The Emirates Cricket Board has been planning to launch its own T20 league for the past two years – and at last, the UAE T20x has been unveiled…
UAE T20x is the latest addition to the list of franchise T20 leagues taking the cricketing world by storm. From the IPL to the CPL, these tournaments have been a source of attraction for fans around the world – and yet, only a few have managed to make their mark. The league is scheduled to start on 19th December 2018 and finish on 11th January 2019, with five teams participating in the tournament and playing a combined total of 22 matches.
Although the draft is yet to be held, the Icon players have been announced. AB de Villiers (Global Ambassador), Shahid Afridi, Eoin Morgan, Andre Russell, David Miller, Steve Smith, Lasith Malinga, and Kumar Sangakkara have all been reined in for the inaugural T20x season. Shakib al Hasan has also requested the Bangladesh Cricket Board to grant him an NOC for participation in the league, which hints at his inclusion in this elite list of players.
The biggest stars of the cricketing arena set to shine under #UAET20x this December!!
Read more đź“° https://t.co/WWbR2d1PtF pic.twitter.com/oTH72vAF0c
— T20X (@T20xLeague) November 9, 2018
With the league all set to be played in Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi, its fate is in the hands of the crowds. Will the stadiums witness a full house or remain barren as they were in the recently concluded Afghanistan Premier League? It’s a question closely linked to the long-term viability of the league and its ability to compete with the tournaments hosted by other nations.
The UAE already has a packed cricket season ahead of them, which started with the 2018 Asia Cup and runs all the way through March. With PSL4 right around the corner and the IPL considering the possibility of hosting certain matches in the Gulf nations due to the General Elections in India, the T20x is going to face some stiff competition. In addition to the more established leagues mentioned above, the T10 League is also set to host its second edition in 2018.
As we look forward to a promising debut tournament, fans will have plenty of cricket to fall back upon even if their expectations aren’t met. With a tightly-packed calendar for the winter months and the 2019 ICC World Cup to follow, there is little room for disappointment – and we hope the UAE T20x adds to the excitement!