Abu Dhabi T10 League: The six-year-old Abu Dhabi T10 League’s organisers intend to extend their reach to five additional international sites. The league has appointed new COO Rajeev Khanna who will look after the operations.
T10 League to Collaborate with Sri Lanka Cricket
The first T10 League on the island country has already been announced and will take place in June in collaboration with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). The organizers are certain that one will take place in Zimbabwe in March and two more will follow soon in Europe and North America.
“The biggest thumbs up we have got is the first ever sanction from ICC full member SLC. They have approved the league and will be part of the league. We are also in talks with Zimbabwe and closing on that (deal),” Khanna told PTI on Saturday.
“When full members of ICC are endorsing this league, it shows it has meat in it. In times to come, I am sure other boards, including the BCCI, will consider it too.
“We are planning one in Europe as well, either Scotland or the Netherlands and the fifth one in North America,” he said.
Abu Dhabi T10 League to Expand to Five Locations
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has given its approval to the competition even though it has not yet sanctioned T10 as a format. However, the ICC has dispatched its anti-corruption division to Abu Dhabi for the occasion.
The best players in the world have shown a clear interest in the competition. The Abu Dhabi T10 League is being played here, and stars like Kieron Pollard, Moeen Ali, David Miller, Nicholas Pooran, Tim David, and Shakib Al Hasan are all involved. “1600 foreign players signed up for the draught, but we could only select 250.”
What the Management Says about the Expansion of the Abu Dhabi T10 League
Regarding the interest for the Abu Dhabi leg. Rajeev Khanna the COO of T Ten Sports Management said. “It shows there is a lot of interest and that gives us more confidence about the league’s future.
“We are not here to compete with the T20 format. T10 can work as a talent feeder series to T20. The players love the format as it is quick and it is only two weeks (the T20 leagues are much longer).” Despite the growing interest, Khanna said the league has its set of challenges.
“The biggest challenge is to market this product and make it sustainable. Operation challenges are also there as it is a new format and not everyone knows about it including the players.”
Khanna thinks that Indian women’s players will participate in the inaugural women’s competition in Sri Lanka in June because they are permitted to play in foreign leagues. He said, “I have come on board recently and I would be talking to the BCCI and see if there is opportunity and acceptance for it. Who would not love to have the league in India? We are also in talks with state associations.”
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