Masters Champions League secures rights deals ahead of debut

The Sporty Solutionz agency has broadened the reach of the Masters Champions League for the debut season of the Twenty20 cricket competition by striking rights deals covering the Middle East, Pakistan, sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean.

Sporty Solutionz, which holds exclusive rights to market the MCL’s global media contracts, has agreed deals with Pakistani public-service broadcaster PTV, pay-television broadcaster SuperSport for sub-Saharan Africa and pay-television broadcaster SportsMax in the Caribbean.

The first edition of the league will be held in the United Arab Emirates between January 28 and February 13. International pay-television broadcaster Ten Sports has acquired rights in the Middle East. Terms of the deals were not disclosed.

The first match of the six-team MCL, which will include retired superstars of the world game, takes place in Dubai on Thursday between the Libra Legends and Gemini Arabians.

Former India batsmen Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag will face off as rival captains. Ganguly (pictured) will captain a Libra Legends team including Jacques Kallis, Graeme Swann and Brad Hogg. The Gemini Arabians, led by Sehwag, also feature Kumar Sangakkara, Saqlain Mushtaq and Muttiah Muralitharan.