini Arabians | Virender Sehwag | Khaitan Holdings | Kumar Sangakkara | |
Sagittarius Strikers | Adam Gilchrist | Orange Limited | Mahela Jayawardene | |
Virgo Super Kings | Graeme Smith | Rhiti Sports | Brett Lee | |
Capricorn Commanders | Paul Collingwood | Pacific Ventures | Paul Collingwood | |
Leo Lions | Brian Lara | Manyata Dutt (Sanjay Dutt) | Brian Lara | |
Franchises of MCL
The players participating in the Masters Champions League will be split into six franchises. MCL teams are listed as follows:
1. Libra Legends
2. Capricorn Commanders
3. Gemini Arabians
4. Leo Lions
5. Sagittarius Soldiers
6. Virgo Super Kings
Marquee Players of 2016 MCL
Masters Champions League, which will play host to a string of legendary names from the cricketing history named 12 marquee players for its inaugural edition in 2016.
1. Michael Vaughan (England)
2. Graeme Swann (England)
3. Sourav Ganguly (India)
4. Virender Sehwag (India)
5. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)
6. Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka)
7. Abdul Razzaq (Pakistan)
8. Azhar Mahmood (Pakistan)
9. Daniel Vettori (New Zealand)
10. Scott Styris (New Zealand)
11. Graeme Smith (South Africa)
12. Heath Streak (Zimbabwe)
Squads for MCL T20 2016
Team Virgo Super Kings (Total players - 16)
Money spent auction: $718,000 (remaining funds - $32,000)
Team Leo Lions (Total players - 16)
Team Gemini Arabians (Total players - 15)Money spent at auction: $736,000 (remaining funds - $14,000)
Team Sagittarius Soldiers (Total players - 15)
Team Capricorn Commanders (Total players - 16)
MCL's costliest player Kallis
MCL Governing Body
Masters Champions League Countries United Arab Emirates Administrator Emirates Cricket Board Format Twenty20 First tournament 2016 Tournament format Round-robin and knockout Number of teams 6 Current champion Gemini Arabians (1st title) Most runs Kumar Sangakkara (Gemini Arabians) (386) Most wickets Muttiah Muralitharan (Gemini Arabians) (15)
MCL Features- Manyda cricket playing nations will be participating in this tournament together and in the same teams for the first time ever
- One more chance for millions of cricket fans to see their favourite heroes in action
- Fully approved by the Emirates Cricket Board
- Endorsed by the Federation of International Cricketers' Association (FICA)
Tournament Format
6 teams of ex-international cricket players will compete in an action-packed series within the United Arab Emirates.- Premiere Season: In the inaugural season of the MCL, as many as 6 franchised teams will make their debut
- Teams: The teams will constitute the top cricket legends and all-time stars who no longer play international cricket
- League Table: The teams will compete using a round robin format
- Points-Based System: Each team will play each other once
- Semi-Finals: The four teams with the highest points after playing 5 games each will qualify for the semi-finals
- Final: The winners of the semi-finals will proceed to play the prestigious grand finale of the MCL
- MCL Champions: The winning team will carry home an MCL Trophy and handsome prize money
- Festival With Opening And Closing Ceremonies, Gala Dinner: The entire event will be celebrated as a new festival in the region with an opening and closing ceremony plus gala dinner
- Fund-Raising / Charity: A portion of revenue from the tournament will be used to make charitable donations to qualifying ex-cricketers. Fundraising activities will be held with the objective of supporting local talent and generating hardship funds.
Venues
Cricket icons return to action in Masters Champions LeagueSome of cricket’s greatest former international players are due to return to competitive action in a new and unique T20 tournament, which will be held annually across three stadiums in the United Arab Emirates. The Masters Champions League, MCL, will feature a franchise format. However, unlike the IPL or Big Bash, teams will not be based on geographic location, and instead will simply include the best possible players a franchise owner can put together from the qualifying player base.
Team Leo Lions (Total players - 16)
Team Gemini Arabians (Total players - 15)
Team Sagittarius Soldiers (Total players - 15)
Team Capricorn Commanders (Total players - 16)
Team Libra Legends (Total players - 15)
MCL Governing Body
The MCL governing body includes 8 key people.
· Sean Morris (COO)
· Allan Border
· Graham Gooch
· Zafar Shah (Chairman)
· Abdul Rahman Falaknaz (President)
· Zarah Shahh (CEO)
· Amin Farooq (Joint Secretary)
· Mohammed Raza Khan (Director)
· Ghazi Al Madani (Member)
Masters Champions League | |
Countries | United Arab Emirates |
Administrator | Emirates Cricket Board |
Format | Twenty20 |
First tournament | 2016 |
Tournament format | Round-robin and knockout |
Number of teams | 6 |
Current champion | Gemini Arabians (1st title) |
Most runs | Kumar Sangakkara (Gemini Arabians) (386) |
Most wickets | Muttiah Muralitharan (Gemini Arabians) (15) |
MCL Features
- Manyda cricket playing nations will be participating in this tournament together and in the same teams for the first time ever
- One more chance for millions of cricket fans to see their favourite heroes in action
- Fully approved by the Emirates Cricket Board
- Endorsed by the Federation of International Cricketers' Association (FICA)
Tournament Format
The Masters Champions League will be played in T20 format.
6 teams of ex-international cricket players will compete in an action-packed series within the United Arab Emirates.
6 teams of ex-international cricket players will compete in an action-packed series within the United Arab Emirates.
Highlights
- Premiere Season: In the inaugural season of the MCL, as many as 6 franchised teams will make their debut
- Teams: The teams will constitute the top cricket legends and all-time stars who no longer play international cricket
- League Table: The teams will compete using a round robin format
- Points-Based System: Each team will play each other once
- Semi-Finals: The four teams with the highest points after playing 5 games each will qualify for the semi-finals
- Final: The winners of the semi-finals will proceed to play the prestigious grand finale of the MCL
- MCL Champions: The winning team will carry home an MCL Trophy and handsome prize money
- Festival With Opening And Closing Ceremonies, Gala Dinner: The entire event will be celebrated as a new festival in the region with an opening and closing ceremony plus gala dinner
- Fund-Raising / Charity: A portion of revenue from the tournament will be used to make charitable donations to qualifying ex-cricketers. Fundraising activities will be held with the objective of supporting local talent and generating hardship funds.
Venues
Venues will be Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium and Sharjah Cricket Stadium. MCL is approved by the Emirates Cricket Board to initially run over ten year period. It will follow the established guidelines of the International Cricket Council (ICC). The organisers have ensured giving back is a major theme, alongside inspiring cricket in the Middle East and in terms of leaving a lasting legacy. Inaugural tournament of Masters Champions League will take place in February 2016 over two weeks. Cricket players who are set to play are: Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka), Azhar Mehmood, Abdul Razzaq (Pakistan), Daniel Vettori (New Zealand) and Khurram Khan (UAE). Sports fans interested in watching Cricket greats perform live in T20 matches of 2016 edition of MCL 2020 can try us exclusively.
Cricket icons return to action in Masters Champions League
Some of cricket’s greatest former international players are due to return to competitive action in a new and unique T20 tournament, which will be held annually across three stadiums in the United Arab Emirates. The Masters Champions League, MCL, will feature a franchise format. However, unlike the IPL or Big Bash, teams will not be based on geographic location, and instead will simply include the best possible players a franchise owner can put together from the qualifying player base.
The tournament will be made up of six teams in its first year, with a total of 90 players taking part – 15 members per squad. The players must all be retired from international cricket. The MCL has been approved for an initial 10 year period by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), while the organiser and rights owner of the tournament, GM Sports, is also closely following the established guidelines set out by game’s governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The inaugural MCL matches are due to take place over two weeks in early February, 2016. They will be played in the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium and Sharjah Cricket Stadium, which have all previously hosted major cricket tournaments, including the IPL, as well as first class and international Test matches.
The tournament was launched at a star studded affair on Wednesday at the Burj Al Arab, Dubai. It was attended by former greats including West Indian cricketing legend Brian Lara, Australian icon Adam Gilchrist, and retired Pakistani fast bowling great Wasim Akram. South Africa’s Jacques Kallis announced his involvement in the league in a pre-recorded video message. Former England captain Graham Gooch and past Australian captain Allan Border, both members of the MCL governing council, were also present.
“The MCL is a tremendous force for good, which is partly what attracted me to it. The organisers have ensured giving back is a major theme, alongside inspiring cricket in the Middle East and in terms of leaving a lasting legacy.”
History
The tournament was announced by the league's CEO Zafar Shah in June 2015. Formed by Saim Malik, Chairman of GM Sports, it is a league for retired cricketers, some of whom have never played the Twenty20 format.
MCL has generated support in the UAE, including the official approval from the Emirates Cricket Board. The company operates under the umbrella of the Grand Midwest Group and is a promoter of sports activities in the region.
Cricket has given the world many legends but nowadays the fans miss them as the players have retired from the international cricket. The Master’s cricket league T20 will be giving the fans another opportunity to witness their cricketing stars once again playing the shortest format of cricket. The Master’s T20 league to be played in the emirates will witness all the major cricketing stars those who don’t play any form of cricket now. The league has been approved by the emirates cricket union and the Federation of International cricketers.
The first season will be having six franchises comprising of retired international super stars of the game. They will be fighting in the round robin competition against each other and the 4 teams with the top points will be qualifying to play the semi-finals and the two teams will be playing the finals of the series.
The first Twenty20 International match was played in 2005, when Australia took on New Zealand. This format of cricket became instantly popular across the world with the first ICC World Twenty20 championship played only 2 years later.
The T20 format is regarded as the shorter, more intense and exciting alternative to the traditional one-day and test formats that consume more time.
MCL Objective: Champions League (MCL) is established with the objective of together the real legends of modern-day cricket to participate in an action-packed Twenty20 tournament that is unlike anything seen before.
2016 Masters Champions League
The 2016 Masters Champions League was the inaugural season of the Masters Champions League that took place from 28 January to 13 February 2016 in Dubai and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. The tournament was contested by six teams of fifteen players, all former international cricketers, with the Gemini Arabians defeating the Leo Lions in the final by 16 runs.
