Masters Champions League (MCL), UAE’s first of its kind cricket league, hosted a grand dinner on 19th October 2015 to announce its first tournament and officially launch the brand anthem. With an overwhelming attendance of over 300 guests, the VIP gathering was star-studded with cricket Greats, including names like West Indies cricket legend Brian Lara, English icon Michael Vaughan, popular former South African captain Graeme Smith, Indian dasher Virender Sehwag and former Pakistani all-rounder Azhar Mahmood.
The tournament will be formed of six teams in its first year, with a total of 90 players taking part – 15 members per squad, VIP players contracts have been rigorously signed under with a Montegrappa pen. The matches will only see cricket stars who have retired from international cricket. The inaugural MCL matches are due to take place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium and Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Mahesh Cariappa, Brand Manager of Montegrappa Middle East said “Montegrappa has long been a prominent sports supporter, 
sponsoring events and also dedicating some of its writing instruments collections to sporting legends. In 2014, we launched the Ayrton Senna and Pele limited edition pens in honour of the F1 legend and the king of football respectively. Recently, we have entered into a brand-new collaboration with the UEFA Champions League to celebrate the 60th anniversary of European football’s greatest club competition. Our latest association with MCL is a step towards honouring cricket and the cricketing legends who have contributed to the sport in such a way, that it is considered a religion in some Asian countries.”
Speaking at the gala dinner, Zarah Shah, MCL CEO, said: “The Masters Champions League is going to be every cricket lover’s dream come true. It’s a tournament, which will boast of extraordinary players of impeccable class and history…It will be a first of its kind league in the UAE, a country which is rapidly beginning to make its impact on the international cricket scene.”
The MCL has been approved for an initial 10-year period by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), while the organiser and rights owner of the tournament, GM Sports, is also closely following the established guidelines set out by game’s governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC).
To know more about MCL, please visit: www.mcl2020.com