IPL in the UAE: Captains 'selfie' goes viral ahead of T20 razzmatazz

The wait is finally over. After weeks of anticipation and excitement, the Indian Premier League finally kick-offs in the UAE on Wednesday night.

And to mark the occasion, the respective captains of the eight participating teams posed for a very special 'selfie' at the pre-tournament gala dinner on Tuesday.

Bollywood superstar Shah Rakh Khan provided the evening's entertainment and even managed to pull Rajasthan Royals' Shane Watson, among others, on stage to sing and play guitar.

The real work begins today, though, with defending champions Mumbai Indians taking on 2012 winners Kolkata Knight Riders in the first of 20 matches to be held in the UAE over the next fortnight.

Over 100,000 tickets have already been sold for the tournament's first leg in the Emirates with organisers confirming that full houses are expected for the first four days in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai.

After the opener, attention then switches to Sharjah on Thursday for Delhi Daredevils' clash with Royal Challengers Bangalore before the action then returns to the capital for a double header - Chennai Super Kings v Kings XI Punjab and Sunrisers Hyderabad v Rajasthan Royals.

Dubai will then host the first of its seven games by hosting Bangalore v Mumbai and Kolkata v Delhi on Saturday, April 19.

Tickets for all these six matches spread over the four days have been sold out, much to the delight of organisers.

FULL UAE SCHEDULE (TICKET INFO):

Match 1 (SOLD OUT)
Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders
2:30pm GMT, Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Match 2 (SOLD OUT)
Delhi Daredevils vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
2:30pm GMT, Thursday, April 17, 2014
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah

Match 3 (SOLD OUT)
Chennai Super Kings vs Kings XI Punjab
10:30am GMT, Friday, April 18, 2014
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Match 4 (SOLD OUT)
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals
2:30pm GMT, Friday, April 18, 2014
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Match 5 (SOLD OUT)
Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Mumbai Indians
10:30am GMT, Saturday, April 19, 2014
Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

Match 6 (SOLD OUT)
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Daredevils
2:30pm GMT, Saturday, April 19 2014
Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

Match 7 (AVAILABLE)
Rajasthan Royals vs Kings XI Punjab
2:30pm GMT, Sunday, April 20, 2014
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah

Match 8 (AVAILABLE)
Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Daredevils
2:30pm GMT, Monday April 21, 2014
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Match 9 (AVAILABLE)
Kings XI Punjab vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
2:30pm GMT, Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah

Match 10 (AVAILABLE)
Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings
2:30pm GMT, Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

Match 11 (SOLD OUT)
Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders
2:30pm GMT, Thursday, April 24, 2014
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah

Match 12 (SOLD OUT)
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Daredevils
10:30am GMT, Friday, April 25, 2014
Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

Match 13 (SOLD OUT)
Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians
2:30pm GMT, Friday, April 25, 2014
Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

Match 14 (AVAILABLE)
Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
10:30am GMT, Saturday, April 26, 2014
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Match 15 (AVAILABLE)
Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders
2:30pm GMT, Saturday, April 26, 2014
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Match 16 (AVAILABLE)
Delhi Daredevils vs Mumbai Indians
10:30am GMT, Sunday, April 27, 2014
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah

Match 17 (AVAILABLE)
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Chennai Super Kings
2:30pm GMT, Sunday, April 27, 2014
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah

Match 18 (AVAILABLE)
Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kings XI Punjab
2:30pm GMT, Monday, April 28, 2014
Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

Match 19 (AVAILABLE)
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals
2:30pm GMT, Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Match 20 (AVAILABLE)
Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
2:30pm GMT, Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai