Shah Rukh Khan is set to buy yet another cricket team in a Twenty20 league organised for retired international cricketers. The Bollywood megastar is already the owner of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel in the Carribean Premier League (CPL).
Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt has already purchased a franchise in the UAE-based Masters Champions League (MCL), for an undisclosed sum. His wife, Manyata will be the co-owner of his team. Shah Rukh Khan and Sohail Khan are also finalising the terms of purchasing a team each.
MCL, which will kick off next year, will feature six franchises in the inaugural season. The league brings back six former cricketing icons to captain the six participating teams, which will be named after the zodiac signs. The MCL is expected to have around 90 players participating in total, with each squad having 15 members.
Indranil Das Blah, managing partner at talent management company CAA KWAN, who will be running Dutt’s yet-to-be-named MCL team as chief executive said that they will be gunning for the name ‘Leo.’
Blah further added that Dutt is passionate about cricket and he saw this as an opportunity to own an asset which will see its valuation increase over the next four years or so.
Wasim Akram, former Pakistani left arm fast bowler and West Indian Brian Lara, who holds the record for the highest individual score in a Test innings, scoring 400 not out against England in 2004, were the first players to come on board.
Following suit was former Australian captain, Adam Gilchrist, known for being an attacking left-handed batsman and a record-breaking wicket-keeper.
Two Sri Lankan players, known for their friendship and elegant batting, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara will head two teams and the latest entrant to the league is, Virender Sehwag, India's right-handed opening batsman, who announced his retirement, a few days ago.
"The series follows 18 matches beginning on January 26 and will be played in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. One team is owned by Dhoni's business partner, Arun Pandey," Sam Khan, Chief Executive Director of MCL told Mumbai Mirror.
The league will feature 260 retired players, including former Pakistani fast bowler, Shoaib Akhtar and Australian cricketer-turned-commentator Brett Lee.
The MCL has been approved for a 10 year period by the Emirates Cricket Board, 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).
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