Rich Indians buy Australian national cricket team featuring Brett Lee, Tim Paine and Aaron Finch

“The battles we had last time at Edgbaston was nearly 20 years ago,” Brett Lee is set to lead Australia at a new World Championships of Legends and face old foe in Kevin Pietersen.

And here comes Brett Lee, steaming in from the Pavilion End at Edgbaston bowling to Kevin Pietersen.

It may sound like highlights from the 2005 Ashes series but is in fact the future.

There is, however, a catch.

While Lee will represent Australia next week, and Pietersen England, their “national” teams will be owned by rich Indian businessmen.

It is the new World Championship of Legends (WCL) Twenty20 tournament that involves six countries and some of the biggest names in cricket; Chris Gayle, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Shahid Afridi, Jacques Kallis, Graeme Smith, Herschelle Gibbs and Darren Sammy among others.

Brett Lee will once again represent Australia in the new World Championships of Legends. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Australia’s line-up also includes Tim Paine, Shaun Marsh, Aaron Finch and Brad Haddin.

This is the ever-evolving cricket landscape where T20 leagues can prolong careers well into the 40s.

The tournament, backed by the English Cricket Board and Indian officials, begins on July 3.

Wealthy investors pick up teams for between $US1.5 million to $US2 million and the winning team collects a $200,000 bonus.

None of the players can be centrally contracted to their countries, opening the field to those who are recently retired or missed out on national contracts.

Australia’s team owner Puneet Singh said there was a nostalgic appeal to reigniting some of the most famous rivalries from earlier this century.

“I don’t think I would connect to those playing in the IPL because they’re not from my generation that I grew up watching,” Singh said.

Kevin Pietersen. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

West Indies Chris Gayle. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

“Whereas Yuvraj, Brett Lee, Kevin Pietersen, Jacques Kallis, I would connect with these people.

“So there is a huge crowd of middle-aged fans who would want to see these people playing.

“The good thing about this league is that you’re playing under your own flag, whereas in the IPL you lose your identity.

“One year you’re playing with Rajasthan Royals, the next year you’re playing with Mumbai.

“So the loyalty factor is not there, it’s just there for entertainment.

“And the other thing is, we have a great squad. Shaun and Aaron are very fit, Brett for that matter is very fit, so while they are not contracted, I would say that they’re in the shape and position to make competitive matches with the other teams.”

Lee, 47, is keen to have another crack at 43-year-old Pietersen when Australia faces England on July 3.

“That’s the greatest thing about these different leagues around the world is that you get the chance to put yourself up against the world’s best again, albeit in a slightly different format,” Lee said.

Australia team owner Puneet Singh with captain Brett Lee ahead of the inaugural World Championship of Legends Twenty20. Picture: Supplied

“I know for sure, though, that when we’re out there next week the competitive juices will start flowing again, especially when I get the chance to line up against KP.

“It’s very strange to think that the battles we had last time at Edgbaston were nearly 20 years ago.

“The opportunity to still play at a very high standard at the age of 47 is something that’s really exciting.

“The pace won’t be close to 161km/h but I’ll be giving it my best shot.

“I’m very lucky as captain of this Aussie side that we have assembled a terrific line-up.

“The likes of Aaron Finch, Tim Paine, Shaun Marsh and Brad Haddin, just to mention a few. It’s going to be a great event and I can’t wait.”

Tim Paine and Aaron Finch are both set to be involved. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

The WCL has signed a five-year agreement with the ECB to ensure the first five seasons will be played at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

Beyond that, organisers want to take the league all over the world and plan to add more countries beyond Australia, England, India, West Indies, South Africa and Pakistan.

The owners have realistic expectations for growth, Singh said.

“Any league, whether it’s cricket or any other sport, it takes time to reach a big position,” Singh said.

“The IPL for the first three or four years went through that and then all of a sudden became massive.

“So from that perspective, I’m sure the first three or four years will be a challenge, but we will build it up to that next level.

“Even in Australia, we don’t have the awareness, but we have Fox Sports on board and we will build it up and the awareness will come.

India's Harbhajan Singh (L) and Yuvraj Singh (R). Picture: Phil Hillyard.

“We’re also planning to have a series in Australia with India and Pakistan, in February or March next year.

“We know that awareness will come with time.”

Australian team manager Amardeep Reen said: “Initially when we bought the team, we wanted Brett Lee.

“Once we got him we discussed what kind of team we should have, what kind of balance.

“We had a wish list of the players we wanted and were able to put the team together.

“If you look at fitness level, the players, the balance of the squad, and Brett Lee as captain, along with Paine, Marsh, Nathan Coulter-Nile, we’ve tried to get players who recently played in the Big Bash League, guys between 35 and 40.

“If I look across the league, I think we have the best balanced squad, and the fittest squad.”

Originally published as Rich Indians buy Australian national cricket team featuring Brett Lee, Tim Paine and Aaron Finch