MCL 2016: Auction, Teams and Full Squads

Legendary South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis was bought for the highest bid of $175,000 (Rs 1.17 Crore) at the inaugural Masters Cricket League (MCL) auction which was held in Dubai. Former Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist fetched the second highest bid for an impressive amount of $170,000 (Rs 1.14 Crore). Kallis was bought by the Libra Legends (Popcorn Sports and Entertainment Private Limited) while Gilchrist was picked by the Sagittarius Soldiers (Ashfaq Sheikh of Orange Limited).

West Indian legend Brian Lara was sold to the Leo Lions (Manyata Dutt and Family) for $100,000 (Rs 66.76 lakh) while Muttiah Muralitharan went to the Gemini Arabians (Khaitan Holdings) for $120,000 (Rs 80.14 lakh). Former Aussie pacer Brett Lee will join the Virgo Super Kings (Rhiti Sports) who bought him for $100,000 while former England captain Paul Collingwood went for $140,000 (Rs 93.50 lakh) to the Capricorn Commanders (Sohail Khan and Pervez Khan).

The tournament which will feature big names from the previous era, most of whom are retired cricketers now, will be played in January 2016.

Zarah Shah, the MCL CEO, said, “Our main aim is to take cricket to a higher level across the UAE and we believe that the response we have received in participation for the event is a great step forward in the right direction. The franchise owners and players are excited to see the turnout over the auction.”

The league, which is the brainchild of Dubai-based Grand Midwest Sports had a total 12 marquee players, who were allocated to the teams before the auction. The marquee list features two each from India, Pakistan, England, New Zealand and Sri Lanka, one each from South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Teams:

Capricorn Commanders, Leo Lions, Libra Legends, Gemini Arabians, Sagittarius Soldiers, Virgo Super Kings.

MCL marquee players:

Abdul Razzaq and Michael Vaughan (Capricorn Commanders)

Scott Styris and Heath Streak (Leo Lions)

Sourav Ganguly and Graeme Swann (Libra Legends)

Virender Sehwag and Kumar Sangakkara (Gemini Arabians)

Mahela Jayawardene and Daniel Vettori (Sagittarius Soldiers)

Graeme Smith and Azhar Mahmood (Virgo Super Kings)

Squads:

Capricorn Commanders –

Michael Vaughan, Abdul Razzaq, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Symonds, Chamara Silva, Ashwell Prince, Upul Chandana, Ryan McLaren, Jeetan Patel, Rikki Clarke, Rory Kleinveldt, Ben Laughlin, Rizwan Cheema, Geraint Jones, Sunil Joshi, Saleem Elahi.

Gemini Arabians –

Virender Sehwag, Kumar Sangakkara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Kyle Mills, Saqlain Mushtaq, Jacques Rudolph, Naved-ul-Hasan, Justin Kemp, Paul Harris, Brad Hodge, Richard Levi, Ashish Bagai, Graham Onions, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Saqib Ali.

Libra Legends –

Sourav Ganguly, Graeme Swann, Jacques Kallis, Brad Hogg, Ryan ten Doeschate, Ajay Ratra, Chris Read, Sean Ervine, Shaun Tait, Ryan Sidebottom, Michael Lumb, Marcus North, Taufeeq Umar, Nicky Boje, Ian Butler.

Leo Lions –

Heath Streak, Scott Styris, Brian Lara, Herschelle Gibbs, Brendan Taylor, James Franklin, Johan Botha, Robin Peterson, Fidel Edwards, Mohammad Tauqir, Neil Carter, Hamish Marshall, Kyle Jarvis, Ramesh Powar, Simon Jones, Darren Gough.

Sagittarius Soldiers –

Mahela Jayawardene, Daniel Vettori, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Bond, Khurram Khan, Phil Mustard, Tino Best, Nathan Hauritz, Alviro Petersen, Michael Carberry, Krishmar Santokie, Jonathan Trott, Yasir Hameed, Mushtaq Ahmed, Gavin Hamilton.

Virgo Super Kings –

Graeme Smith, Azhar Mahmood, Brett Lee, Jonty Rhodes, Neil McKenzie, John Mooney, Dirk Nannes, Owais Shah, James Foster, Murali Kartik, Malinga Bandara, Gareth Batty, Hasan Raza, Jacob Oram, Humayun Farhat, Mohammad Yousuf.