(Image source from: Dhoni)

Bankrolled by a wealthy United Arab Emirates-based conglomerate and backed by an influential Indian politician, Indian cricket is all set to get a new seven-a-side corporate cricket league, dubbed as 7PL.

Indian skipper MS Dhoni, who is also the chief brand ambassador of the league, along with Suresh Raina, will launch the league in Dubai sometime this week.

A joint venture of leading corporate from the Gulf and Rhiti Sports, the Indian sports management firm owned by Dhoni's friend Arun Pandey, the league will be exclusively broadcasted in a new launched 24x7 sports channel, owned by the aforementioned politician.

7PL, which has the blessings of all cricket boards including the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India ( BCCI), however, won't be an ICC recognized tournament.

7PL games, basically limited overs match, will be contested between seven teams, each representing the seven Emirates of the UAE - Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Sharjah, Ras al-Khaimah and Umm al-Qaiwain.

Players from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Australia and UAE will be affiliated with one Emirate.

To be held in March 2014, the matches will first be played in Dubai.

International and first class cricketers who fail to make a cut in the 2014 IPL player auctions as well as those who miss Twenty20 berth in Australia's Big Bash League will be roped in for this tournament.

AW: Suchorita Dutta Choudhury