3 Unusual events in which the IPL teams played

2. British Asian Cup 2009

After facing Cape Cobras before the 2009 IPL, the Rajasthan Royals travelled to England to face Middlesex team at the Lord’s. The match was named as British Asian Cup featuring the previous year champions of IPL (RR) and Twenty20 Cup (Middlesex). The game was organized as part of charity as a portion of earnings from this match went to the British Asian Trust.

Sohail Tanvir couldn’t be part of the 2009 IPL due to Indo-Pak bilateral relations but PCB permitted Tanvir to play for RR in this match. Royals defeated Middlesex 2nd XI by 28 runs defending their total of 139/9 in the warm-up match on the eve of the main game. Rajasthan Royals, led by Shane Warne, were asked to bat 1st by the home team after a rain delay. Royals finished strongly with 162/5 on the board in their 20 overs as Dimitri Mascarenhas scored 32* off 16 balls.

Swapnil Asnodkar and Mohammad Kaif scored 41 runs apiece at the top. Middlesex never looked like chasing down the total as they were reduced to 32/3 by 7th over. Dawid Malan was the top scorer for the hosts with a run-a-ball 34 while Gareth Berg and Neil Dexter scored 26 runs apiece. Sohail Tanvir claimed three wickets for 20 runs in his four overs as Middlesex were limited to only 116/7 and lost the match by 46 runs.

Mascarenhas was named player of the match for his quick-fire 32* and 2/24 with the ball. The game between Rajasthan Royals and Middlesex is the only match involving an IPL team with official T20 status outside IPL and CLT20 tournaments. The British Asian Cup was planned to be an annual series of three matches featuring the IPL and T20 Cup champions which never happened again.