The organisers of the six-year outdated Abu Dhabi T10 League are planning to develop their attain to 5 completely different places world wide. Rajeev Khanna , an IPL veteran who has labored extensively with Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings, is overseeing the league’s enlargement plans having joined T Ten Sports Management because the Chief Operating Officer earlier this 12 months.

In partnership with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the primary version of the T10 League within the island nation has already been introduced and will likely be held in June. The organisers are assured of staging one in Zimbabwe in March and two extra in Europe and North America within the close to future.

“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 instructed 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 effectively, both Scotland or the Netherlands and the fifth one in North America,” he said.

The competition has been approved by the International Cricket Council though the world body has not recognised T10 as a format yet. The ICC, however, has sent its anti-corruption unit to Abu Dhabi for the event.

There is definite interest in the league from the world’s leading players. Biggies like Kieron Pollard, Moeen Ali, David Miller, Nicholas Pooran, Tim David, Shakib Al Hasan are all part of the Abu Dhabi T10 League being played here.

“1600 worldwide gamers had registered for the draft however we might select solely 250. It exhibits there’s plenty of curiosity and that makes us really feel extra assured concerning the league’s future,” said Khanna referring to the interest for the Abu Dhabi leg .

“We should not right here to compete with the T20 format. T10 can work as a expertise feeder sequence to T20. The gamers love the format as it’s fast and it is just two weeks (the T20 leagues are for much longer).” Despite the growing interest, Khanna said the league has its set of challenges.

“The largest problem is to market this product and make it sustainable.

Operation challenges are additionally there as it’s a new format and never everybody is aware of about it together with the gamers.” Finding a window for the planned five legs of T10 will also be a challenge with international calendar and franchise cricket schedule being busier than ever.

The IPL has become a billion dollar product and the BCCI is firm on maintaining its exclusivity in the league market. Considering that, is there a way to stage T10 in India? “I’ve come on board just lately and I might be speaking to the BCCI and see if there’s alternative and acceptance for it. Who wouldn’t like to have the league in India? We are additionally in talks with state associations,” added Khanna.

Since India’s girls gamers are allowed to play in abroad leagues, Khanna hopes that they are going to be a part of the inaugural girls’s competitors in Sri Lanka in June.

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