MCL not to compete with Sachin-Warne league: Jones

The Masters Champions League (MCL) has no intention to compete with a similar proposed event floated by cricketing greats Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne, said its promoter and former Australia batsman Dean Jones.

Jones, whose company Major Events Group will be running the Masters Champions League (MCL), a Twenty20 tournament that will feature retired international players in Dubai, said both the leagues 

have “their own space” and can co-exist.

Tendulkar and Warne had earlier this year made public their ambitious Legends T20 cricket League, proposed to be held in the USA in August-September.

“We want them to do well and we will not compete against them,” Jones was quoted as saying by ‘ESPNcricinfo’.

“We have got our own space in February and they have got theirs. They might want to join with us and play with us, we have spoken to them about their <g data-gr-id="43">availability</g> but I fully understand that they are trying to get their event up and running. We want to have the best league and I have no doubt that if we are successful, they will be as well,” he said.

Initiated by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) and organised by GM Sports, MCL has been initially approved for a 10-year period.

The MCL was launched in Dubai recently, with Wasim Akram, Adam Gilchrist and Brian Lara in attendance as icon players. Jacques Kallis has also been named as an icon player.

The MCL is planned as a two-week tournament in the UAE in February every year and will consist of six franchises in the first year, with each squad consisting of 15 members. The players must all be former international cricketers who are now retired completely and are not playing in any domestic league around the world.

Jones claimed that the idea had received a “fantastic response”. 

“Each franchise will have icon players and Associate Nation players,” he said. “They will also have A-class players like Scott Styris who can still play first-class cricket. There are players out there who have to be approved by the ICC, our governing council and the Emirates Cricket Board. If I put my name in, I will be told I’m too fat and will not be allowed.