Emirates Cricket Board launches own T20 league

Franchise-based tournament set to be held in Dubai either in December 2021 or January 2022

A new T20 league will be luanched in Dubai by the end of this year. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A franchise T20 league for the UAE could be launched as soon December, according to the Emirates Cricket Board.

The governing body for the game here said on Tuesday an “exclusive T20 league has been sanctioned by ECB chairman Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan to Dubai Sports City”.

It stated the event “will be held soon”, with dates being considered in December 2021 and January 2022.

Such a competition has been mooted in the Emirates for some years.

A number of the world’s leading players, such as Eoin Morgan, AB de Villiers and Andre Russell, had been recruited to play in a competition that was due to be known as the “UAE T20x” in December 2018.

That was cancelled a month before it was due to start, when only two of five planned franchises were purchased.

However, the ECB revised their plans and discussed launching a new franchise tournament in 2020, only for that to prove unfeasible because of Covid-19.

The board have stated the new competition “will be franchise based which will attract major international cricketers”.

The announcement comes just days after the conclusion of the Abu Dhabi T10, during which several UAE-based players thrived alongside stars of the world game.

The ECB are hopeful the new competition will provide a similar platform for players from the Emirates.

“We are delighted with the launch of our own T20 League, one we believe will enhance the growth and popularity of cricket being played in the UAE,” Dr Tayeb Kamali, an ECB board member, said.

“We also envisage UAE-based players will continue to flourish through such opportunities as they continue to make their mark on the international stage.”

The search for a suitable window to play the competition might prove a challenge.

The T10 was played from the end of January to the start of February this year, but has been played in November and December in previous years.

The international calendar is also awash with franchise competitions during the winter season, with T20 events in Bangladesh and Australia usually taking place in December and January.

“We see this league as another premier addition to our growing tournament calendar,” Khalid Al Zarooni, the vice chairman of the ECB, said.

“Emirates cricket and the UAE have a proven history of identifying and embracing initiatives that underpin the success of the game, as well as encourage and develop home-grown talent.”

The competition should provide increased exposure to UAE players, who have shown their worth over the past month with excellence in the T10, as well as in beating Ireland in a one-day international.

Robin Singh, the national team coach, is excited about the form his players have been showing.

“What was nice to see in the [T10] tournament was that, when they were up against the big boys, people were not afraid,” Singh said. “That is a real great sign.”

The former India allrounder has targeted qualification for both the 50-over and T20 World Cups, and is demanding high standards from his players.

“I’m here to win,” Singh said. “There is no question of just competing. I have said this again and again when we practice or play. We are not here to compete, we are here to win. Simple as that.

“You don’t get accolades for coming second. No way. You don’t achieve anything for coming second.

“We need to focus on being the No 1 Associate country going forward. That is the first step. It is a process, and it will take time. It will take one or two years.

“But I want to get the attitude into people where, when they come here, we are as good as anybody else.

“These things will only happen if we train hard, we play good cricket, we play against better opposition. We should be in a position to win.”