World renowned cricketers, Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne will headline Cricket All-Stars inaugural match in the same field in what is billed as the first historic display of cricketing legends from around the world on American soil.
Shane Warne and Sachin Tendulkar will captain opposing teams in a three-match T20 exhibition tour of the USA next month. The matches will be played in New York, Houston and Los Angeles and the event, titled “Cricket All-Stars Series 2015”, will feature more than two dozen retired internationals from other Test nations.
The matches will take place on November 7 at New York’s Citi Field, November 11 at Houston’s Minute Maid Park and November 14 at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium. The first two games are slated to be played in the daytime while the final game at Dodger Stadium is scheduled to be played under the lights at the 56,000 capacity facility.
The inaugural match between the two hand-picked teams— Tendulkar’s “Sachin’s Blasters” and Warne’s ‘Warne’s Warriors” – will kick off Nov. 7 at the 48,000-seat capacity stadium in New York feature some of the best cricket players from round the world Ricky Ponting from Australia, Brian Lara from West Indies, Wasim Akram from Pakistan, Muttiah Muralitharan from Sri Lanka and Jonty Rhodes from South Africa, among others.
“We’ve signed all the top players you’d ever want to see,” Warne told cricket.com.au. “I’m excited for cricket fans in the United States to be able to see these amazing players for the first time.” A portion of proceeds from the series will go to the ICC for the development of cricket within the country.
“Americans are so passionate about sports, and I think there’s a huge potential for cricket to take off,” Tendulkar added. “We’re also planning some other events and festivities in each city so we can reach as many fans as possible. It would be great some day to see cricket bats right alongside the baseball bats, basketballs and soccer balls in America.” The first match will be played on 7 November in New York.
“The players for each team have not yet been selected, but will be picked, and will be announced in front of the media Nov. 5. We have 30 top crocket players from around the world here in New York,” Raj Ramakrishnan, managing director of Melbourne-based United Sports Association which is co-promoter of the event along with New York-based Leverage agency, told the media.
“With over 400 cricket clubs, including college cricket clubs, there is already a lot of interest in the game here thanks not just to the South Asians, but people from the Caribbean and Australian. “We are confident that this event this year will definitely give a fillip to the game and its popularity,” Ramakrishnan added.
USA specializes in event production, hospitality, talent management, and licensing and media production. As part of the partnership, it will spearhead the production of several initiatives during the “Cricket All-Stars”, tour including VIP parties, galas and special functions with the players. They will also work seamlessly with Leverage Agency to produce the cricket matches, promote the tour and facilitate player engagement. Fans can cast their dream match-ups at http://cricketallstars2015.com/fantasy-league.php.
