Shahid Afridi and Yuvraj Singh | Source: X.com
The inaugural edition of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) begins in Birmingham, England, on Wednesday, July 3rd. Cricket legends from six nations – India, England, Pakistan, Australia, South Africa, and the West Indies – will rekindle their rivalries in a T20 format, competing for WCL glory.
Indian fans will be excited to see iconic players like Yuvraj Singh (captain), Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina, and Irfan Pathan don the national colours once again. England will counter with their own star-studded squad featuring Kevin Pietersen (captain) and Ian Bell.
Beyond India and England, the tournament features a plethora of legendary names. Pakistan will rely on the explosive batting of Shahid Afridi, while Australia will look to Aaron Finch for quick runs. Chris Gayle, the “Universe Boss,” will lead the charge for the West Indies, and Jacques Kallis will bring experience and leadership to the South African team.
Format and Venues
All six teams will compete in a round-robin format. The top four teams will advance to the semi-finals, with Edgbaston in Birmingham hosting the first ten matches, including the semi-finals. The remaining five group-stage matches and the final will be played at Northampton’s County Cricket Ground.
A Look at the WCL 2024 Squads:
India Champions: Yuvraj Singh (c), Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Gurkeerat Mann, Rahul Sharma, Naman Ojha, Rahul Shukla, RP Singh, Vinay Kumar, Dhawal Kulkarni, Anureet Singh, Pawan Negi
Australia Champions: Brett Lee (c), Tim Paine, Shaun Marsh, Ben Cutting, Ben Dunk, Dirk Nannes, Dan Christian, Ben Laughlin, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Callum Ferguson, Peter Siddle, Xavier Doherty, Nathan Coulter-Nile, John Hastings
England Champions: Kevin Pietersen (c), Ravi Bopara, Ian Bell, Samit Patel, Owais Shah, Philip Mustard, Chris Schofield, Sajid Mahmood, Ajmal Shahzad, Usman Afzaal, Ryan Sidebottom, Stephen Parry, Stuart Meaker, Kevin O’Brien
West Indies Champions: Daren Sammy (c), Chris Gayle, Samuel Badree, Ravi Rampaul, Kesrick Williams, Jason Mohammed, Navin Stewart, Dwayne Smith, Ashley Nurse, Sulieman Benn, Chadwick Walton, Jerome Taylor, Fidel Edwards, Kirk Edwards, Jonathan Carter
South Africa Champions: Jacques Kallis (c), Herschelle Gibbs, Imran Tahir, Makhaya Ntini, Dale Steyn, Ashwell Prince, Neil McKenzie, Ryan McLaren, Justin Ontong, Rory Kleinveldt, JP Duminy, Richard Levi, Dane Vilas, Vernon Philander, Charl Langeveldt
Pakistan Champions: Younis Khan (c), Misbah Ul Haq, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Wahab Riaz, Saeed Ajmal, Sohail Tanveer, Sohail Khan, Tanveer Ahmad, Muhammad Hafeez, Aamer Yamin, Shoaib Malik, Sohaib Maqsood, Sharjeel Khan, Umar Akmal
