Everyone has been to one of those parties that promises so much but ends up an utter disappointment, a waste of time.
All your friends are there and despite showing glimpses of what made you fall in love with them all those years ago, none of you are feeling the vibe. The music is loud but there’s no atmosphere, no connection to what you’re a part of.
There is nothing left to do but turn heel, thank the host and slip out with a party bag.
For some players departing the Masters Champions League, those party bags may even be a little light.
Having enticed some of the sport’s greatest names, the tournament fell drastically short of delivering that sweet sixteen coming out party to make the PSL, IPL and so on green with envy.
Rather than deliver an extravaganza on the scale of a Diddy-do, the MCL is more likely to see their guests leave with excuses already drafted in preparation of politely declining next year’s invitation.
.@MCL2020UAE opening night highlights obstacles it faces as well as the product's strengths https://t.co/Z2Rq33u8za pic.twitter.com/0Ttns5cTct
— Sport360° (@Sport360) January 29, 2016
A litany of problems has plagued the inaugural MCL, ranging from near non-existent attendances to confusion over what defines a ‘retired’ player, and non-payment to the stars.
Sport360 broke the news that players were also delayed payments as per their contracts, something that forced the league’s creators to intervene and pay up players in order to avoid a boycott of the tournament.
That would have been disastrous and the organisers have a huge task to appease the ICC if they are to forge ahead with a second edition next year.
There have been other stories of organisational hiccups. Hotel rooms getting paid at the last minute, arranged press conferences getting inexplicably delayed by more than an hour and a half and players not getting picked up at the airport or given proper information about their movements.
And yet, such is the commitment and ambition at the board level in MCL that you should write off the Shah family and the league at your peril. There is no doubting their dedication, but they have a lot to answer to.
The issue over payment is an obvious one and should word spread of financial insecurity, it would be difficult to attract players.
It is a shame as the matches that followed the opening night’s vastly one-sided affair have actually served up some enthralling encounters.
The MCL is borne out of nostalgia, a desire by the Shahs to provide a platform for players and supporters to enjoy a desert swansong for some of the legends of the game.
What must be asked is whether there is enough interest in what is essentially an exhibition tournament. If you were to look at attendances alone, then it would be a resounding ‘no’.
However, the MCL has gone up against the Pakistan Super League this year and future editions where the two do not overlap will surely deliver greater numbers.
With that being said, the likes of Kumar Sangakkara and Virender Sehwag will want to play in front of crowds, they thrive in those surrounds. If the MCL is to survive and fulfil its decade-long contract, its future may well be outside of the UAE, where crowds can be guaranteed.
What is for certain is that the MCL cannot continue in its current state, there are just too many problems that alienate too many people. Some of these issues are the usual teething problems, but many of them are due to poor organisation. All of them, however, need to be addressed if the party is to go on.
