The highly anticipated International Masters League (IML) is all set to take the world by storm, bringing together legendary cricketers from six cricketing powerhouses, India, Sri Lanka, Australia, England, South Africa, and West Indies in a thrilling T20 franchise tournament.
The inaugural edition will run from November 17, to December 8. The DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai will host the opening leg of four matches.
The tournament will kick off with a high-octane fixture between India and Sri Lanka on November 17, pitting Sachin Tendulkar against Kumar Sangakkara, a throwback to their legendary encounters of the past.
In the second match, Shane Watson’s Australia will take on Jacques Kallis’ South Africa, followed by another showdown featuring Sri Lanka versus Eoin Morgan’s England. Brian Lara and his West Indies team will return to the field to face Australia in what promises to be a thrilling contest.
On November 21, the action will move to the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee (BRSABV) Ekana Cricket Stadium) on November 21, where India will play South Africa.
Lucknow will host six matches, after which the league will shift to Raipur (Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium, Raipur), where India will lock horns with England on November 28, where India will meet England.
Raipur will be the stage for eight matches, including the semi-finals and the grand final on December 8, when the first-ever champions of the International Masters League will be crowned.
Captained by cricketing greats who enjoyed stellar careers, the teams will bring both nostalgia and fierce competition to the T20 format. With 18 electrifying matches lined up, the IML promises to capture the imagination of fans worldwide, blending legendary battles with high-energy cricket.
The captains in the International Masters League feature: India: Sachin Tendulkar, West Indies: Brian Lara, Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara, Australia: Shane Watson, England: Eoin Morgan and South Africa: Jacques Kallis.
“As the ambassador and face of the IML, I am looking forward to leading and representing India Masters in the league. The action on the field will no doubt be competitive and exciting. All the players are enthused at the prospect of playing the IML at multiple venues. It’s an opportunity to inspire the next generation while celebrating the sport that we all love,” said League Ambassador Tendulkar
“Stalwarts from every country will be playing the International Masters League. For them, it is a wonderful opportunity to showcase their skills and show the world that they are still very good. These guys don’t know what it is to take it easy. It is going to be an exciting league, with close contests. I am sure it will be worth a treat for all those who come to the ground and watch on the television,” League Commissioner Sunil Gavaskar said.
