Former Australia wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist has been named captain of Sagittarius Strikers for this month’s Masters Champions League (MCL).
The 44-year-old has enjoyed an outstanding career in the Twenty20 format, leading Deccan Chargers to their maiden title in the 2009 Indian Premier League and scoring more than 2,800 runs in the shortest format both at club and international level.
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It was no surprise he fetched the second highest sum in last month’s auction with the $170,000 paid by owners and UAE businessmen Ashfaq Shaikh and Misbah Ahmad.
He takes charge of a team boasting Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene, New Zealand’s Daniel Vettori and Shane Bond, England’s Jonathan Trott as well the former UAE captain Khurram Khan.
The three-time World Cup winner’s first game as captain is against Virgo Super Kings, skippered by compatriot and fast-bowler Brett Lee on January 29 at Dubai International Stadium.
The two-week tournament, which begins on February 28 and will be played in Dubai and Sharjah, has attracted a strong field of retired stars with Brian Lara, Virender Sehwag, Kumar Sangakkara and Jacques Kallis all featuring. A total of six teams will battle for glory with the final scheduled on February 13.