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

The six-team event, played in the 20-over format, will start on Wednesday evening and feature four UAE-based players

Heather Knight (England) - The Barmy Army captain has scored centuries in all three formats of international cricket, and led England to the World Cup final last month. Getty Images

Stafanie Taylor (West Indies) - The Jamaican remains the only cricketer ever to have been ranked No 1 at the same time in both bowling and batting in the ICC standings, which she managed in 2013. AFP

Suzie Bates (New Zealand) - More than 8,000 runs in international cricket for New Zealand, including most recently a century against Pakistan in the World Cup. AFP

Sophie Ecclestone (England) - The slow left-armer is the world’s No 1 ranked limited-overs bowler, and bowled England to the World Cup final last month. Getty Images

Theertha Satish (UAE) - A schoolgirl who only started playing cricket less than three years ago, she has played 14 T20Is for UAE so far – and been on the winning side in every one. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Sana Mir (Pakistan) - Two years into retirement, the former captain-turned-commentator will be returning to the playing field to lead South Coast Sapphires. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National

Fatima Sana (Pakistan) - Named the ICC’s emerging cricketer of the year for 2021 after breakthrough performances for Pakistan as an allrounder. Getty Images

Esha Oza (UAE) - The big-hitting 23-year-old made the highest score ever by a UAE cricketer – male or female – in a T20 international in Oman last month. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Mignon du Preez (South Africa) - The South African batter retired this month after representing her country more than 250 times in international cricket, and will take up a new role with FairBreak. Action Images

Kavisha Kumari (UAE) - Became the first female player to score a century against a male team in UAE when she did so in the Gulf Cup in Ajman at the turn of the year. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa) - Arrives in Dubai in prime touch having made five half-centuries in the space of six trips to the crease at the World Cup in New Zealand. AFP

Sophie Devine (New Zealand) - A former international hockey player for New Zealand, Devine has racked up over 2,500 runs in T20 international cricket. Getty Images

Chaya Mughal (UAE) - UAE’s captain takes time out from her job as a teacher to play. She will be alongside some of the stars of the game when she turns out for Spirit. Pawan Singh / The National

Shabnim Ismail (South Africa) - The all-time leading wicket-taker for South Africa’s women’s side, she has also featured in Australia’s Big Bash and The Hundred in the UK. AFP

Elyse Villani (Australia) - Many of Australia’s leading lights are unavailable for the FairBreak event, but the country’s female cricketer of the year for 2021 has made it to Dubai for the tournament. Getty Images

Danni Wyatt (England) - The England opener, who will be playing for the Falcons in Dubai, has two centuries to her name in T20 internationals. Getty Images

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.

What is it?

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.

Who is playing?

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.

Are UAE players involved?

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 is with the Warriors, while Kavisha Kumari is set to play for the Barmy Army side.

Full match schedule

All timings UAE

• Wednesday, May 4: Falcons v Warriors, midnight
• Thursday, May 5: Tornadoes v Sapphires, 4pm; Barmy Army v Spirit, 8pm
• Friday, May 6: Barmy Army v Falcons, 4pm; Tornadoes v Warriors, 8pm
• Saturday, May 7: Falcons v Spirit, 4pm; Warriors v Sapphires, 8pm
• Sunday, May 8: Spirit v Sapphires, 4pm; Tornadoes v Barmy Army, 8pm
• Tuesday, May 10: Warriors v Spirit, 4pm; Barmy Army v Sapphires, 8pm
• Wednesday, May 11: Sapphires v Falcons, 4pm; Tornadoes v Spirit, 8pm
• Thursday, May 12: Falcons v Tornadoes, 4pm; Barmy Army v Warriors, 8pm
• Saturday, May 14: Semi-final 1, 4pm; semi-final 2, 8pm
• Sunday, May 15: third place play-off, 4pm; final, 8pm

How can I watch?

All the games are played at Dubai International Stadium, and admission is free.

The tournament will be aired on the Etisalat elife channel in the UAE.

Why is it being played in UAE?

The tournament is independently organised, but run in collaboration with Hong Kong Cricket.

Initially, it was planned to be staged in Hong Kong. However, the 21-day quarantine period there during the height of the Covid pandemic led the organisers to look elsewhere for a venue.

As a result, the tournament will become the latest T20 event to be played at Dubai International Stadium, which already hosted the IPL and T20 World Cup earlier this season.