FanCode ECS Greece provides an opportunity for five teams contesting 24 games over six days to establish the Champions. 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 Greece on Monday 18 October.
Formed in 2019, Forge is a community cricket team dedicated to promoting integration and participation in Athens. Team Forge supports refugees and asylum seekers who retain their strong passion and love for the game of cricket. Forge will be a fiercely competitive outfit having already reached the finals of HPL in 2019 and winning the Athens T20 Championship in 2020.
Formed in 2013 and winners of the Hellenic Premier League in 2015 and 2018 as Athens Cricket Club. Renamed Athens Cricket Academy, ACA also face the long trip from the capital to the beautiful island of Corfu.
Established in 1988, G.E.K have been on the rise of late winning quite a few domestic League and Cup titles, with their most recent success coming in the Greek Cup in 2020.
Formed earlier this year, Kallithea Sixers Athens boasts some vastly experienced players, mixed with a few talented up and coming youngsters. New to this format of the game, KSA will look to spring a surprise or two against more-fancied opposition.
Dekathlon is somewhat of an unknown quantity with many players originally from Pakistan. It will be interesting to see how DEK perform on the grand stage of European Cricket.
Teams
ACA Athens Cricket Academy (0-0, NRR+0.000)
DEK Dekathlon (0-0, NRR+0.000)
FOR Forge (0-0, NRR+0.000)
GEK GEK (0-0, NRR+0.000)
KSA Kallithea Sixers Athens (0-0, NRR+0.000)
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MATCH 1 (ECS21.772)
DEKATHLON (DEK) v GEK (GEK)
0700 GMT | 0900 CET | 1230 IST
MATCH 2 (ECS21.773)
DEKATHLON (DEK) v GEK (GEK)
0900 GMT | 1100 CET | 1430 IST
DEK Last Five Matches: ON ECS DEBUT
GEK Last Five Matches: ON ECS DEBUT
DEKATHLON (DEK)
Captain: Aman Shah
Wicketkeeper: Ramzan Muhammad
Projected Top Order: Muaaz Ali, Abbas Anjum, Muhammad Shafique, Razwan Ali
Projected Opening Bowlers: Muhammad Shafique, Abbas Anjum
Spin Options: Aman Shah, Bilal Ghulam Hamza Ameer
DEKATHLON Key Players:
Muaaz Ali, the 22-year old youngster is one of the best batters in the DEK side. He will normally open the innings for his side, expect some fireworks at the start of the innings.
Muhammad Shafique, top order batter and fast bowler who will usually take the new cherry.
Amarpreet Mehmi, Greece national team player, the talented all-rounder has scored 46 runs in five innings and picked up two wickets in seven T20Is.
GEK (GEK)
Captain: Aslam Mohammad
Wicketkeeper: Giorgos Nikitas
Projected Top Order: Aslam Mohammad, Tasos Manousis, Sinan Khan, Giorgios Galanis
Projected Opening Bowlers: Aamir Javaid, Aslam Mohammad
Spin Options: Giorgios Galanis, Tasos Manousis, Ilias Bardis
GEK Key Players:
Aslam Mohammad, national team player and coach, the all-rounder is the leading run scorer for Greece in T20Is amassing 126 runs in five innings at a SR of 154 including two fifties. He has also picked up FOUR wickets.
Tasos Manousis, hard hitting left handed batter, second highest scorer for Greece in T20Is racking up 107 runs in seven innings.
Giorgios Galanis, the talented 17-year old spinner is the leading wicket taker for Greece in T20Is scalping 11 wickets in six games.
Asrar Ahmed, another Greece national team player who has performed reasonably well in T20Is scoring 94 runs and picking up NINE wickets in seven matches.
GEK are one of the leading teams in Greece winning several domestic tournaments. The star studded GEK side will be favourites to win the opening double header against Dekathlon.
Match Prediction: GEK (GEK) to make a fast start with a couple of handsome wins.
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MATCH 3 (ECS21.774)
KALLITHEA SIXERS ATHENS (KSA) v FORGE (FOR)
1100 GMT | 1300 CET | 1630 IST
MATCH 4 (ECS21.775)
KALLITHEA SIXERS ATHENS (KSA) v FORGE (FOR)
1300 GMT | 1500 CET | 1830 IST
KSA Last Five Matches: ON ECS DEBUT
FOR Last Five Matches: ON ECS DEBUT
KALLITHEA SIXERS ATHENS (KSA)
Captain: Vaios Pringas
Wicketkeeper: Clinton Freeman/Vaios Pringas
Projected Top Order: Parveez Niazai, Naquibullah Ahmadzai, Clinton Freeman, Vaios Pringas, Jonathan Allen
Projected Opening Bowlers: Parveez Niazai, Naquibullah Ahmadzai
Spin Options: Vaios Pringas
KALLITHEA SIXERS ATHENS Key Players:
Clinton Freeman, experienced middle order batter, can bowl variations of medium pace and leg spinners too. Jack of all trades, can also keep wicket.
Vaio Springas, the captain is a vastly experienced batter, and a tricky bowler able to use his height to extract variable bounce.
Jonathan Allen, capable medium pacer able with the ability to shape the ball around. A decent batter with a wide selection of shots in his locker.
Parveez Niazai, Good top order batter possessing a broad selection of shots. Can find the boundary with ease. Likely to open bowling as well with good, disciplined line and length. Will save runs in the field too with his powerful arm.
FORGE (FOR)
Captain: Nasir Mommandi
Wicketkeeper: Issa Muhammad
Projected Top Order: Shabbir Arslan, Amjad Amboo, Ali Ashgar, Kabir Ali
Likely Opening Bowlers: Ali Asghar, Umair Javid
Spin Option(s): Nasir Mommandi, Yaqub Ahmadzi
FORGE Key Players:
Asghar Ali, talented all-rounder, can bowl quick but very accurate in his line and length. Record wicket taker since 2019.
Sajid Mehar, can apparently bat both right and left hand and bowl at decent pace. A very special young talent, can bat anywhere in the order.
Nasir Mommandi, top order batter and bowls leg spin-googly variations.
Formed in 2019, Forge were successful almost immediately, reaching the finals of the Hellenic Premier League in 2019 and winning the Athens T20 Championship the following season. KSA are a fairly new side, formed earlier this year. With little competitive experience together, this will be a huge learning curve for KSA who could struggle to compete against a strong FOR side.
Match Prediction: Forge (FOR) to win both games comfortably.
