Virender Sehwag slams fifty in Ice Cricket played on top of a frozen lake

New Delhi, Feb 9: Former India cricketer Virender Sehwag became the first man to slam a half-century in ice cricket, as the T20 game was played on a synthetic pitch laid over a frozen lake.

In the opening match of the St. Moritz Ice Cricket between Palace Diamonds and Royals on Thursday in Switzerland, Sehwag started the proceedings with six on the very first ball he faced.

New Zealand spin-great Daniel Vettori was hit for a maximum by the right-handed batsman from India, who is often hailed as of the modern-era batting greats.

VIRENDER SEHWAG:

First ball faced in the IPL - 4️⃣
First ball faced in the MCL - 6️⃣
First ball faced in the ICE CRICKET - 4️⃣#IceCricketChallenge #IceCricket

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) February 8, 2018

Two most explosive batsmen of India and Pakistan i.e. Virender Sehwag and Shahid Afridi led the teams. Palace Diamonds were led by Sehwag while the other team is Shahid Afridi's Royals.

Sehwag scored a 31-ball 62, with four fours and five sixes in his knock, to take his team Palace Diamonds to 164/9 in the 20 overs.

Hathiyar chhode hain ,chalana nahi bhoole hain :) Great fun on the ice. pic.twitter.com/V1bjFATGnI

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) February 8, 2018

In response, Shahid Afridi's Royals overhauled the target in 15.4 overs for the loss of four wickets. Former England batsman Owais Shah scored 74 for the Royals.

The second match will be played on Friday (February 9) between the two teams.

Played in the spectacular backdrop of the Swiss Alps, the game saw a participation of several former cricketing giants like Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar, Jacques Kallis, Graeme Smith, Michael Hussey, etc.

Squads:

Virender Sehwag's Palace Diamonds XI: Virender Sehwag (India), Zaheer Khan (India), Mohammad Kaif (India), Ajit Agarkar (India), Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka), Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka), Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka), Michael Hussey (Australia), Andrew Symonds (Australia), Mithun Manhas (India), Ramesh Powar (India), Rohan Jain (Switzerland)

Shahid Afridi's Royals XI: Shahid Afridi (Pakistan), Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan), Abdul Razzak (Pakistan), Jacques Kallis (South Africa), Graeme Smith (South Africa), Daniel Vettori (New Zealand), Nathan McCullum (New Zealand), Grant Elliott (New Zealand), Monty Panesar (England), Owais Shah (England), Matt Prior (England), Aidan Andrews (Switzerland)