10 stars from the MCL who gave the All Stars series a miss

The Masters Champions League (MCL) comes as a relief to those who had not had enough of the legends of the game after the 3-match All Stars series. While quite a few superstars who had played in the All Stars are not a part of the MCL, some of the others have enrolled themselves for the first-of-its-kind tournament which will be played in the UAE early next year.On the other hand, there are also some legends who are part of the MCL roster but did not feature in the All Starstournament. This is sure to be good news to most fans who had missed these stalwarts of the game in the 3T20-long series.Here are10 stars from the MCL who had giventhe All Stars series a miss:

#10 Heath Streak

The Zimbabwean pacer also did not feature in the All Stars

Heath Streak, Zimbabwe’s best fast bowler till date, will be playing for the Leo Lions in the inaugural edition of the Masters Champions League. The allrounder, however, did not make an appearance at the All Stars series played last month. Had he played, Streak would have been the only Zimbabwean to be part of the tournament.

The paceman, though, will be accompanied by quite a few of his countrymen at the MCL which is scheduled for early next year.

#9 Mushtaq Ahmed

Mushtaq Ahmed was not included in the All Stars roster

Great Pakistani leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed is one of the recruits for MCL franchise Sagittarius Soldiers. Ahmed, though, did not feature in first major series for the legends in the form of the All Stars series. Fans would have enjoyed watching the Pakistan leggie playing alongside another legendary leg spinner Shane Warne.

But the MCL certainly gives us the prospect of Mushtaq Ahmed locking horns with fellow Pakistani and former bowling partner Saqlain Mushtaq.

#8 Paul Collingwood

The England allrounder was not part of the action at the All Stars

England’s World Twenty20 winning captain, Paul Collingwood, is one of the legends featuring in the MCL and will represent the Capricorn Commanders. However, he did manage to give the All Stars series played in the USA last month a miss.

His all-round skills would have been a handful for the team he would have played for. But fans need not worry as they will soon see Paul Collingwood battling it out once again on the cricket field at the MCL.

#7 Mohammad Yousuf

The legendary Pakistani was not involved in the All Stars T20

Mohammad Yousuf, who is one of Pakistan’s most prolific batsmen ever, has been picked by Virgo Super Kings at the MCL. While quite a few Pakistani legends were a part of the All Stars T20 series played last month, Mohammad Yousuf was not part of it. It would have been great to see him rub shoulders with the likes of Tendulkar and Ponting once again.

But we will have to be content competing with the batting legends playing in the MCL.

#6 Shivnarine Chanderpaul

The West Indies southpaw did not play in the All Stars

The last great Test batsman produced by the West Indies, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, features in the line-up for MCL franchise Gemini Arabians. He was also among the legends who did not play in the 3-T20 All Stars series. Although Chanderpaul has never been popular for his exploits in the shortest format, it would have still been great to watch him play.

Luckily though, fans can enjoy his presence on a cricket field once again during the Masters Champions League.

#5 Shane Bond

Bond is another legend to look forward to at the MCL

New Zealand’s breathtaking former paceman Shane Bond will be playing his MCL cricket for the Sagittarius Soldiers. But he was definitely one of the big names missing from the roster of the All Stars series. It would have been great to see him in action alongside the likes of Shoaib Akhtar and Allan Donald; however, that was not to be.

But we hope that Bond will make up for his absence in the All Stars with some fiery fast bowling in the MCL.

#4 Herschelle Gibbs

Gibbs was a prominent name who was not in the All Stars

One of the most explosive batsmen to have played the game, Herschelle Gibbs, will be seen in action at the MCL for the Leo Lions franchise. Fans in the US, though, missed out on an opportunity to receive some crowd catches from the big-hitting South African as he did not participate in the All Stars series.

Hopefully, the crowds in the UAE will get a glimpse of the magic that Gibbs is capable of conjuring with the bat in hand.

#3 Graeme Smith

Smith was another big name missing from the All Stars roster

South Africa’s greatest captain and opening batsman Graeme Smith will be playing for the Virgo Super Kings in the inaugural season of the MCL. However, the Proteas southpaw, who is one among the biggest cricket stars of the 21st century, was not a part of the All Stars tournament played last month in the USA.

Smith is surely one of the legends that cricket fans will be looking forward to see back in action at the Masters Champions League.

#2 Brett Lee

Lee would have been an ideal competitor for Shoaib Akhtar at the All Stars

Australia’s former quickie Brett Lee, who is representing the Virgo Super Kings at the MCL, is another star player who did not play in the All Stars. Considering the way in which Shoaib Akhtar bowled in the T20 series, Lee would have certainly added more zing to the bowling that was on display.

However, those who missed his presence in the All Stars series will have their hands full come this January at the Masters Champions League.

#1 Adam Gilchrist

The swashbuckling Aussie did not feature in the All Stars

The legendary Aussie wicket-keeper batsman will be part of the franchise named Sagittarius Soldiers in the Masters Champions League. ‘Gilly’, as he is fondly konwn as, was sorely missed by the fans in the All Stars series.

Everyone is aware of Gilchrist’s explosive batting skills and it would have been a joy to watch him in action in the star-studded tournament played in the USA. However, fans in the UAE can surely look forward to some fireworks from the iconic Australian.