The International Cricket Council (ICC) officially sanctioned the second season of the T10 League which will be held in November.

The 10-over event begins from November 23 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium that will see eight franchises compete in an expanded 10-day competition.

Last year’s inaugural edition had been approved by the ICC and T10 League chairman Shaji Ul-Mulk said the sanctioning is important for their growth.

“This sanction from ICC for T10 League gives our partners, stakeholders and more importantly the players a much-needed boost,” he said. “Having said that, it additionally gives us responsibility to ensure we keep growing year-on-year and make this format globally acceptable.”

Salman Iqbal, T10 League president, added: “The sanction from the ICC will only add further shine to the global appeal of the event. We believe that value creation for the new teams will see a positive growth from year one. From four-day league to a ten-day league with more teams and larger pool of international players is a testament of faith shown by fans and stakeholders.”

Following on from last year’s success, which was won by Eoin Morgan’s Kerala Kings side, the 2018 edition has so far attracted some of the biggest names in cricket.

Afghanistan teenager Rashid Khan (Maratha Arabians), Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi (Pakhtoons) and Shoaib Malik (Punjabi Legends), Morgan (Kerala Kings), New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum (Rajputs), West Indies’ Sunil Narine (Bengal Tigers), Darren Sammy (Northern Warriors) and Australia’s Shane Watson (Karachians) have been named as icon players. Team owners will finalise their squads in early September.