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 five T10 matches on Day 2 of the 2021 FanCode ECS Greece on Tuesday 19 October.
The opening day of the 2021 FanCode ECS Greece unfortunately fell victim to the weather as a soaked outfield prevented any play. Rest assured, efforts will be made over the course of the tournament to squeeze in the abandoned matches and ensure as much cricket as possible from the beautiful island of Corfu.
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)
0530 GMT | 0730 CET | 1100 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 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 if he gets going.
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 the country winning several domestic titles. This star studded GEK side will therefore be strong favourites to win the opener against Dekathlon.
Match Prediction: GEK (GEK) to start off with a handsome win.
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MATCH 2 (ECS21.773)
GEK (GEK) v ATHENS CRICKET ACADEMY (ACA)
0730 GMT | 0930 CET | 1300 IST
MATCH 3 (ECS21.774)
GEK (GEK) v ATHENS CRICKET ACADEMY (ACA)
0930 GMT | 1130 CET | 1500 IST
GEK Last Five Matches: ON ECS DEBUT
ACA Last Five Matches: ON ECS DEBUT
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.
ATHENS CRICKET ACADEMY (ACA)
Captain: Saleem Mahar
Wicket Keeper: Syed Mohammad Aqeel
Projected Top Order: Qasir Amin, Akif Khan, Waheed Akbar, Zain Ali Haider, Syed Mohammad Aqeel
Likely Opening Bowlers: Zubair Ashraf, Umer Abbas
ATHENS CRICKET ACADEMY Key Players:
Syed Mohammad Aqeel, solid wicketkeeper batter provides assurance behind the stumps.
Qaiser Amin, can make it happen with both bat and ball.
Zubair Ashraf, has been ACA leading bowler of late and will be looking to impress on the big stage. Also likely to bat in the top order.
Zain Ali Haider will be looking to score heavily at the top of the order.
GEK will likely be more familiar with the pitch and conditions having played in the opener. Athens Cricket Academy face a long trip to Corfu from the capital and will be keen to start their ECS campaign off on a positive note.
Match Prediction: GEK (GEK) to march to three consecutive victories.
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MATCH 4 (ECS21.775)
FORGE (FOR) v DEKATHLON (DEK)
1130 GMT | 1330 CET | 1700 IST
MATCH 5 (ECS21.776)
FORGE (FOR) v DEKATHLON (DEK)
1330 GMT | 1530 CET | 1900 IST
FOR Last Five Matches: ON ECS DEBUT
DEK Last Five Matches: ON ECS DEBUT
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.
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.
Formed in 2019, Forge were successful almost immediately, reaching the finals of the Hellenic Premier League in their debut season, and winning the Athens T20 Championship the following year. Dekathlon is definitely an unknown quantity and will be aiming to spring a surprise against a strong FOR side.
Match Prediction: Forge (FOR) to win both games comfortably.
