Legendary India batter Sachin Tendulkar has joined the ownership group of America's National Cricket League (NCL). Bringing an iconic figure like Tendulkar to the United States will boost the nation's sport in the coming years.
The NCL's inaugural tournament will bring sport and entertainment together. Opening with a performance by singer Mika Singh and featuring themed nights, the event will create a festival-like atmosphere similar to Coachella. The former cricketer expressed his excitement about being part of the league.
"Cricket has been my life's greatest journey and I am pleased to join the National Cricket League at such an exciting time for the sport in the US. The NCL's vision is to create a platform for world-class cricket while inspiring a new generation of fans to resonate with me. I look forward to being part of this new initiative and witnessing the growth of cricket in the US firsthand," Tendulkar said after the announcement.
Interestingly, cricketing legends such as Sunil Gavaskar, Wasim Akram, Sir Vivian Richards, Zaheer Abbas, Dilip Vengsarkar, Venkatesh Prasad, Sanath Jayasuriya, Moin Khan, and Blair Franklin will be sharing their expertise with the next generation of players.
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The league will also have top-tier international talent, including former stars like Shahid Afridi, Suresh Raina, and Shakib Al Hasan. Arun Agarwal, chairman of the NCL, opened up about the importance of Tendulkar's involvement.
"We are incredibly excited to welcome Sachin Tendulkar to the National Cricket League family. His influence in cricket is comparable to what Pele does in soccer or Babe Ruth in baseball. Sachin's commitment to the game, along with his global appeal, will be key as we introduce cricket to new audiences in America. His involvement highlights the NCL's goal to inspire future generations and establish cricket as a major sport in the US," said Agarwal.
The NCL has introduced an innovative "Sixty Strikes" format, a fast-paced version of the game designed to appeal to American audiences. Afridi, Raina, Shakib, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Karthik, and Robin Uthappa have been chosen as the captains of the six teams, respectively.
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