With the support of a sizeable Indian and Pakistani population in the UAE, this region of the Persian Gulf has become a beehive of cricket tournaments of all hues. For the Pakistan team, UAE is the second home, where the team plays test matches and other fixtures against visiting ICC teams. Besides, UAE has acquired the associate membership of the ICC and hosts visiting teams from Ireland, Scotland, Afghanistan, Canada, Oman, Kenya, Hong Kong and other Associate members of the ICC. In February 2016, cricket lovers in UAE will be able to watch such legends as Brian Lara, Wasim Akram, Jacques Kallis and Adam Gilchrist among several others. The latest event has been designed exclusively for the retired cricketers and since each team will have 15 members each, 90 retired cricketers could be seen in action in three major stadiums spread across UAE. These stadiums are Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, Dubai Sports City Stadium, and the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
The opening event on June 3, 2015 was attended by former captains from Australia and England. Allan Border and Graham Gooch are also listed as the members of MCL’s Governing Council. Each of the six teams will have 15 players and the auction process is set to start soon. Indian legend Virender Sehwag chose his 37th birthday on October 20, 2015 to announce his retirement and therefore he will become eligible to play in the MCL. Sehwag was in Dubai last Monday and he had already expressed his intention of quitting all forms of cricket, including the IPL. However, Sehwag will complete the ongoing Ranji Trophy season as Haryana’s captain.
The homepage of MCL website splashed an image of eight players lined up side-by-side with their backs facing the camera. The names on the seven T-shirts were; Sangakkara, Gilchrist, Sehwag, Lara, Wasim, Kallis and Mahela. The T-shirt of the eighth player showed a question mark. The coming days will reveal the teams, players, owners, sponsors and the schedule of the upcoming tournament.