Uae Next To Host New T20 League

The Emirates Cricket Board, governing body for the sport in the UAE, has revealed plans to become the next organisation to form its own Twenty20 league.

The league, which it claims will be the ‘most innovative and inclusive in the world’, has been granted a 10-year sanctioning agreement by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

According to the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), the league will be formally unveiled later this month.

The as-yet-unnamed tournament will make its debut in Abu Dhabi (pictured above), Dubai and Sharjah with five new franchise teams reportedly vying for the inaugural title in a 22-match format, to be played over 24 days in December and January.

Each squad will be formed of 16 players, with six international star players, two emerging players from ICC full member countries, three players from ICC associate member nations, two junior players and three UAE cricketers.

The ECB says the league has already received the support of six ICC full member nations – England, Ireland, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, New Zealand and the West Indies.

David East, chief executive of the Emirates Cricket Board, said in a statement: “Our firm aim is for this event to take the sport to all corners of the UAE and to develop cricket at a grassroots level initially in – Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah. This will not be just another T20 tournament, it will be a true international festival of sport and the hottest cricket ticket in the UAE.”

Nasim Ashraf, chairman of the league’s board of directors – as well as a former chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and ECB board member, added: “Our intention is to build a new event that is here to stay, and one that occupies a niche position in the international cricket calendar. We are not looking to compete with other T20 leagues, we are looking to develop an international festival of cricket that exists first and foremost for the benefit of the players, and with a very specific goal of helping to develop new talent from around the world and grow the game in keeping with global best practices.

“No other T20 competition has been established with such an international outlook, offering fans the chance to watch players from so many nations, from the international stars of the game to the best up and coming young talent. These are goals and values that are really important to the ECB and so we are pleased to offer our full support.”