The new and fresh venture sees 15 teams feature in three groups of five, with each group meeting over a separate week of T10 action. Each group will feature 24 T10 games - a double round-robin and a playoff. The leading two countries in each group will advance to a Finals Week scheduled from October 4-8 in Spain.
European Cricket Network live broadcasts five T10 matches on Day 1 of the 2021 Dream11 European Cricket Championship on Monday 13 September.
From Monday, ECC21 goes global - LIVE broadcast to over 100 countries worldwide.
The hosts Spain will get us underway when facing Belgium on Monday September 13. Group A is definitely the hardest of all the groups to call with all the countries evenly matched and closely bunched together in the latest ICC T20 Mens rankings.
Norway impressed in the recent Tri-Series in August in Germany, blasting the highest score in the T20i competition before losing the final to hosts Germany. Going into the tournament, Norway are the top ranked side in Group A sitting in 39 in the ICC T20 Mens rankings.
Currently sitting in 42 in the ICC T20 Mens rankings, Spain will have the added advantage of playing in their own backyard at the picturesque Cartama Oval. Spain will be a powerful unit, boasting proven performers in this T10 format with numerous key players from European Cricket Series Barcelona tournaments over the last two seasons in their ranks. Spain also tuned up well for ECC21 with a 2-1 T20i series win over Germany at the weekend.
Ranked 40th in the ICC T20 World Rankings going into the tournament, Belgium are only behind Norway in the rankings in Group A. Boasting a host of proven ECS performers in their ranks, all comfortable in this high-octane format, Belgium will quietly fancy their chances of progressing to Finals Week in October.
Boasting a long history of playing international cricket dating back to 2003, Luxembourg are the lowest ranked of the sides in Group A in the ICC T20 rankings at 54, but although slight underdogs, Luxembourg have absolutely nothing to lose.
Currently ranked 45th in the ICC T20 Mens rankings, Sweden will be a fiercely competitive T10 unit as most of their line-up have impressed in a host of European Cricket Series tournaments staged in Sweden over the last two years.
Group A
BEL Belgium (0-0, NRR+0.000)
LUX Luxembourg (0-0, NRR+0.000)
NOR Norway (0-0, NRR+0.000)
SPA Spain (0-0, NRR+0.000)
SWE Sweden (0-0, NRR+0.000)
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MATCH 1 (ECC21.001)
SPAIN (SPA) v BELGIUM (BEL)
0700 GMT | 0900 CET | 1230 IST
SPA Timeline: ECC DEBUT
BEL Timeline: ECC DEBUT
SPAIN (SPA)
Captain: Christian Munoz-Mills
Wicketkeeper: Awais Ahmed
Projected Top Order: Awais Ahmed, Kuldeep Lal, Asjad Butt, Yasir Ali, Hamza Saleem
Projected Opening Bowlers: Atif Mehmood, Adeel Raja
Spin Options: Jack Perman, Yasir Ali
SPAIN Key Players:
Yasir Ali, consistently one of the best batsmen in Spain over the last decade and can chip in with vital wickets with the ball. The all-rounder has amassed 1055 runs in 28 ECS matches at an average of 44 and SR of 217 and has taken 20 wickets as well.
Asjad Butt, prolific run scorer, regularly going big in Barcelona events. Can clear the fence with ease and also chip in with useful wickets with the ball if needed. Has scored 783 runs in 29 ECS games mustering about 81% of his runs in boundaries.
Kuldeep Lal, has caught the eye in ECS comps over the last two seasons and will be hoping to make a similar impression at ECC21. His numbers speak for themselves - 941 runs including a hundred and six fifties and 25 wickets - all in 34 ECS games.
Hamza Saleem, Prodigiously talented all-rounder, who made his international debut in the Tri-Series victory over Germany. Can make things happen with the ball and a quality left-hand bat, who can clear the fence with ease - 767 runs and 38 wickets in 34 ECS games.
BELGIUM (BEL)
Captain: Sheraz Sheikh
Wicketkeeper: Ali Raza
Projected Top Order: Aziz Mohammad, Mamoon Latif, Ali Raza, Omid Rahimi, Faisal Mehmood
Projected Opening Bowlers: Sefat Shagharai, Adnan Razzaq
Spin Options: Sheraz Sheikh, Murid Ekrami
BELGIUM Key Players:
Saber Zakhil, fearsome hitter, currently lies fourth in the world for sixes hit this year in T20i with 19 in seven matches. Also recently broke the T20 World Record (with Raja Saqlain), posting an undefeated 132 for a 9th wicket stand in the series against Austria.
Aziz Mohammad, destructive right handed batsman who has impressed in ECS tournaments in Spain last season and most recently in the Netherlands. Has racked up 676 runs in 26 ECS games plundering over 84% of his runs in boundaries. Can also deliver useful wickets as a change bowler, picking up 19 ECS wickets.
Sefat Shagharai, produced some impressive spells in recent ECS history and likely to spearhead the Belgian attack.
Mamoon Latif, left-hander, clean striker of the ball with ultra-fast hands. Has scored 104 runs in 10 ECS games.
Sheraz Sheikh, captain who leads by example with bat and ball. The all-rounder showed immense talent with the ball vs Malta in the T20i series. Has scored 132 runs and picked up EIGHT wickets in 15 ECS games.
Hosts Spain kickstart the proceedings against Belgium in the ECC opener. Spain boast an impressive T20I record winning 11 of their 14 matches. SPA have only lost twice at home in 11 T20Is and would be confident of getting the better of Belgium who are ranked a couple of places ahead of SPA at 40 in the ICC rankings.
Match Prediction: Spain (SPA) clinch the ECC curtain-raiser in some style.
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MATCH 2 (ECC21.002)
SWEDEN (SWE) v NORWAY (NOR)
0900 GMT | 1100 CET | 1430 IST
SWE Timeline: ECC DEBUT
NOR Timeline: ECC DEBUT
SWEDEN (SWE)
Captain: Abhijit Venkatesh
Wicketkeeper: Ismaeel Zia
Projected Top Order: Share Ali, Rahel Khan, Azam Khalil
Projected Opening Bowlers: Khalid Azizi, Zabi Zahid, Qudratullah Mir Afzal
Spin Options: Azam Khalil, Oktai Gholami, Rahel Khan
SWEDEN Key Players:
Azam Khalil, experienced campaigner in this format who contributes with bat and ball. Tireless worker on behalf of Swedish and European Cricket who will enjoy his moment in the sun in this tournament. Has scored 344 runs and picked up 21 wickets in 19 ECS matches.
Rahel Khan, a late call up who has seriously impressed with bat and ball in ECS cricket. Will be keen to take his chance on the big stage. The all-rounder has racked up 237 runs and picked up 23 wickets in 15 ECS matches.
Sami Rahmani, another top class all-rounder for Sweden, renowned for his power hitting and massive sixes. Can also keep it tight with the ball. Has mustered 195 runs at a SR of over 207 and has scalped 10 wickets in 17 ECS matches.
Ismaeel Zia, tidy wicket keeper and has caught the eye with the bat too in ECS cricket. Has good technique and is easy on the eye to watch.
Share Ali, one of the fiercest attacking batsmen in the Swedish batting line up. Will be keen to get the Swedes off to a quick start. Mustered 395 runs in 18 ECS games.
NORWAY (NOR)
Captain: Raza Iqbal
Wicketkeeper: Khizer Ahmed
Projected Top Order: Raza Iqbal, Khizer Ahmed, Walid Ghauri, Wahidullah Sahak
Projected Opening Bowlers: Vinay Ravi, Muhammad Sher Sahak, Hayatullah Niazi
Spin Options: Waqas Ahmed, Raza Iqbal, Pritvhi Bhart
NORWAY Key Players:
Raza Iqbal, the Norway captain is a brilliant all-rounder, who played a key role in helping Norway top Group C of 2018 ICC T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier. He made 125 runs and took nine wickets at an economy of 3.35 in the tournament. In the Regional qualifiers in 2020, he also bagged five wickets with his left-arm wrist spin. Naturally, top wicket taker for Norway in the recent Tri-Series with seven scalps.
Wahidullah Sahak, top-order batsman, took a definite liking to the Germany attack in Match 6 of the recent Tri-Series, smashing a half-century to guide Norway to the highest score in the series. Scored a total of 98 runs in four matches and scalped FOUR victims as well.
Mohammed Sher Sahak, a difference maker with both bat and ball who caught eye in the recent Tri-Series scoring 118 runs in five games at a decent strike rate of 137.20.
Hayatullah Niazi, a seriously talented cricketer who has been playing in England this summer. Caught the eye at ICC WT20 Europe Qualifier as a 17-year-old. Will be one of the fastest bowlers in the tournament and can give it a whack with the bat.
Ranked highest among all teams in Group A, Norway enjoyed a good run in the recently concluded tri-series in Germany reaching the final. Sweden are on the rise in international cricket and are doing all the right things to become one of the leading teams in Europe, enjoying a fairly decent couple of tours recently to Denmark and Finland.
Match Prediction: Norway (NOR) to march to a narrow win.
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MATCH 3 (ECC21.003)
BELGIUM (BEL) v LUXEMBOURG (LUX)
1100 GMT | 1300 CET | 1630 IST
BEL Timeline: ECC DEBUT
LUX Timeline: ECC DEBUT
BELGIUM (BEL)
Captain: Sheraz Sheikh
Wicketkeeper: Ali Raza
Projected Top Order: Aziz Mohammad, Mamoon Latif, Ali Raza, Omid Rahimi, Faisal Mehmood
Projected Opening Bowlers: Sefat Shagharai, Adnan Razzaq
Spin Options: Sheraz Sheikh, Murid Ekrami
BELGIUM Key Players:
Saber Zakhil, fearsome hitter, currently lies fourth in the world for sixes hit this year in T20i with 19 in seven matches. Also recently broke the T20 World Record (with Raja Saqlain), posting an undefeated 132 for a 9th wicket stand in the series against Austria.
Aziz Mohammad, destructive right handed batsman who has impressed in ECS tournaments in Spain last season and most recently in the Netherlands. Has racked up 676 runs in 26 ECS games plundering over 84% of his runs in boundaries. Can also deliver useful wickets as a change bowler, picking up 19 ECS wickets.
Sefat Shagharai, produced some impressive spells in recent ECS history and likely to spearhead the Belgian attack.
Mamoon Latif, left-hander, clean striker of the ball with ultra-fast hands. Has scored 104 runs in 10 ECS games.
Sheraz Sheikh, captain who leads by example with bat and ball. The all-rounder showed immense talent with the ball vs Malta in the T20i series. Has scored 132 runs and picked up EIGHT wickets in 15 ECS games.
LUXEMBOURG (LUX)
Captain: Tony Whiteman
Wicketkeeper(s): Tony Whiteman, Akhilesh Kumar
Projected Top Order: Roshan Paul Vishwanath, Thomas Martin, Tony Whiteman, Aanand Pandey
Projected Opening Bowlers: Raju Akulwar, Ansh Trivedi
Spin Options: Tony Whiteman, Harpal Virdee
LUXEMBOURG Key Players:
Tony Whiteman, experienced cricketer, who will lead the side. Classical batting technique, but able to clear the rope with consummate ease.
Roshan Vishwanath, another experienced cricketer who loves to keep his strike-rate above 150. Quick between the wickets and sets the standard in the field.
Thomas Martin, another strong hitter. Young gun with plenty of potential, will relish the step up to international level. Can clear the ropes with ease as well.
Raju Akulwar, natural outswing bowler. Nominated as an emerging cricketer in Luxembourg. Can do real damage with the new ball.
Ranked lowest in the ICC T20I rankings in Group A, Luxembourg make their ECC debut against a strong Belgian side who will be more familiar with the conditions having featured in the tournament opener. As a result, Belgium will start as strong favourites.
Match Prediction: Belgium (BEL) to win comfortably.
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MATCH 4 (ECC21.004)
SPAIN (SPA) v NORWAY (NOR)
1300 GMT | 1500 CET | 1830 IST
SPA Timeline: ECC DEBUT
NOR Timeline: ECC DEBUT
SPAIN (SPA)
Captain: Christian Munoz-Mills
Wicketkeeper: Awais Ahmed
Projected Top Order: Awais Ahmed, Kuldeep Lal, Asjad Butt, Yasir Ali, Hamza Saleem
Projected Opening Bowlers: Atif Mehmood, Adeel Raja
Spin Options: Jack Perman, Yasir Ali
SPAIN Key Players:
Yasir Ali, consistently one of the best batsmen in Spain over the last decade and can chip in with vital wickets with the ball. The all-rounder has amassed 1055 runs in 28 ECS matches at an average of 44 and SR of 217 and has taken 20 wickets as well.
Asjad Butt, prolific run scorer, regularly going big in Barcelona events. Can clear the fence with ease and also chip in with useful wickets with the ball if needed. Has scored 783 runs in 29 ECS games mustering about 81% of his runs in boundaries.
Kuldeep Lal, has caught the eye in ECS comps over the last two seasons and will be hoping to make a similar impression at ECC21. His numbers speak for themselves - 941 runs including a hundred and six fifties and 25 wickets - all in 34 ECS games.
Hamza Saleem, Prodigiously talented all-rounder, who made his international debut in the Tri-Series victory over Germany. Can make things happen with the ball and a quality left-hand bat, who can clear the fence with ease - 767 runs and 38 wickets in 34 ECS games.
NORWAY (NOR)
Captain: Raza Iqbal
Wicketkeeper: Khizer Ahmed
Projected Top Order: Raza Iqbal, Khizer Ahmed, Walid Ghauri, Wahidullah Sahak
Projected Opening Bowlers: Vinay Ravi, Muhammad Sher Sahak, Hayatullah Niazi
Spin Options: Waqas Ahmed, Raza Iqbal, Pritvhi Bhart
NORWAY Key Players:
Raza Iqbal, the Norway captain is a brilliant all-rounder, who played a key role in helping Norway top Group C of 2018 ICC T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier. He made 125 runs and took nine wickets at an economy of 3.35 in the tournament. In the Regional qualifiers in 2020, he also bagged five wickets with his left-arm wrist spin. Naturally, top wicket taker for Norway in the recent Tri-Series with seven scalps.
Wahidullah Sahak, top-order batsman, took a definite liking to the Germany attack in Match 6 of the recent Tri-Series, smashing a half-century to guide Norway to the highest score in the series. Scored a total of 98 runs in four matches and scalped FOUR victims as well.
Mohammed Sher Sahak, a difference maker with both bat and ball who caught eye in the recent Tri-Series scoring 118 runs in five games at a decent strike rate of 137.20.
Hayatullah Niazi, a seriously talented cricketer who has been playing in England this summer. Caught the eye at ICC WT20 Europe Qualifier as a 17-year-old. Will be one of the fastest bowlers in the tournament and can give it a whack with the bat.
Hosts Spain return to take on Norway in the penultimate match of the day. The two sides are evenly matched with NOR slightly ahead in the ICC T20I rankings while SPA enjoy home advantage. This match could turn out to be a blockbuster.
Match Prediction: Spain (SPA) to edge Norway in a thrilling encounter.
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MATCH 5 (ECC21.005)
LUXEMBOURG (LUX) v SWEDEN (SWE)
1500 GMT | 1700 CET | 2030 IST
LUX Timeline: ECC DEBUT
SWE Timeline: ECC DEBUT
LUXEMBOURG (LUX)
Captain: Tony Whiteman
Wicketkeeper(s): Tony Whiteman, Akhilesh Kumar
Projected Top Order: Roshan Paul Vishwanath, Thomas Martin, Tony Whiteman, Aanand Pandey
Projected Opening Bowlers: Raju Akulwar, Ansh Trivedi
Spin Options: Tony Whiteman, Harpal Virdee
LUXEMBOURG Key Players:
Tony Whiteman, experienced cricketer, who will lead the side. Classical batting technique, but able to clear the rope with consummate ease.
Roshan Vishwanath, another experienced cricketer who loves to keep his strike-rate above 150. Quick between the wickets and sets the standard in the field.
Thomas Martin, another strong hitter. Young gun with plenty of potential, will relish the step up to international level. Can clear the ropes with ease as well.
Raju Akulwar, natural outswing bowler. Nominated as an emerging cricketer in Luxembourg. Can do real damage with the new ball.
SWEDEN (SWE)
Captain: Abhijit Venkatesh
Wicketkeeper: Ismaeel Zia
Projected Top Order: Share Ali, Rahel Khan, Azam Khalil
Projected Opening Bowlers: Khalid Azizi, Zabi Zahid, Qudratullah Mir Afzal
Spin Options: Azam Khalil, Oktai Gholami, Rahel Khan
SWEDEN Key Players:
Azam Khalil, experienced campaigner in this format who contributes with bat and ball. Tireless worker on behalf of Swedish and European Cricket who will enjoy his moment in the sun in this tournament. Has scored 344 runs and picked up 21 wickets in 19 ECS matches.
Rahel Khan, a late call up who has seriously impressed with bat and ball in ECS cricket. Will be keen to take his chance on the big stage. The all-rounder has racked up 237 runs and picked up 23 wickets in 15 ECS matches.
Sami Rahmani, another top class all-rounder for Sweden, renowned for his power hitting and massive sixes. Can also keep it tight with the ball. Has mustered 195 runs at a SR of over 207 and has scalped 10 wickets in 17 ECS matches.
Ismaeel Zia, tidy wicket keeper and has caught the eye with the bat too in ECS cricket. Has good technique and is easy on the eye to watch.
Share Ali, one of the fiercest attacking batsmen in the Swedish batting line up. Will be keen to get the Swedes off to a quick start. Mustered 395 runs in 18 ECS games.
Luxembourg have been fairly competitive in T20Is this year with a win percentage of 62.5, compared to Sweden who have only managed to win three of their seven games this year. That said, Swedish players can call on a wealth of experience playing in the ECS and will take confidence in this against LUX.
Match Prediction: Sweden (SWE) to win an entertaining match.
