5 youngest cricketers who are playing in the MCL

The Masters Champions League is all set to begin in January next yearThe Masters Champions League, which is scheduled for January 2016 in the United Arab Emirates, has been conceptualized with the sole purpose of bringing legendary players back on the cricket field. Although the All Stars series played in November this yearwas on the same lines, this is a longer tournament with more teams and a higher number of matches.The roster of the MCL consists of several former cricketers, some of whom have played a considerable amount of international cricket and others not that much. Also, while most of the players featuring in the MCL are veterans, there are a few who may be a little too young to be playing in the tournament.Lets take a quick look at 5 such players:

#5 Ryan McLaren (South Africa) - 32

The South African allrounder will be part of the MCL roster

Ryan McLaren had been playing international cricket for South Africa until late last year; however, of late, he has not featured for them in any format. Funnily enough, though, he will be seen in action at the Masters Champions League (MCL) for the Capricorn Commanders, inspite of not having officially announced anything in the lines of retirement.

Being just 32 years old, it is difficult to figure out why McLaren decided to play in the MCL where a large percentage of the players are aged above 36. He still looks to have enough cricket left in him to try and force his way into the South African national team and such ventures may not help his chances a great deal.

#4 Krishmar Santokie (West Indies) - 30

Santokie was a part of the West Indies team at the 2014 World Twenty20

At 30 years of age, West Indies pacer Krishmar Santokie is one of the youngest cricketers to play in the inaugural season of the Masters Champions League (MCL). Santokie will be participating in the tournament despite no official confirmation on him having retired from international cricket andwill be representing the Sagittarius Soldiers.

The left-arm swing bowler has played just 12 T20Is for his country and was a part of the team during the previous edition of the ICC World Twenty20 in 2014. Krishmar Santokie still has age on his side and it may not be ideal for him to be part of a tournament which has been devised primarily for retired legends of the game.

#3 Brendan Taylor (Zimbabwe) - 29

Taylor had a great World Cup this year as he scored back-to-back centuries

Brendan Taylor was the star for the Zimbabwean team at the 2015 ICC World Cup played in Australia and New Zealand. However, like quite a few other cricketers from his country, Taylor too had to retire from the international game early due to dearth of money in Zimbabwe cricket and make a move to English county cricket.

He will be seen in action at the MCL for the franchise named Leo Lions alongside stalwarts like Brian Lara and fellow countryman Heath Streak. Even though Brendan Taylor had a long international career which lasted 11 years, one still gets the feeling that, at 29, he is a little too young to participate in such a tournament.

#2 Richard Levi (South Africa) - 27

Richard Levi en-route to his 45-ball T20I century in just his second game

The 27-year old burly South African batsman, Richard Levi, holds the record for the fastest hundred in T20Is, which he scored from 45 balls. That was just his 2^nd T20 international and 11 games later, he just disappeared from the international cricketing scene without many people noticing. Now we hear that he will be joining the MCL franchise Gemini Arabians for the inaugural edition of the tournament.

It is strange that he has qualified to play in the MCL as there has been no official word on his retirement from international cricket. At his young age, playing in a league which features former cricketers most of whom are in their late 30s or early 40s may not end up being too fruitful.

#1 Kyle Jarvis (Zimbabwe) - 26

Jarvis retired from international cricket in 2013 to join county cricket

Former Zimbabwean fast bowler Kyle Jarvis is the youngest cricketer to be part of the MCL at the age of 26 and is part of the Leo Lions franchise. Jarvis qualifies for this tournament purely because he retired from international cricket 2 years ago when he was just 24.

Although it is fair on his part to associate himself with this high-profile tournament, it may not be the ideal platform for someone like him, who has a lot of cricket still left to play, to showcase his skills. Fortunately for Kyle Jarvis, though, he’s not the only player under the age of 30 at the MCL.