Abu Dhabi cricketers drafted to play in revamped T20 Simba Premier League

Kenyan franchise competition selects 15 players from UAE's Pro Bash tournament

Abu Dhabi Pro Bash event director Shadab Ahamed is the player-manager and coordinator of the Abu Dhabi cricketers heading out for the Simba Premier League in Kenya. Antonie Robertson / The National

A Kenyan franchise league has provided cricketers from the Pro Bash in Abu Dhabi an opportunity to play in a revamped T20 tournament.

The Simba Premier League (SPL) has drafted 15 players from the Pro Bash franchise to feature in the six-team competition at the Ruaraka Sports Club grounds in Nairobi from September 10 to 19.

The Pro Bash event director Shadab Ahamed is the architect behind signing up and providing the cricketers from Abu Dhabi in an all expenses paid trip.

"We put up a squad with all their domestic statistical records for the six franchises to choose from, and we are glad 15 were picked," Ahamed told The National.

“The response to play in the franchise league in Kenya was overwhelming as these cricketers from Abu Dhabi had an opportunity to play in a top-flight event for the first time abroad.

“The players are very excited. This is all about the opportunity they have got, and for free, with all their travel, food and lodging take care of, as well as a small allowance paid to them.”

Ahamed is the player-manager and coordinator of the Abu Dhabi cricketers. He will also play for Ganga Fighters led by Kenya international Morris Ouma and include marquee signing Asadullah Khan Pathan, the former Royal Challengers Bangalore batsman.

Former Zimbabwe captain Tatenda Taibu along with former IPL players Shadab Jakati, Paul Valthaty, Manpreet Singh Gony and Siddhartha Trivedi are the other marquee signings in the franchises.

Jimmy Kamande leads Hirani Heros while Kenya captain Shem Ngoche (Rudra Warriros), Rushab Patel (Texas Titans), Elijah Otieno (Dezo Devils) and Nelson Odhiambo (Glory Hotels) lead the other franchises.

The franchise league is organised by Mombasa Simba Cricket Academy run by former Kenyan internationals Thomas Odoyo, Peter Ongondo, Jimmy Kamande and Tom Mboya.

According to Ongondo, the inaugural tournament in 2018 was confined to academies and clubs from Kenya, Zimbabwe and Uganda, and this year they have revamped it as a franchise league.

“We changed from club and age group because of the Covid-19,” Ongondo said at the launch ceremony.

“We can’t control kids and parents, and at the same time we already had the sponsors for the tournament.

“We thought controlling senior cricketers was easier and came up with this idea of organising this franchise league rather than doing away with the second edition of this event.”

The change in the playing format means six franchise teams will compete in a league. The team with the highest points after the league earns a direct spot in the final whilst the second and third will meet in a semi-final play-off.

“We have been fortune to have sponsors on board who have helped leverage most of this cost. We have also secured our broadcasting rights for streaming this will be an additional revenue stream for us.”

Ahamed believes the opportunity the cricketers from Abu Dhabi have received is a platform that they can build to play in various franchise leagues worldwide.

“There are a lot of franchise leagues taking place worldwide these days and there is one coming up in Cambodia in which we want to get a foothold as well,” he said.

“Obviously, SPL is an excellent start for our cricketers. Most of them have played in the major leagues in the UAE and now they have got a good platform in Kenya to build on.”