The 2023 edition of Legends League Cricket started on March 10 in Doha, with the opener between India Maharajas and Asia Lions at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium. Former international players from 12 countries are participating in the LLC this year, and that makes for some nostalgic viewing for fans.
Former India player Gautam Gambhir is leading the India Maharajas, one of the three teams in the league, whereas former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi and former Australia skipper Aaron Finch are leading the Asia Lions and World Giants respectively.
The LLC got off to a thrilling start this time as the two teams produced a close contest, with the Lions winning it by just nine runs. Misbah-ul-Haq was the Player of the Match for his 50-ball knock of 73 for the Lions, whereas Gautam Gambhir was the standout performer for the losing side with 54 to his name off just 39 balls.
The Maharajas also went on to lose their next match against the World Giants, which they lost by an even narrower margin of just two runs. Gambhir played a brilliant knock of 68 runs in this match as well, but even that wasn't enough to see his side home. Former Australia players Aaron Finch and Shane Watson scored fifties for the Giants in the game, which helped them to register a win.
The Giants weren't so lucky in the next game though. The Asia Lions defeated them by 35 runs in a shortened game due to rain. Misbah again dominated with a 19-ball cameo of 44. The Lions have now won both of their matches so far, whereas the Giants have won one, and the Maharajas are yet to open their account.
A total of eight matches are scheduled for this tournament, including an Eliminator and the Final. All games are going tobe played in Doha, with every match starting at 8 PM IST. Let's have a look at the schedule and the team list for each of the sides now.
LLC 2023 Team List
Indian Maharajas Squad
Gautam Gambhir (c), Robin Uthappa (wk), Murali Vijay, Suresh Raina, Mohammad Kaif, Yusuf Pathan, Stuart Binny, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Ashok Dinda, Pravin Tambe, Parvinder Awana, Manvinder Bisla, S Sreesanth, Praveen Kumar
Asia Lions Squad
Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga (wk), Asghar Afghan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi (c), Paras Khadka, Thisara Perera, Abdul Razzaq, Isuru Udana, Abdur Razzak, Sohail Tanvir, Dilhara Fernando, Shoaib Akhtar, Rajin Saleh, Muttiah Muralitharan
World Giants Squad
Aaron Finch (c), Chris Gayle, Shane Watson, Jacques Kallis, Ross Taylor, Kevin O Brien, Morne van Wyk (wk), Tino Best, Brett Lee, Monty Panesar, Chris Mpofu, Ricardo Powell, Lendl Simmons, Hashim Amla, Eoin Morgan, Paul Collingwood, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel
LLC 2023 Full Schedule
Friday, March 10: India Maharajas vs Asia Lions
Saturday, March 11: World Giants vs India Maharajas
Monday, March 13: Asia Lions vs World Giants
Tuesday, March 14: Asia Lions vs India Maharajas
Wednesday, March 15: India Maharajas vs World Giants
Thursday, March 16: World Giants vs Asia Lions
Saturday, March 18: Eliminator (2nd vs 3rd)
Monday, March 20: Final (1st vs Winner of Eliminator)