Dubai: The man behind an international cricket tournament launched amidst great fanfare in Dubai earlier this year has allayed fears over the event’s future despite concerns over non-payment of dues.
Many involved in the inaugural edition of the Masters Champions League (MCL) including commentators and production crew – claim they haven’t been paid.
Yet Zafar Shah, founder of the veterans Twenty20 cricket league has assured that preparations are in full swing for the tournament’s second edition, saying that all dues will be cleared.
‘Most vendors paid in full’
“The league will continue as planned. Most of our vendors have been fully paid with a few that have some amount outstanding but they too have received the most part of their fees. We are in contact with all and the remainder will be paid to them in the coming weeks and all will be cleared before we begin our campaign for season 2 of the MCL,” he told XPRESS.
However many said their patience is running thin after having waited ‘far too long’. A former cricketer turned expert who was part of the commentary team said the league still owed him a ‘significant sum of money’. While the CEO of the Dubai-based production group that provided live broadcast services said his dues were over a million dirhams.
“I waited for a long time before presenting my cheque but when I did, it bounced due to insufficient funds. I incurred huge losses as I have had to pay my crew out of my own pocket. I have now registered a case with Dubai police as well,” he said.
“We got several assurances but are yet to see the money we were promised,” said an employee of another India-based company that provided digital technology solutions for the tournament played in Dubai and Sharjah between January 28 and February 13.
The inaugural edition of the six-team league was won by Virender Sehwag led Gemini Arabians and saw legends like Jacques Kallis, Adam Gilchrist, Muttiah Muralitharan and Brian Lara amongst others in action. In May, FICA, the world’s body for player rights, issued a statement saying that only the players of the winning team had been paid in full.
