T10 League 2017: Virender Sehwag gears up for return to cricket
Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag is set to return to cricket for the inaugural T10 league that is set to take place in the UAE from December 14-17.
39 now, and having retired from the game in 2015, Sehwag played the IPL till a couple of years ago, and was last seen in action during the Masters Champions League in early 2016.
The only Indian who will feature in the league, Sehwag will bring his swashbuckling batting on display in front of the UAE crowds in a unique 10 overs-a-side format that could very well herald a new form of cricket in the near future.
Sehwag is set to captain the Maratha Arabians, a side coached by Wasim Akram and co-owned by Bollywood actor Sohail Khan. The team was recently seen practicing in the MS Dhoni Cricket Academy in Dubai and moved to the Pacific Sports Club soon after, where they were joined by Sehwag.
Wearing glasses, as he did during IPL 2014 and while representing Haryana in first-class cricket after retirement, Sehwag warmed up for the side's first game, taking to the nets to hone his batting skills.
A day before, Bollywood actress Amyra Dastur attended one of the net sessions to extend her support for the side, and also recorded a video message for the fans to support the Sehwag-led team.
Initially, the tournament was supposed to be held with a pink ball, but was changed to white after the suggestion of MS Dhoni, who had recently visited the UAE to inaugurate his global cricket academy in Dubai.
This is the squad for the Arabians:
Virender Sehwag (Icon Player), Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Sami, Imad Wasim, Kamran Akmal, Alex Hales, Ross Whiteley, Lendl Simmons, Rilee Rossouw, Hardus Viljoen, Krishmar Santokie, Dwayne Bravo, Roelof Van Der Merwe, Shaiman Anwar, Zahoor Khan