Former cricketers including Brian Lara, Jacques Kallis and Adam Gilchrist will "play in a new Twenty20 tournament," the Masters Champions League, in the UAE as of February, according to K.R. Nayar of GULF NEWS. The MCL was "unveiled by organisers Major Events at the Burj Al Arab, with the star trio joined at the launch" by Pakistani Wasim Akram. Former Australia batsman Allan Border and former England captain Graham Gooch were also in "attendance as members of the MCL." The tournament’s inaugural edition will "see six teams with 15 squad members each -- making a total of 90 players -- battle it out" at the Dubai Int'l Cricket Stadium, Sharjah Cricket Stadium and Shaikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Inaugural matches are "due to take place over two weeks" (GULF NEWS, 6/3). INDIA TODAY reported GM Sports and former Australia cricketer Dean Jones' company Major Events will "organize one of the biggest tournaments that the UAE has seen." Jones said, "This iconic tournament will be organized and played in the UAE for the next 10 years. Based on the T20 format, this will bring together some of the greatest iconic names that the game has ever seen." The MCL has been "formally approved" by the Emirates Cricket Board, which "makes it official" for the Int'l Cricket Council as well (INDIA TODAY, 6/3).
