Abu Dhabi Cricket (ADC) has announced to organise a three-day T20 league competition among the six teams from the different nations. The inaugural tournament will be played from October 4-6 at Zayed Cricket Stadium and it has been named as Abu Dhabi T20 League.
One team each from Pakistan, Australia, England, Afghanistan, South Africa, in addition to a team from the UAE, will participate in this tournament. Among them, five teams have been sorted out while one more team’s name is expecting to be released soon.
Pakistan Super League (PSL) team Lahore Qalandars, England’s T20 Blast team Yorkshire Vikings, Afghanistan’s Shpageeza Cricket League team Boost Defenders, South Africa’s CSA T20 Challenge team Multiply Titans and Australia’s Big Bash League team Hobart Hurricanes have ensured to participate in the inaugural edition.
⭐️BREAKING⭐️ The world’s greatest cricket stars are set to descend on the UAE capital as @AbuDhabiSC & @AbuDhabiCricket launch the ABU DHABI T20 this October! 🏏 6 TEAMS. 3 DAYS. 1 CHAMPION!
For more info visit: https://t.co/2PrM2lXG83 #AbuDhabiT20 #AbuDhabiCricket pic.twitter.com/LXwRxnvKRX— Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub (@adsportshub) July 1, 2018
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While the tournament has been sanctioned by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC), Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC) has the support to organise the tournament.
As a marquee player, Caribbean star cricketer Chris Gayle has confirmed to feature in this tournament for Boost Defenders. Moreover, English fast bowler Tymal Mills will play for Hobart Hurricanes while the Pakistan leggie Yasir Shah and English cricketer Gary Ballance will feature for Lahore Qalandars and Yorkshire Vikings respectively.
South African cricketer Farhaan Behardien and Albie Morkel are also can take the part in this tournament for Multiply Titans.
ADSV General Secretary, Aref Al Awani is very positive about this tournament as he said, “Make no mistake, this a dynamic field of the best of the best. With this level of player power, the tournament allows Abu Dhabi to deliver on our mandate of ushering in an exciting new era of cricket in the Emirates. The tournament will certainly help cement Abu Dhabi’s international sporting credentials, reinforcing its major events hub reputation and expand awareness of our world-class facilities.”
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ECB CEO David East has impressed with the improving facilities and believes that the tournament will expand annually.
He said about the tournament, “All the ingredients are there. The ever-improving facilities, the fan base, the support of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and ADC’s proven organisational expertise in world-class events all set the scene for a wonderful event which we hope to see expand annually.”
Matthew Boucher, the acting CEO of the ADC, also said, “We wanted to set ourselves apart from the rest of the world and offer a different product, without creating another franchise-led league. It’s an absolute honour to see the best of the best from around the world’s established teams gather in Abu Dhabi to offer fans an experience that does not currently exist anywhere else. We are very grateful to all the teams and their management for backing this initiative and getting on board.”
