File photo of Sachin Tendulkar©
Legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar will be back in action on a cricket field as he takes part in the inaugural International Masters League (IML), a six-team T20 competition, to be held at three venues later this year. The IML will have players from India, Australia, South Africa, West Indies, England and Sri Lanka and will be played in Mumbai, Lucknow and Raipur. The T20 tournament, held annually, is the brainchild of Tendulkar and former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, who will also be the league commissioner. Tendulkar and Gavaskar will collaborate with PMG Sports and SPORTFIVE, a sports marketing company, in setting up another company in India to organize the competition, a press release said.
Parties interested in entering the competition through ownership of one of the franchise teams were also invited to send expressions of interest.
“Over the past decade, T20 cricket has accelerated its adoption and attracted new fans to the game. There is now a strong desire among fans of all ages to relive age-old battles in newer formats,” said Tendulkar.
“Athletes never retire at heart and the competitive spirit waits for an opportunity to get back on the field. We conceptualized the International Masters League as a meeting place for passionate fans and competitive cricketers,” he added.
Gavaskar said: “The International Masters League will bring fans closer to the legends they have admired for years, offering another golden opportunity to see their heroes live in action.”
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