Masters Champions League (MCL) approved by ICC

Masters Champions League (MCL) approved by ICC: Masters Champions League, a Twenty20 tournament organized for retired players of the game finally gets the nod from the International Cricket Council. The Dubai-based GM Sports had earlier officially announced the launch of the Masters Champions League (MCL) in June 2015 at the iconic Burj Al Arab hotel.

Though there has not been an official statement yet by the ICC, sources in the committee told the Press Trust of India (PTI) that the league has been given a No Objection Certificate (NOC) certificate.

Masters Champions League has been approved for an initial period of ten years by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB).

The first edition of the tournament will commence on January 22 2016, with a total of six teams. The teams will include 90 players from all over the world, that is 15 per team and they will be selected in an auction in Dubai on November 27^th.

Speaking to India today ICC CEO Dave Richardson had clarified that they have no problem with MCL. “Wherever cricket is played we are happy. There is a process to be followed. The process is wherever cricket is played they have to recognize it. If it’s UAE, they have to do it. ICC has a right to disapprove cricket but will do so subject to certain criteria. At this stage we have no reason to disapprove (MCL). It remains approved till it is disapproved,” Richardson said.

The tournament has been in talks for a while now. And now, the approval demonstrates the credibility of the Masters Champions League, which has received strong support from industry leaders, sports and entertainment celebrities and government officials. League chairman Zafar Shah had earlier hoped the league would give fans another chance to see the greats.

The legends will once again reunite to entertain the crowds across venues like Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium and Sharjah Cricket Stadium. These stadiums have previously hosted big tournaments like IPL in the past.

Consequently, the cricketing world will witness another Twenty20 league with some of the finest cricketers of the game play for sheer experience and not competition. It will certainly be an exciting contest.