Brampton: The stage is set for the second edition of the Global T20 Canada to get underway on Thursday and it promises to be bigger and better than the previous year. Yuvraj Singh led Toronto Nationals are all set to play defending champions Vancouver Knights in the opening game of the season. It will also be a historic occasion as two legends of the T20 format, Yuvraj Singh and Chris Gayle are set to lead their respective sides and thus this encounter will be the one to watch out for.
Post the IPL wherein individually Yuvraj didn't have much of a good season and then his retirement from all forms of cricket, Singh is all set to become the first Indian male cricketer to participate in a T20 league other than the IPL.
The former Indian cricketer was the star attraction heading into the players draft before being picked up by Toronto Nationals and named as their skipper. This will also mark the first time that he will be in action since announcing his retirement.
The southpaw will be plying his trade alongside Kieron Pollard, Brendon McCullum, Heinrich Klaasen, Mitchell McClenaghan and fellow compatriot Manpreet Gony, who also announced his retirement recently.
Other stars to feature in the competition are Chris Gayle, Kane Williamson, Chris Lynn, Umar Akmal, Babar Azam, Shahid Afridi, Colin Munro, Wahab Riaz, Darren Sammy, Lendl Simmons, Mohammad Hafeez, Shadab Khan, Jimmy Neesham, Faf du Plessis, George Bailey, Sunil Narine, Thisara Perera, Isuru Udana, Shoaib Malik, Andre Russell, Tim Southee, JP Duminy, Dwayne Bravo and Dwayne Smith.
Looking at the number of stars participating in the tournament, one can definitely argue that after the IPL, BBL, CPL and PSL, the Global T20 Canada is set to create a niche for itself and cricket fans round the world will love to see another T20 league that will bring all the excitement of the game.