Emirates Cricket Board announces it own IPL-style T20 franchise league

T20 franchise cricket has become quite popular across the globe with almost every top cricket playing nation having its own league. United Arab Emirates is now set to have its own T20 league as well. On Tuesday, Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) announced that they have finalized the launching of an IPL-type franchise-based T20 league. 

It was also revealed that the first season of the tournament will be played between December 2021 and January 2022. It was also announced that the league’s launch has been announced with the backing of Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, a powerful minister of the UAE government and the Chairman of ECB. 

UAE has previously hosted T20 leagues. In 2014, the first half of the IPL was held in the country and the entire season of the cash-rich league was played in UAE in 2020. Apart from this, UAE has hosted a couple of seasons of the Pakistan Super League as well. Now, the country is all set to have a six-team league of its own. 

UAE recently hosted the T10 League, another venture of Emirates Cricket Board

All the information regarding the announcement was done by a statement by the ECB. “The ECB is pleased to announce that UAE’s own exclusive T20 league has been sanctioned by ECB Chairman  High Highness Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan to Dubai Sports City and will soon be held in the UAE. The dates being considered are December 2021 and January 2022,” the statement read as quoted by Gulf News.

It was also revealed that the league will have a franchise-based model like some of the other successful leagues across the globe. “Like all other successful global league models, the T20 league in the UAE will be franchise based which will attract major international cricketers. Modalities of the League are being finalised,” the statement further read. 

Dr. Tayeb Kamali, ECB board member and selection committee chairman of the ECB, commented, “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. We also envisage that UAE-based players will continue to flourish through such opportunities as they continue to make their mark on the international stage.”

UAE recently hosted the fourth season of the T10 League as well. Several international players have played in that league over the course of the four seasons. There was no update on whether there will be any change in the way the T10 league is organized.