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UAE T20 League: Manchester United, Reliance to join bidding war
The UAE T20 League is likely to start in February 2022. (Photo credit: Twitter/@EmiratesCricket)
- The UAE T20 League is likely to start in February 2022
- BCCI may allow Indian players to play in the tournament
- Owners of DC, KKR could also join the bidding
Manchester United, Reliance and Ahmedabad-based microfinance company Capri Global are planning to participate in the bidding of an IPL-like T20 league in the UAE to be conducted by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), reported Outlook India.
Both Manchester United and Capri Global had participated in the bidding of two new IPL franchises but they failed to RP-Sanjiv Goenka group and private equity player Irelia (part of CVC Capital Partners). While Goenka group won the bid for Lucknow at Rs 7,090 crore, Irelia Company Pvt Ltd got the second franchise for Ahmedabad at Rs 5,625.
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The six-team UAE T20 League is being viewed as IPL’s competitor as huge money pouring into the league. According to reports, the new league could start in February 2022 and finish before the start of IPL 2022. The new tournament will be an annual event just like any other franchise-based T20 league. The first edition will feature 34 matches.
Meanwhile, the owner of IPL franchise Mumbai Indians, Reliance, will also participate in the bidding of the UAE T20 League.
On Wednesday, in a press release, the Emirates Cricket Board announced Reliance Strategic Business Ventures Ltd as one of the team owners. The owners of Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals may also participate in the bidding along with Australia’s Big Bash League champion Sydney Sixers.
“We aim to transform cricket in UAE through UAE T20 League. Our wider plan includes expansion of cricket through various development programs being conducted in UAE by the League franchisees including talent hunts, coaching, and training by some of the best in the business,” said Khalid Al Zarooni, ECB vice-chairman in the release.
Indian players likely to play in the league
Zee, which was earlier into sports broadcasting, is likely to enter the sports broadcasting business again with the broadcasting of the UAE T20 League.
Also Read: IPL will return to India in 2022, mega auction coming up: BCCI secretary
According to the Outlook India report, BCCI may allow Indian players to play in the league, given their good relation with the Emirates Cricket Board.
In the UAE T20 League, each team will be allowed to field eight foreigners in a match, and the total purse of each team is expected to be around USD 2 million, which is significantly lower than that of the IPL. Each team will have to pay a fixed fee of six million US Dollars per year for 10 years.