The legendary Sachin Tendulkar will be one of several cricketing greats returning to the field once again when the inaugural edition of the International Masters League (IML) begins this year.
The league is the brainchild of two of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket, Sachin Tendulkar himself and former India captain Sunil Gavaskar. They will work with India’s leading sports management company, PMG Sports, and global sports marketing company, SPORTFIVE, to set up a company in India to run the league.
Gavaskar has also been appointed commissioner of the league. A total of six teams will compete in the league. It will be an annual T20 competition. Cricket stars from six countries – India, Australia, South Africa, West Indies, England and Sri Lanka – will participate in the tournament.
The tournament promises to take fans back in time as they will be able to see their beloved stars of yesteryear in action once again. The tournament will be played at three venues: Mumbai, Lucknow and Raipur.
Sachin Tendulkar on the International Teachers League
Sachin Tendulkar shared his thoughts on the much-awaited International Teachers League (IML). The former India batsman highlighted the growing popularity of cricket before saying that there is a strong desire among fans to “witness the old battles in newer formats”.
“The popularity of cricket continues to grow not only in India, but around the world. In the last decade, T20 cricket has accelerated its adoption and attracted new fans to the game. There is now a strong desire among fans of all ages, to witness old battles again in newer formats,” said Sachin Tendulkar.
“Sportsmen never retire deep down, and the competitive streak within waits for an opportunity to return to the field. We have conceived the Masters International League as a meeting point for passionate fans and competitive cricketers.
“I am sure that all the players taking part will get back into the routine and prepare hard. When we represent our countries, we all want to play high quality cricket and try to win,” he added.
Tendulkar, one of the most decorated batsmen of all time, last played a competitive match in 2022, when he played in the Road Safety World Series. He had played six matches for India Legends in the tournament.