MCL not competing with Warne-Tendulkar league - Jones

Former Australia batsman Dean Jones, whose company Major Events Group will be running the Masters Champions League (MCL), has said the tournament is not pitted against a similar format promoted by Shane Warne and Sachin Tendulkar.

The MCL was launched in Dubai recently, with Wasim Akram, Adam Gilchrist and Brian Lara in attendance as icon players. Jacques Kallis has also been named as an icon player. Speaking to ESPNcricinfo from Melbourne, Jones said both competitions have "their own space" and can co-exist.

"We want them to do well and we will not compete against them," Jones said. "We have got our own space in February and they have got theirs. They might want to join with us and play with us, we have spoken to them about their availability but I fully understand that they are trying to get their event up and running. We want to have the best league and I have no doubt that if we are successful, they will be as well."

The MCL is planned as a two-week tournament in the UAE in February every year for the next 10 years. Six franchises will be formed with each squad comprising 15 players. Claiming that the idea had received a "fantastic response", Jones said he was confident that the tournament will not suffer from mediocre playing standards.

"Each franchise will have icon players and Associate Nation players," he said. "They will also have A-class players like Scott Styris who can still play first-class cricket. There are players out there who have to be approved by the ICC, our governing council and the Emirates Cricket Board. If I put my name in, I will be told I'm too fat and will not be allowed to play. We'll have a rotation policy where an older bowler can bowl his four overs and not field as much. We want to see great players from the past but our major goal without doubt is protecting the standards."

Other doubts have been expressed about the viability of such a project. With a surfeit of top-flight cricket available to fans around the world on television, can a competition featuring former players be a sustainable drawing card? Can those players, having retired from the game, maintain the levels of fitness required over the two-week period of the competition as opposed to playing an occasional exhibition game?

"That's part of the deal. If they want the bucks, they have to get themselves fit again," Jones said. "We wouldn't put great players in an embarrassing situation. They are aware that they must maintain high standards. We are allowed to have little bit of fun with these guys. They might not be as fit as guys playing in the IPL but trust me they'll be pretty fit.

"Our strength is that we have got great players who can play the game and have unbelievable knowledge of how to be successful. We'll have players miced up. I want to know what Jonty Rhodes is thinking when he is fielding at point; is he watching the bat or the ball? We can have a commentator speaking to Adam Gilchrist and trying to know how he sets up for a shot. We can get into the headspace of a player which other leagues cannot. We can dig deep and find out what makes them tick. It will be educational for young kids."

In recent years, with a large number of T20 leagues taking place around the world, fears have been expressed about the "interest" such tournaments may attract from dubious elements such as bookies. Tournaments in the Middle East have been seen to be particularly vulnerable. Jones promises that this is an area the MCL will ensure it is extremely vigilant about.

"The biggest cancer in our sport is match-fixing and betting," he said. "The rules and regulations and the compliances which ICC issue for the World Cup, IPL and the Big Bash League will be followed. We are looking at a lot of security companies that have aligned themselves with the ICC which we will be using in the tournament.

"The ICC must look at all the franchise buyers and all the compliances which will come into place with phones, etc. We are aware of all that and that was my number one consideration before being a part of this. If this is not followed, then we are in trouble with betting and those kinds of scandals. I think the players are pretty well versed and they will be advised. They will meet the anti-corruption unit along with the coaches and the owners. We will not allow owners on the ground. They will be in the corporate boxes but the players will do their jobs on the field."

Jones, who played 52 Tests and 164 ODIs for Australia over his decade-long career, was also among the founding members of the now defunct Indian Cricket League, that was plagued by controversy in its short existence. He believes that if the MCL incorporates the best practices from similar formats followed in golf and tennis, where masters events are held regularly, it can create a place for itself in the cricket calendar.

"It just comes down to marketing and making it successful for these guys. These guys are still good; they are great. That has been the catch cry in golf. We aren't asking them to make hundreds or get 5 for 20. We want to see the odd bit of brilliance for the young kids watching. Some of these kids have missed out on watching these greats. It is a wonderful platform to remind everyone how good they are."

The tournament has been approved by the Emirates Cricket Board and matches are meant to be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium and Sharjah Cricket Stadium.