The first-ever draft for Emirates players to participate in the inaugural international T10 Cricket League at Sharjah Cricket Stadium next month took place on Saturday.
In attendance was legend Wasim Akram as well as former players, team owners and other VIP’s.
In a bid to give local talent a major boost as many as 27 players were part in the draft as team owners made their selections. Ten players were drafted in five teams. The 6th team, Team Sri Lanka Cricket, has already announced that their players will be from the team that just won the Super Provincial title recently.
UAE Captain Rohan Mustafa became the first ever draft pick for T10 cricket when the Kerala Kings chose him along with bowler Imran Haider. The team’s icon player Eoin Morgan attended the draft along with their coach Robin Singh.
Maratha Arabians picked batsman Shaiman Anwar and fast bowler Zahoor Khan.
The Punjab Legends icon player Shoaib Malik was also present as his team chose wicket-keeper batsman Ghulam Shabber and fast bowler Shareef Asadullah.
The Bengal Tigers secured the services of fast bowler Mohammed Naveed and batsman Rameez Shahzad while the Pakhtoons went for all-rounder Amjad Javed and wicket-keeper batsman Saqlain Haider.
Kerala Kings’ icon player Eoin Morgan was also in attendance.
Six teams will battle it out for the title from December 14 in this exciting format, which is expected to fill the iconic Sharjah stadium.
“We are delighted to be able to give local players an opportunity to play with the big boys and garner the experience,” said Shaji Ul Mulk, the Chairman of the T10 committee and the brain behind the concept.
“The enthusiasm we witnessed at the draft is indicative of the high level of interest that the T10 is attracting and we are confident that it will become a regular feature here and around the cricketing world,” he added.
The International players draft is scheduled for Sunday. Among those present at the venue will be Shahid Afridi, Eoin Morgan, and Sarfraz Ahmed.