ISLAMABAD: Cricket legends locked horns with each other on Thursday, and the match was not played on a regular pitch but on the snowy peaks of the Swiss Alps. Shahid Afridi-led Royals are facing Virender Sehwag-led Diamonds in the unique two-day event where two matches are set to be played on ice. Royals won the first match by six wickets and chased the target in 15.2 overs. Owais Shah led the charge and scored 74 runs. The Diamonds, batting first, gave a target of 165 for the loss of nine wickets to Royals. Skipper Sehwag was the pick of the batsmen for the Diamonds with a score of 62 from 31 deliveries. Andrew Symonds chipped in with 40 from 30 deliveries. Abdul Razzaq picked up 4-18 while Shoaib Akhtar took 2-32 for the Royals. The event, dubbed ‘St Moritz Ice Cricket 2018’ and already being hailed as the “best battle of cricket on top of the world”, is being played at the serene and breathtaking backdrop of the Swiss mountains in freezing cold temperatures. Along with Afridi and Sehwag, the event also features glittering names such as Shoaib Akhtar, Abdul Razzaq, Mahela Jayawardene, Jacques Kallis, Zaheer Khan, Michael Hussey and others. Speedster Shoaib Akhtar couldn’t wait to share his adventures in the snow. Squads: Shahid Afridi’s Royals XI: Shahid Afridi (Pakistan), Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan), Abdul Razzaq (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). Virender Sehwag’s 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). Published in Daily Times, February 9th 2018.