LLC Masters: Oman to host cricket giants early next year

Muscat: The picturesque Oman Cricket Academy ground in Al Amerat is certain to see fireworks and some sizzling action as cricket greats like Chris Gayle, Eoin Morgan, Shane Watson and Yousuf Pathan are expected to feature in the forthcoming LLC Masters that will be played from February 27 to March 8.

Oman had hosted the inaugural edition of the Legends League Cricket in January 2022 and the second edition was held in September, 2022. Following the success of the two seasons, Legends League Cricket has been renamed as LLC Masters and will be jointly held in Oman and Qatar.

Three teams – India Maharajas, Asia Lions and World Giants – will feature in the LLC Masters, according to a statement from the organisers.

The three teams are expected to comprise a total of 60 legends, including Chris Gayle, Eoin Morgan, Gautam Gambhir, Harbhajan Singh, Shane Watson, Yousuf Pathan among others.

The Season 2 of Legends League Cricket had four franchise-owned teams with 85 legends and was played in India. The upcoming season will be a repeat of the first which had former cricketers from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, England, among other cricketing nations divided into three teams representing India, Asia and Rest of the World.

“I loved to be on the cricket field with Manipal Tigers playing LLC-2 and it would be great to go back into the field with the upcoming LLC Masters,” Harbhajan Singh said in a statement released by Legends League Cricket.

Harbhajan successfully led India Maharajas against the World Giants team in the exhibition game played at Kolkata as part of season 2 commemorating 75 years of Indian Independence.

Irfan Pathan said, “I am excited to announce that I’ll be back in action again playing Legends League Cricket in February. And this time, I will be playing for Team India. I am really looking forward to it.”

“It was fun in September/ October playing for Bhilwara Kings, and now I am getting ready for the LLC Masters to play for the World team,” Shane Watson further added.