DUBAI // The owner of Sagittarius Strikers says he is not even thinking about breaking even on his investment in the Masters Champions League, and is involved solely because of his passion for cricket.
Anis Sajan, the managing director of Danube Group, has long been a generous benefactor for the sport in the UAE.
The Danube side he bankrolls are the only fully-professional side in domestic cricket. As such, they are arguably the leading team in the country, and provide a number of players for the UAE representative team.
Sajan only completed the deal to take over the Strikers franchise two weeks ago, when he took on all the costs from Orange Limited, the previous owners.
By then, the roster of players had already been decided. Sajan had no say in the acquisitions, so it was a coincidence, then, that the side’s leading player also happened to be his favourite international cricketer.
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He has endorsed the previous appointment of Adam Gilchrist, the former Australia wicketkeeper and one of his cricket heroes, as captain.
Sajan was still just an interested outsider when Gemini Arabians, another UAE-owned MCL franchise, had their kit launch earlier this month.
Back then Nalin Khaitan, the Arabians owner, said he does not expect to see a return on his investment in the new T20 competition any time soon, suggesting “passion overtakes the commercial side” when it comes to cricket.
It is a view echoed by his new MCL rival, and regular counterpart in the domestic game.
“When it comes to passion, I have never looked at the other side of it, in terms of making money out of the game,” Sajan said.
“I have entered this tournament purely on the basis of passion. Whether I am ever going to make money out of it, only time will decide.
“I’m going to continue my journey in cricket only for the love of the game. That is what matters to me more.”
Gilchrist was absent from the Strikers’ kit launch at JW Marriott Marquis Dubai yesterday, but his deputy, Daniel Vettori, was there to spell out the side’s intentions.
“Everyone has had enough time to prepare for this tournament,” Vettori said.
“Everyone has been very excited since the auction process. I think everyone understands the expectations, and there is some pressure to perform.
“The main thing we are putting across to the guys is it is as simple as all the other matches you have played in, you need to turn up and perform.”
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