Sachin to lead MCC against World Eleven
Sachin Tendulkar will be padding up once again when he will captain the Maryleborne Cricket Club (MCC) in a 50 over match against a World X1 in at the Lord’s on 5 July. This match is being held to celebrate the bicentenary celebrations of the MCC.
The Master Blaster, who was awarded the honorary membership of the exclusive club in 2010, said in a MCC statement, “I am honoured to be captaining the MCC X1. Having been asked to captain the MCC team in such a prestigious fixture, I am delighted to accept.”
“Lord’s is such a special place to play cricket and I am looking forward to this match which is an important part of the bicentenary celebration. I was delighted to be presented with an honorary life membership of the MCC in 2010, and it will be a privilege to play at the `home of cricket’ once again,” said Tendulkar.
For the Indian fans there will be lot to cheer, as Ra- hul Dravid — is also playing in the MCC X1. “It will be a pleasure to have Rahul in my team,” said Sachin.
Sachin had also captained the Rest of the World side in the Lady Diana Memorial Match in 1998 — and scored a majestic century in the process.
Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar also played a competitive game after his Test retirement — a one-off match to mark the MCC’s bicentenary, at the Lord’s back in August 1987. Gavaskar scored a fabulous 188 for Rest of the World against MCC when 22 of the world’s greatest players had then gathered to play in the oneoff match.
The famous Tendulkar vs Warne rivalry will be once again revived for a day as the Australian legend leads a team that will also have former South African captain Shaun Pollock in the side and Warne’s fellow Aussie Adam Gilchrist behind the stumps. Sehwag to lead
Meanwhile, India’s Test discard Virender Sehwag has been roped in to captain the Marylebone Cricket Club (MACC) squad in a four-day Champion County match against Durham starting March 23 in Abu Dhabi. “Virender Sehwag and Muttiah Muralitharan have been confirmed as part of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) squad that will travel to Abu Dhabi next month,” the MCC said in a statement.
Muralitharan will lead the team in the preceding Emirates Twenty20 tournament. Also in the squad are England`s Monty Panesar and Sri Lankan wicketkeeper batsman Prasanna Jayawardene, as well as a host of young county players including Kent’s Daniel BellDrummond, Lancashire’s Luis Reece and Middlesex opener Sam Robson, who has been in great form for England Lions in Sri Lanka this winter.
Virender Sehwag, who is also confirmed to appear in the MCC vs Rest of the World at the Lord`s bicentenary match on 5 July, said, “I was delighted to be asked to play in this match, and being able to captain the MCC side makes it even more of a privilege.”