Kapil Dev Selected to Compete in ICONS Cup Golf Tournament


March 3, 2015. The ICONS Cup - a first-of-its-kind, two-day, team competition taking place April 22-24 at Jumeirah Golf Estates' Earth Course - announces cricket legend Kapil Dev will compete for Captain Darren Clarke's Rest of the World (ROTW) team.

Named "Indian Cricketer of the Century" by Wisden Cricketers Almanack, Dev started playing golf after retiring from test cricket in 1994. Currently carrying a three handicap, he frequently competes in elite international tournaments like last year's Asia-Pacific Senior Amateur Championship.

"Although I'm very involved with my numerous business ventures, I always find time to play golf as it is my passion," says Dev, who captained India to the 1983 Cricket World Cup title. "I was thrilled to receive an invitation to participate in the Icons Cup and cleared my calendar for the honor of playing for the 2016 Ryder Cup Captain."

Dev is the 11th player named to the ROTW team. He joins fellow ICC Cricket Hall of Famers Brian Lara and Shane Warne; FIFA superstars Luís Figo, Robbie Fowler, Andriy Shevchenko and Dwight Yorke; rugby Six Nations stalwarts George Gregan, Brian O'Driscoll and Mike Tindall, MBE; and five-time Olympic gold medal rower Sir Steve Redgrave.

The 12th and final ROTW icon will be announced in the coming days. Clarke's squad will take on Team USA - captained by former World No. 1 and 1992 Masters Champion Fred Couples - in a Ryder Cup-style match play event.

Conceived, owned and produced by Worldwide Sports & Entertainment, Ltd. (WWSEL), the ICONS Cup is a significant departure from a standard celebrity golf event. It exclusively features low-handicap, A-list athletes playing morning foursomes (alternate shot) on Day One followed by 12 singles matches (Thursday, April 23). The ICONS Cup concludes the following day with 12 additional singles matches.

"Dev's 15 years of cricket dominance and intense love of golf make him an ideal addition to our event," says ICONS Cup Tournament Director Adrian Flaherty. "Given cricket's popularity in Dubai and Kapil's standing as one of India's all-time great sportsmen, the support he'll receive from tournament patrons will undoubtedly provide a major lift to Team ROTW."

For detailed player bios and more information, visit www.iconscup.com.