Bollywood Kings' Suneil Shetty speaks to media at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

World XI thrashed India Legends by 73 runs in the inaugural match of the UAE Friendship Cup, which took place at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

In the following match Pakistan Legends beat Bollywood Kings by 43 runs.

The three-day star-studded UAE Friendship Cup 2022 features cricket legends including former Indian Cricket Captain Mohammad Azharuddin, Bollywood star Suniel Shetty, former Pakistani cricket sensation Imran Nazir and Sri Lankan star cricketer Ajantha Mendis.

They are leading four star-studded teams that are fighting for the first UAE Friendship Cup that brings the fans from all over the world at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, the home of cricket in the Middle East.

Azharuddin-led India Legends were no match to the far less superior team, World XI, as the underdogs scored 139 for 3 wickets that included a fine knock of 48 by Asghar Afghan in their stipulated 10 overs.

In reply, India Legends struggled from the start and could only muster 66 for 4 in ten overs.

Pakistan Legends showed their class in the second match by scoring 128 for 3 wickets, powered by a fine knock of 57 of 23 balls by skipper Nazir, before retiring.

This was the first half-century in this tournament. In response, Bollywood Kings could score 85 for 4 wickets. Mudasir Bhat played a fine knock of 50 off 22 balls.

"This is a brilliant start of a new chapter in the cricketing world where we have managed to bring the cricketing legends to play professional cricket long after their retirement. The UAE Friendship Cup has ushered a new era in the global cricket world where cricketing legends and retired professional cricketers come back to entertain cricket lovers,” Amin Pathan, Chairman of Arba Sports Services, organizer of the UAE Friendship Cup, said.

"Watching Mohammad Azharuddin, Imran Nazir along with Bollywood star Sohail Khan was a treat that took us back to yesteryears when the legends rocked the cricketing world. We are now recreating history in the sports world.

"We are happy to bring a new innovation in cricket — the UAE Friendship Cup - that is going to boost sports tourism in this country,” he added.

Usman Bin Ahmed, Managing Director of Moaza Al Maktoum Investments LLC, said, "On behalf of Sheikha Moaza Obaid Suhail Maktoum, we are very pleased to announce her sponsorship of 5,000 tickets for the cricket lovers of the UAE so that they can see their cricketing legends play live from the gallery.

"It is a personal gesture of Sheikha Moaza Obaid Suhail Maktoum and reflects her support to the UAE Friendship Cup.”

Aslam Gurukkal, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Arba Sports Services, organiser of the UAE Friendship Cup, said, "The popularity of the UAE Friendship Cup has created so much sensation that members of the UAE Royal Family has come forward to support the tournament.

“This gesture by Sheikha Moaza will go a long way in contributing to the UAE Friendship Cup and help us organize more such events in the UAE that will boost sports tourism in the UAE.

"The UAE Friendship Cup brings Bollywood charm and the cricketing legends of yesteryears today to popularize the game of cricket in the UAE. We have plans to make this an annual event that will bring the legends to the UAE every year to enthrall the crowd.”