UAE T20x league will help ‘grow the game’
The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) have confirmed that their new Twenty20 league, which will be launched in December, will be named the UAE T20x.
Details of the inaugural tournament, which will take place between December 19 and January 11, were confirmed yesterday.
There will be 22 matches played, involving five franchises, with the action spread between Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.
ECB board member Zayed Abbas believes the league can help develop local talent, while showcasing international players.
“The number one aim of UAE T20x is to offer a developmental platform for the best young cricketers from around the world, and of course the UAE, to showcase their talent alongside the icons of the game,” he said in a statement.
“We want this new league to play its part in helping to grow the game.”
It has been announced that each of the 16-man squads will be made up of six international players, four emerging and junior players, three ICC associate member players and three UAE players.
To date, the boards of seven ICC Test member nations have given their consent to their players taking part in the new league – England & Wales, the West Indies, South Africa, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and Ireland – together with 12 ICC associate member nations.
Salman Sarwar Butt, the chief executive of the UAE T20x, echoed the views of Abbas that mixing big names from the cricketing world with grass-roots players can only help develop new superstars.
“No other T20 league provides a platform for up and coming talent to compete with – and learn from – so many iconic cricketers,” he said.
“We believe that UAE T20x will give the stars of the future an invaluable experience, which they will take with them as they continue to develop their domestic and international game after the tournament.”
The confirmation of when the UAE T20x will be taking place adds to what will be a hectic winter of cricket ahead in the country.
The international Asia Cup kicks things off in September, with India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka among the sides competing.
The Abu Dhabi T20 Trophy and the Afghanistan Premier League are both scheduled for October, which is also when Pakistan are due to play both Australia and New Zealand in Test and limited-overs series.
The second T10 League is due to take place in December, with the Pakistan Super League completing the schedule in February and March.