Later in December this year, cricket world will witness the first T-10 league in the world with international stars. This unique format is an initiative taken by United Arab Emirates. It has blessings of Emirates Cricket Board and is backed by cricket boards of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
The ten-over-a-side matches will run for about 90 minutes (45 minute each side) in Sharjah.
The event was announced in Dubai Ballroom of the JW Marriott Marquis on Tuesday night where several prominent personalities from cricket including Inzamam ul Haq, Shahid Afridi, Shaji Ul Mulk, Salman Iaqbal, Eoin Morgan and Misbah-ul-Haq were present.
Most cricketers seem to be pretty excited about the new format. Shahid Afridi says it’s a great idea and will attract people who don’t watch cricket otherwise.
Six franchises make up this tournament – Punjabi Legends, Pakhtoons, Maratha Arabians, Bangla Tigers, Colombo Lions, and Kerala Kings.
There will be a draft at the end of October and around 120 players from around the world will go into the pool. The league will take place between 21-25 December. The tournament has gained approval from the International Cricket Council (ICC) and is being backed by the Emirates Cricket Board.
This four day tournament is going to be as swift as it gets. Inzamam ul Haq was announced to be the brand mentor. Sangakkara, Sehwag and Afridi have been named as brand ambassadors, whereas Pakistan’s Misbah, England’s Morgan and Bangladesh’s Shakib will be team icon players.
“It is history in the making. It is a defining moment in the history of cricket,” says Shaji Ul Mulk. ‘It feels like I ended my career too soon’ were the remarks of Inzamam about this venture, like many others he found it a welcoming gesture for new spectators. The support has been terrific and hopes are high.
In a world where everything and everyone is moving sqiftly, T-10, after the success of T-20, is an innovative idea and is truly going to make history. People will enjoy thrill of cricket without having to commit a number of hours to keep up.
Of course, true cricket lovers won’t consider a 10 over tournament as anything more than an entertainment package since such a short game won’t really require good temperament and technical skills.
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