Stars arrive for ICL

A host of international cricketers, including Inzamam-ul Haq, Brian Lara, Craig Macmillan...

A host of international cricketers, including Inzamam-ul Haq, Brian Lara, Craig Macmillan, Nathan Astle, arrived in Chandigarh today for the forthcoming Indian Cricket League. The League is going to be held at the Sector-3 Cricket Stadium, Panchkula, from November 30 to December 16.

A small band of fans joined a pack of reporters, photographers and television crew as the captains of the six participating teams; Chandigarh Lions, Mumbai Champs, Delhi Jets, Kolkata Tigers, Hyderabad Heroes and Chennai Superstars led their teams through security check points and into the waiting team buses.

“I am looking forward to play in the ICL and it is a good development for the game as it provides a good platform for young cricketers in the sub-continent. The players will learn a lot in the company of many international players and I am confident that Hyderabad Heroes will put up a spirited display in the League,” said a confident Inzamam-ul Haq who will be playing along the likes of Abdul Razzaq, Azhar Mehmood and Chris Harris.

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Most of the players, dressed in sparkling team jerseys, arrived at their respective hotels after a one-hour practice session. Five teams apart from Mumbai Champs are staying in Hotel Mountview while Lara’s team is staying in another hotel.

“Most of the players in the teams are young and are very excited to play along with the likes of Brian Lara, Inzamam-ul Haq and Chris Cairns,” said former India player Rajesh Chauhan, who is one of the talent scouts for the ICL.