FanCode ECS Bulgaria provides an opportunity for five teams to showcase their skills, contesting 24 games over six days. Every game will be live streamed worldwide on the European Cricket Network and on FanCode - a multi-sport aggregator platform, from the house of Dream Sports for the Indian Sub-Continent.
European Cricket Network live broadcasts four T10 matches on Day 1 of the 2021 FanCode ECS Bulgaria on Monday 5 July.
Medical University Plovdiv are reigning champions from last season when playing under the name MU Dons.
Dons delivered a 5-3 win/loss record in the group stages, before coming on strong in the knockout phase with some serious hitting, especially in the Final.
Indo Bulgarian CC topped the group stage standings last season with a 6-2 record before coming unstuck in the final to the Dons. Indo Bulgarian will look to go one better this time around, led by Bulgaria national team captain Prakash Mishra.
Medical University Sofia won Bronze medal honours for third place, also bagging a 6-2 record in the group stages, before succumbing to eventual champions MU Dons in the semi-finals.
Barbarians finished bottom of the pile with just a solitary win in eight games but what a win that was with four native Bulgarian national team players in their ranks.
Medical University Pleven were formed in 2016 by medical students fascinated by the wonderful game of cricket. Alumni from different years continue to play for the University team. MU Pleven are making their ECS debut under the leadership of Akshay Harikumar, leading run scorer for PLE from the last couple of seasons.
Teams
MUS Academic - MU Sofia (0-0, NRR+0.000)
BAR Barbarians (0-0, NRR+0.000)
PLO BSCU - MU Plovdiv (0-0, NRR+0.000)
INB Indo-Bulgarian CC (0-0, NRR+0.000)
PLE VTU - MU Pleven (0-0, NRR+0.000)
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MATCH 1 (ECS21.508)
INDO-BULGARIAN CC (INB) v ACADEMIC - MU SOFIA (MUS)
0600 GMT | 0800 CET | 1130 IST
MATCH 2 (ECS21.509)
ACADEMIC - MU SOFIA (MUS) v INDO-BULGARIAN CC (INB)
0800 GMT | 1000 CET | 1330 IST
INB Last Five Matches: W L W W L (Avg Score For 136, Avg Score Against 88)
MUS Last Five Matches: W W W L W (Avg Score For 131, Avg Score Against 107)
INDO-BULGARIAN CC (INB)
Captain: Prakash Mishra
Wicketkeeper: Shafquat Khan
Projected Top Four: Hristo Lakov, Bakhtiar Tahiri, Prakash Mishra, Sidhant Kulkarni
Projected Opening Bowlers: Hristo Lakov, Rohit Singh
Spin Options: Bakhtiar Tahiri
INDO-BULGARIAN CC Key Players:
Bakhtiar Tahiri, MVP last term, ended leading run scorer with an amazing 531 runs, averaging 88.5, strike rate of over 211, hitting 45 fours and 40 sixes, racking up a series of Man of Match awards. Also joint-second leading wicket taker with nine scalps. Simply a must for your fantasy eleven.
Hristo Lakov, the opener was the second highest run scorer for INB in the last edition, racking up 314 runs at a strike rate of 195, including three fifty plus scores.
Prakash Mishra, captain, was joint leading wicket taker for his side last summer scalping NINE victims. He also mustered 84 runs at a SR of 200! Also skippers the Bulgaria national team.
Deep Singh, a passionate and enthusiastic fast bowler, scalped SEVEN wickets last summer and mustered 75 runs off 26 balls in the only innings he batted.
Rohit Singh is the most improved bowler in the INB side and is given the responsibility to open the bowling for his side. He picked up three wickets last summer.
ACADEMIC - MU SOFIA (MUS)
Captain: Ishan De Silva
Wicketkeeper: Omar Rasool
Projected Top Four: Omar Rasool, Ishan De Silva, Firas Hussain, Kevin D’Souza
Projected Opening Bowlers: Huzaif Yousuf, Ali Rasool
Spin Options: Firas Hussain
ACADEMIC - MU SOFIA Key Players:
Ishan De Silva, leading run scorer for MU-Sofia in the 2020 season - 546 runs! Scored his maiden International T20 century for Bulgaria vs Serbia - 100* which is the 11th highest ever by a number 3 batsman.
Kevin D’Souza caught the eye last season with an impressive knock of 67 off 20 balls vs Indo-Bulgarian CC to win the game. Amassed a total of 198 runs at a strike rate of 257! He is the best power hitter in the MUS side.
Albin Jacob, another Bulgarian international looking to make an impact, especially with the ball, is termed as “death bowler” by his teammates for his ability to keep the batsmen guessing with his variations. Picked up NINE wickets last summer with a best return of 4-11.
Omar Rasoolhas played cricket in the Leinster Senior Division 1 in Ireland. Has the ability to rotate the strike and can clear the ropes when needed. If not wicketkeeping, can also bowl leg spin.
Ashbel Nicson, a very skilled left handed batsman, represented Yorkshire from U12s-15s. Has the ability to score runs under pressure.
Nikhil Oliviera nailed the most boundaries (28) for his side last term, scored 204 runs in eight innings - second highest for MUS.
Two evenly matched sides face off on the opening day. These two sides finished top of the group standings last term with identical 6-2 records and two entertaining matches are in prospect to kick off the tournament.
Last time they met: MUS 147(9.5) def INB 144 (8 Sep 2020)
Match Prediction: Indo-Bulgarian CC and Academic - MU Sofia to share a win a piece.
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MATCH 3 (ECS21.510)
BSCU - MU PLOVDIV (PLO) v BARBARIANS (BAR)
1230 GMT | 1430 CET | 1800 IST
MATCH 4 (ECS21.511)
BARBARIANS (BAR) v BSCU - MU PLOVDIV (PLO)
1430 GMT | 1630 CET | 2000 IST
PLO Last Five Matches: W W L W W (Avg Score For 166, Avg Score Against 120)
BAR Last Five Matches: L L L W L (Avg Score For 72, Avg Score Against 139)
BSCU - MU PLOVDIV (PLO)
Captain: Saim Hussain
Wicketkeeper: Saim Hussain
Projected Top Four: Saim Hussain, Sulaiman Ali, Ali Hussain, Aamir Nakhuda
Projected Opening Bowlers: Parth Acharya, Sulaiman Ali
Spin Options: Adithya Patnam
BSCU - MU PLOVDIV Key Players:
Saim Hussain, second leading run scorer last term with 376 runs and a best of 102*, average over 53 at a strike rate of 204+. Also hit 60 fours, easily the most in the tournament.
Sulaiman Ali, man of the match in the final with the trophy on the line hammering an unbeaten 98 off just 33 balls, scored exactly 300 runs in the tournament and picked up FIVE wickets with the ball as well.
Ali Hussain, all-rounder, technically sound, consistently delivers good performances with bat and ball.
Nabeel Javed, clean striker of the ball, perfect for T10 cricket, will provide the much needed impetus with the bat in the death overs.
Parth Acharya, will take the new cherry for PLO, has good pace and gets plenty of lateral movement, could be the find of the season.
BARBARIANS (BAR)
Captain: Dimo Nikolov
Wicketkeeper: Hristo Ivanov
Projected Top Four: Dimo Nikolov, Mohammad Fayyaz, Hristo Ivanov, Boiko Ivanov
Projected Opening Bowlers: Mohammad Fayaz, Dimo Nikolov
Spin Options: Nikolay Nankov
BARBARIANSKey Players:
Mohammad Fayaz, will bolster the Barbarian batting and bowling. Impressed for Indian Tuskers last term, top scoring with 289 runs.
Ivaylo Katzarski, key man for his side with bat and ball, had the second best bowling figures last season picking up 4-16 vs Indian Tuskers.
Dimo Nikolov, current national player and top order batsman, missed ECS Sofia last September but will be helping his team stand tall this time around.
Hristo Ivanov, wicket-keeper batsman, top scorer for Barbarians last summer racking up 84 runs.
Medical University Plovdiv are reigning champions from last season when playing under the name MU Dons. PLO are bereft of a host of players from that success and may not be as strong as last term. Barbarians languished at the bottom with just a solitary win in eight games but have a stronger squad in 2021.
Last time they met: PLO 81(4) def BAR 80 (9 Sep 2020)
Match Prediction: MU Plovdiv (PLO) to win both contests at a canter.
