FairBreak Invitational cricket: players, schedule and how to watch the matches in Dubai

The FairBreak Invitational tournament will start on Wednesday evening, when sides bearing the names of Warriors and Falcons meet at Dubai International Stadium.

The event is the latest T20 franchise cricket tournament to launch in the city – although it’s stay here is likely to be only temporary.

The six-team event, played in the 20-over format, is the initiative of FairBreak Global, a company founded by Shaun Martyn, who is the former manager of Australia player-turned-commentator Lisa Sthalekar.

According to FairBreak: “Our mission is to create opportunities in sport, business, media, arts and education to achieve gender equality on a truly global scale.”

The tournament will feature some of the best known players from the women’s game, but also a number of less recognisable ones, too.

The tournament is unquestionably the most diverse cricket tournament ever played.

The sport’s established elite are well represented, with Heather Knight and Sophie Ecclestone coming from England, Elyse Villani from Australia, Stafanie Taylor from West Indies, and Laura Wolvaardt from South Africa.

But players have been sent from the furthest reaches of the sport, too, with Botswana, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Germany and Bhutan all having representatives in it.

England captain Heather Knight will lead Barmy Army in the FarBreak Invitational tournament in Dubai in May 2022. Photos: FairBreak Global unless stated

There are four locally based players selected for the FairBreak tournament – each of whom has been a key part of the UAE’s ongoing 14-game winning streak in T20 international cricket.

National team captain Chaya Mughal will be playing for Spirit. Theertha Satish, the top-order batter, will feature for the Falcons.

Opener Esha Oza