Zimbabwe targeted for T10 League leg in March 2023

Zim Now Writer

T Ten Sports Management, organising body of the Abu Dhabi T10 League, has said it is close to establishing its latest overseas competition in Zimbabwe, with expansion efforts also targeting Europe and North America.

Organisers of Abu Dhabi T10, which is currently staging its sixth season and is sanctioned by the International Cricket Council are confident of staging one in Zimbabwe in March after clinching Sri Lanka earlier in the month.

“The biggest thumbs up we have got is the 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 that deal,” announced chief operating officer Rajeev Khanna on Saturday November 26.

The competition has been approved by the International Cricket Council and through the world body has not yet recognizes T10 as a format yet, they have sent their anti-corruption unit to Abu Dhabi for the event.

There is definite interest with world’s leading players like Kieron Pollard, Moeen ali, David Miller, Nicholas Pooran, Tim David, Shakib Al Hasan all being part of the Abu Dhabi T10 currently in progress.

“1600 international players had registered for the draft but we could choose only 250. It shows there is a lot of interest and that makes us feel more cconfident about the league’s future,” said Khanna.

Khanna said the T10 competition will play a complementary role to the T20.

”We are not here to compete with the T20 format. T10 can work as a talent feeder series to T20. The players love the format as it is quick and it is only two weeks,” Khanna said.

Khanna said it is not all plain sailing in establishing T10 and the organisers will have to work around some issues to succeed.

“The biggest challenge is to market this product and make it sustainable. Operation challenges are also there as it is a new format and not everyone knows about it including the players,” Khanna said.

Slotting the planned T10 five legs into the international calendar and franchise schedule will also be tricky.

If the Zimbabwe leg works out, it will be good for the local fans to see more international cricket at home.