Sachin Tendulkar will return to the cricket field in the International Masters League (IML), a T20 tournament that he and Sunil Gavaskar co-founded.

Mumbai : Legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar is set to return to the cricket field as he participates in the inaugural International Masters League (IML), a six-team T20 tournament to be held at three venues later this year.

The IML will feature players from India, Australia, South Africa, West Indies, England and Sri Lanka and will be played in Mumbai, Lucknow and Raipur.

The annual T20 tournament is the brainchild of Tendulkar and former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, who will also be the league commissioner.

Tendulkar and Gavaskar will collaborate with sports marketing company PMG Sports and SportFive to set up another company in India to organize the league, a press release said.

Parties interested in participating in the league through ownership of one of the franchise teams were also invited to express interest.

“Over the past decade, T20 cricket has accelerated its adoption and attracted new fans to the game. Now there is a strong desire among fans across age groups to re-watch old matches in a new format,” Tendulkar said.

“Players never retire at heart and wait for an opportunity to get back on the field in a competitive series. We have conceptualized the International Masters League as a meeting place for passionate fans and competing cricketers,” he added.

“The International Masters League will bring fans closer to the legends they have admired over the years, giving them another golden opportunity to see their heroes in action,” Gavaskar said.