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 27 September.
Group C is headlined by the England XI represented by the 20 Counties taking part in the competitions of the National Counties Cricket Association under the auspices of the England and Wales Cricket Board. With a talented mix of Under 19, National Counties and former County players, England XI have assembled keenly for theDream11 European Cricket Championship alongside Finland, Italy, Germany and Czech Republic in Group C. The team also includes Wales captain Sam Pearce, who played for Glamorgan in the T20 Blast this summer.
Ranked 57 in the ICC Men's T20I team rankings, Finland are in a tough group in the Dream11 European Cricket Championship with Czech Republic, Italy, Germany and England XI. As many as eight players in their squad have played in matches previously broadcasted on the European Cricket Network. Finland will be keen to show their worth in the Dream11 European Cricket Championship this time around.
Germany made their international debut in 1989 in a two-match bilateral series against Denmark as West Germany. Germany cannot gather a full-strength squad for ECC21, but will still be serious contenders to make it to Championship Week, boasting numerous talented players that have made their mark in ECN events over the last couple of years.
At 67 in the ICC T20I World Rankings, Czech Republic are the lowest ranked side in Group C, but boast a host of proven performers at international level. Many have already impressed at various ECN events in the past two years. CZR will be keen to showcase their skills to a global audience at the inaugural Dream11 European Cricket Championship.
Italy has been an associate member of the ICC since 1995. Ranked 26 in the ICC Men’s T20Is team rankings, Italy are not quite at full-strength either, as they, like Germany, will feature in the upcoming European regional qualifiers for the 2022 T20 World Cup. Boasting some proven performers from ECS events over the last two years, Italy will be a strong side and will be one of the favourites to progress through to Championship Week.
Group C
CZR Czech Republic (0-0, NRR+0.000)
ENG XI England XI (0-0, NRR+0.000)
FIN Finland (0-0, NRR+0.000)
GER Germany (0-0, NRR+0.000)
ITA Italy (0-0, NRR+0.000)
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Group C | MATCH 1 (ECC21.049)
ITALY (ITA) v GERMANY (GER)
0700 GMT | 0900 CET | 1230 IST
ITA Timeline: ECC DEBUT
GER Timeline: ECC DEBUT
ITALY (ITA)
Captain: Baljit Singh
Wicket Keeper: Nisar Ahmed
Projected Top Order: Nisar Ahmed, Amir Sharif, Hassan Ahmad, Simranjit Singh
Projected Opening Bowlers: Muhammad Imran, Ravi Paul, Amir Sharif
Spin Options: Adnan Muhammad, Jorawar Singh
Coach: KI Kamal
ITALY Key Players:
Simranjit Singh, classical batter, plays the straight drive and pull shot very well, can up the ante whenever required. Was the main man at FanCode ECS Italy Bologna earlier this year, top scoring for Kings XI hammering 228 runs in seven innings at a SR of 245, including an unbeaten 88 off 25 balls to take his side to an unlikely victory.
Janaka Waas, aggressive batter, doesn’t take any time to get going, muscling 128 runs in eight innings at FanCode ECS Italy Brescia this season. He was also top wicket taker for his side picking up 10 wickets at an ER of just 5.50 including a best return of 4-9 in the Final.
Baljit Singh, right arm medium pacer with good numbers in international T20 scalping 12 wickets in eight matches at an economy rate of 5.52. The experienced campaigner can also swing the bat hard scoring 340 runs in 13 ECS matches at a SR of 193.
Ravi Paul, left arm pacer, can swing the ball into the right hander and move it away with the angle, has good variations as well. Leading wicket taker at European Cricket Series November 2020 scalping 16 wickets in eight games. He also picked up SIX wickets in five games at FanCode ECS Italy Milan earlier this year.
Hassan Ahmad, hard hitting batter, played a vital role in Jinnah Brescia’s surge to the FanCode ECS Italy Brescia title amassing 274 runs in nine innings at an average of 54.80 and a SR of over 194.The talented left hander also featured in ECL19 for Janjua Brescia and at Dream11 European Cricket Series St Gallen 2020 where he was second highest run scorer in the tournament racking up 230 runs in eight innings.
GERMANY (GER)
Captain: Rohit Singh
Wicket Keeper: Husnain Kabeer
Projected Top Order: Yasub Muhammad, Shoaib Azam, Rohit Singh, Husnain Kabeer
Projected Opening Bowlers: Zadran Nasrullah, Shahir Malikzai
Spin Options: Abdul Shakoor Rahimzei
Coach: Steve Knox
GERMANY Key Players:
Shoaib Azam, reliable opening batter, led Kummerfelder Sportverein to victory at FanCode ECS Germany Kiel earlier this year, scoring 248 runs in 11 games at a SR of 194. He can also roll his arm over and chip in with a few wickets.
Rohit Singh, star German International, has quite a few international records to his name, has ZERO ducks in international cricket scoring 326 runs in 16 T20I innings. He led Britannia CC to a memorable win at FanCode ECS Germany Dresden earlier this season. He has plundered 435 runs in 20 ECS games at an average of 43.50 and a SR of 233.
Abdul Shakoor Rahimzei, right handed batter and right arm off-break bowler, brings a lot of value to this German side, has played 17 T20Is scoring 196 runs and picking up EIGHT wickets.
Husnain Kabeer, talented wicket keeper batter, made his T20I debut earlier this year against Norway. He has played nine ECS games scoring 196 runs at a strike rate of 204.
Mahela Daub, the 22-year old is classy top order batter, has represented the German U19 side, featured for Budapest Blinders at FanCode ECS Hungary scoring 106 runs in eight innings. Can also deliver some deceptive off breaks.
A classic meeting in European sport awaits as Italy and Germany get us underway in Group C. Both sides are not quite at full strength, yet boast numerous quality players who have impressed in ECS in the last two years.
Match Prediction: Italy (ITA) to win a thrilling opening Group C game.
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Group C | MATCH 2 (ECC21.050)
FINLAND (FIN) v CZECH REPUBLIC (CZR)
0900 GMT | 1100 CET | 1430 IST
FIN Timeline: ECC DEBUT
CZR Timeline: ECC DEBUT
FINLAND (FIN)
Captain: Nathan Collins
Wicketkeeper: Jonathan Scamans, Aravind Mohan
Projected top four: Nathan Collins, Peter Gallagher, Aravind Mohan, Amjad Sher
Projected opening bowlers: Amjad Sher, Naveed Shahid, Muhammad Imran, Mahesh Tambe
Spin Options: Hariharan Dandapani, Peter Gallagher
Coach: Mathew Jenkinson
FINLAND Key Players:
Amjad Sher, a right-arm medium pace bowler and middle-order batter, Amjad Sher enjoyed a standout Finnish Premier League in 2020 making 284 runs at a strike-rate of 142 and also finished as the second-highest wicket-taker with 24 wickets for Empire CC.
Mahesh Tambe, the Empire CC quick bowler finished as leading wicket-taker in the Finnish Premier League with 25 wickets at an economy rate of 6.22 and an average of 9.72.
Peter Gallagher, a batting all-rounder who is a terrific spinner, Gallagher finished as the leading wicket-taker with seven wickets in the European Cricket Series Finland in 2020 while also making 130 runs, the second-most by anyone, at an average of 43.33 and a strike-rate of 188.4.
Nathan Collins, team captain and opener, second-highest run-scorer in the Finnish Premier League in 2020 with 387 runs at an average of 32.25 and a strike-rate of 102.11.
CZECH REPUBLIC (CZR)
Captain: Arun Ashokan
Wicket Keeper: Hilal Ahmad
Projected Top Order: Sabawoon Davizi, Arun Ashokan, Sudesh Wickramasekara, Aakash Parmar
Projected Opening Bowlers: Sabawoon Davizi, Ali Waqar
Spin Options: Keyur Mehta, Naveed Ahmed, Arun Ashokan
Coach: Alex Sirisena
Sudesh Wickramasekara, known as “The Beast” for his hard hitting abilities, joint World Record holder for fastest ton in T20Is off just 35 balls. Can call on bags of T10 experience playing in ECS mustering 509 runs in 17 games. Can also bowl gentle medium pacers.
Sabawoon Davizi, star all-rounder, scored 91 runs on debut - fifth highest on T20I debut, also has a hundred to his name against Malta in 68 balls which happens to be the eighth longest T20I innings (in terms of balls played). Vastly experienced in the T10 format, scoring 730 runs and picking up 23 wickets in 23 ECN matches over the past two years.
Arun Ashokan, captain, classy opening batter, will look to provide solid starts to his side. Scored 212 runs in 10 games for the victorious Prague CC Kings in the FanCode ECS Czech Republic Prague earlier this year.
Ali Waqar, right arm pacer, made his T20I debut earlier this year vs Luxembourg, bowls good lines and is economical more often than not. Has bagged 17 wickets in 18 ECN matches at an economy of just 7.26 runs per over.
At 67 in the ICC T20I World Rankings, Czech Republic might be the lowest ranked side in Group C, but boast a host of proven performers in ECS and at international level. CZR are likely to trump Finland in this second Group C matchup.
Match Prediction: Czech Republic (CZR) to win comprehensively.
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Group C | MATCH 3 (ECC21.051)
GERMANY (GER) v ENGLAND XI (ENG XI)
1100 GMT | 1300 CET | 1630 IST
GER Timeline: ECC DEBUT
ENG XI Timeline: ECC DEBUT
GERMANY (GER)
Captain: Rohit Singh
Wicket Keeper: Husnain Kabeer
Projected Top Order: Yasub Muhammad, Shoaib Azam, Rohit Singh, Husnain Kabeer
Projected Opening Bowlers: Zadran Nasrullah, Shahir Malikzai
Spin Options: Abdul Shakoor Rahimzei
Coach: Steve Knox
GERMANY Key Players:
Shoaib Azam, reliable opening batter, led Kummerfelder Sportverein to victory at FanCode ECS Germany Kiel earlier this year, scoring 248 runs in 11 games at a SR of 194. He can also roll his arm over and chip in with a few wickets.
Rohit Singh, star German International, has quite a few international records to his name, has ZERO ducks in international cricket scoring 326 runs in 16 T20I innings. He led Britannia CC to a memorable win at FanCode ECS Germany Dresden earlier this season. He has plundered 435 runs in 20 ECS games at an average of 43.50 and a SR of 233.
Abdul Shakoor Rahimzei, right handed batter and right arm off-break bowler, brings a lot of value to this German side, has played 17 T20Is scoring 196 runs and picking up EIGHT wickets.
Husnain Kabeer, talented wicket keeper batter, made his T20I debut earlier this year against Norway. He has played nine ECS games scoring 196 runs at a strike rate of 204.
Mahela Daub, the 22-year old is classy top order batter, has represented the German U19 side, featured for Budapest Blinders at FanCode ECS Hungary scoring 106 runs in eight innings. Can also deliver some deceptive off breaks.
ENGLAND XI (ENG XI)
Captain: Dan Lincoln
Wicketkeeper: Dan Lincoln, Alex Mellor
Projected Top Four: Dan Lincoln, Harrison Ward, Tom Bevan, Alex Mellor
Projected Opening Bowlers: Zum Ahktar, Andy Rishton, Richard Edwards
Spin Options: Euan Woods, Alex Russell, Sam Pearce, Max Uttley, Tom Bevan
Coach: Tom Lambert
ENGLAND XI Key Players:
Sam Pearce, Wales captain and bowling all-rounder, he represented Glamorgan in the T20 Blast this summer and Royal London One Day Cup. Pearce also led Wales to the semi-finals of the NCCA fifty-overs competition this summer.
Dan Lincoln, skipper, wicketkeeper and a former professional footballer with Reading FC, he has played for Glamorgan and Kent in the last two years in county cricket and brings experience to this young side.
Euan Woods, a former England under-19 player who played in the ICC under-19 World Cup in 2018, Woods even has an ODI hundred for the England under-19 side.
Alex Mellor, the most experienced player in the side at 31 and a former Warwickshire CCC player.
Another genuine classic of European sport as England XI face Germany. Playing their first ever T10 international match, England XI might struggle early to adapt to the format and the new conditions. Germany, on the other hand, will have already played a game earlier and will provide a stiff test for ENG XI.
Match Prediction: England XI (ENG XI) to edge a close contest as they get used to the conditions.
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Group C | MATCH 4 (ECC21.052)
ITALY (ITA) v CZECH REPUBLIC (CZR)
1300 GMT | 1500 CET | 1830 IST
ITA Timeline: ECC DEBUT
CZR Timeline: ECC DEBUT
ITALY (ITA)
Captain: Baljit Singh
Wicket Keeper: Nisar Ahmed
Projected Top Order: Nisar Ahmed, Amir Sharif, Hassan Ahmad, Simranjit Singh
Projected Opening Bowlers: Muhammad Imran, Ravi Paul, Amir Sharif
Spin Options: Adnan Muhammad, Jorawar Singh
Coach: KI Kamal
ITALY Key Players:
Simranjit Singh, classical batter, plays the straight drive and pull shot very well, can up the ante whenever required. Was the main man at FanCode ECS Italy Bologna earlier this year, top scoring for Kings XI hammering 228 runs in seven innings at a SR of 245, including an unbeaten 88 off 25 balls to take his side to an unlikely victory.
Janaka Waas, aggressive batter, doesn’t take any time to get going, muscling 128 runs in eight innings at FanCode ECS Italy Brescia this season. He was also top wicket taker for his side picking up 10 wickets at an ER of just 5.50 including a best return of 4-9 in the Final.
Baljit Singh, right arm medium pacer with good numbers in international T20 scalping 12 wickets in eight matches at an economy rate of 5.52. The experienced campaigner can also swing the bat hard scoring 340 runs in 13 ECS matches at a SR of 193.
Ravi Paul, left arm pacer, can swing the ball into the right hander and move it away with the angle, has good variations as well. Leading wicket taker at European Cricket Series November 2020 scalping 16 wickets in eight games. He also picked up SIX wickets in five games at FanCode ECS Italy Milan earlier this year.
Hassan Ahmad, hard hitting batter, played a vital role in Jinnah Brescia’s surge to the FanCode ECS Italy Brescia title amassing 274 runs in nine innings at an average of 54.80 and a SR of over 194.The talented left hander also featured in ECL19 for Janjua Brescia and at Dream11 European Cricket Series St Gallen 2020 where he was second highest run scorer in the tournament racking up 230 runs in eight innings.
CZECH REPUBLIC (CZR)
Captain: Arun Ashokan
Wicket Keeper: Hilal Ahmad
Projected Top Order: Sabawoon Davizi, Arun Ashokan, Sudesh Wickramasekara, Aakash Parmar
Projected Opening Bowlers: Sabawoon Davizi, Ali Waqar
Spin Options: Keyur Mehta, Naveed Ahmed, Arun Ashokan
Coach: Alex Sirisena
Sudesh Wickramasekara, known as “The Beast” for his hard hitting abilities, joint World Record holder for fastest ton in T20Is off just 35 balls. Can call on bags of T10 experience playing in ECS mustering 509 runs in 17 games. Can also bowl gentle medium pacers.
Sabawoon Davizi, star all-rounder, scored 91 runs on debut - fifth highest on T20I debut, also has a hundred to his name against Malta in 68 balls which happens to be the eighth longest T20I innings (in terms of balls played). Vastly experienced in the T10 format, scoring 730 runs and picking up 23 wickets in 23 ECN matches over the past two years.
Arun Ashokan, captain, classy opening batter, will look to provide solid starts to his side. Scored 212 runs in 10 games for the victorious Prague CC Kings in the FanCode ECS Czech Republic Prague earlier this year.
Ali Waqar, right arm pacer, made his T20I debut earlier this year vs Luxembourg, bowls good lines and is economical more often than not. Has bagged 17 wickets in 18 ECN matches at an economy of just 7.26 runs per over.
Both these sides will have played earlier and appear evenly matched on paper. Which side can claim a precious victory?
Match Prediction: Italy (ITA) to edge a narrow win.
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Group C | MATCH 5 (ECC21.053)
ENGLAND XI (ENG XI) v FINLAND (FIN)
1500 GMT | 1700 CET | 2030 IST
ENG XI Timeline: ECC DEBUT
FIN Timeline: ECC DEBUT
ENGLAND XI (ENG XI)
Captain: Dan Lincoln
Wicketkeeper: Dan Lincoln, Alex Mellor
Projected Top Four: Dan Lincoln, Harrison Ward, Tom Bevan, Alex Mellor
Projected Opening Bowlers: Zum Ahktar, Andy Rishton, Richard Edwards
Spin Options: Euan Woods, Alex Russell, Sam Pearce, Max Uttley, Tom Bevan
Coach: Tom Lambert
ENGLAND XI Key Players:
Sam Pearce, Wales captain and bowling all-rounder, he represented Glamorgan in the T20 Blast this summer and Royal London One Day Cup. Pearce also led Wales to the semi-finals of the NCCA fifty-overs competition this summer.
Dan Lincoln, skipper, wicketkeeper and a former professional footballer with Reading FC, he has played for Glamorgan and Kent in the last two years in county cricket and brings experience to this young side.
Euan Woods, a former England under-19 player who played in the ICC under-19 World Cup in 2018, Woods even has an ODI hundred for the England under-19 side.
Alex Mellor, the most experienced player in the side at 31 and a former Warwickshire CCC player.
FINLAND (FIN)
Captain: Nathan Collins
Wicketkeeper: Jonathan Scamans, Aravind Mohan
Projected top four: Nathan Collins, Peter Gallagher, Aravind Mohan, Amjad Sher
Projected opening bowlers: Amjad Sher, Naveed Shahid, Muhammad Imran, Mahesh Tambe
Spin Options: Hariharan Dandapani, Peter Gallagher
Coach: Mathew Jenkinson
FINLAND Key Players:
Amjad Sher, a right-arm medium pace bowler and middle-order batter, Amjad Sher enjoyed a standout Finnish Premier League in 2020 making 284 runs at a strike-rate of 142 and also finished as the second-highest wicket-taker with 24 wickets for Empire CC.
Mahesh Tambe, the Empire CC quick bowler finished as leading wicket-taker in the Finnish Premier League with 25 wickets at an economy rate of 6.22 and an average of 9.72.
Peter Gallagher, a batting all-rounder who is a terrific spinner, Gallagher finished as the leading wicket-taker with seven wickets in the European Cricket Series Finland in 2020 while also making 130 runs, the second-most by anyone, at an average of 43.33 and a strike-rate of 188.4.
Nathan Collins, team captain and opener, second-highest run-scorer in the Finnish Premier League in 2020 with 387 runs at an average of 32.25 and a strike-rate of 102.11.
England XI will be stronger from their previous encounter and more familiar with the conditions. Finland will put up a serious fight, but ENG XI are huge favourites to claim another win.
Match Prediction: England XI (ENG XI) to win back-to-back games.
