Dubai: The UAE’s top players such as skipper Rohan Mustafa, hard-hitting Shaiman Anwar and all-rounder Amjad Javed are among the 10 players from the UAE national team who got picked to play in the inaugural international T10 Cricket League at Sharjah Cricket Stadium next month.
The draft for the UAE players to play in the T10 Cricket League was held on Saturday night in the presence of former Pakistan great Wasim Akram and Eoin Morgan, England captain in limited overs formats. The draft pick for the overseas players were conducted in a glitzy ceremony on a barge during a cruise at the Marina on Sunday.
Speaking to Gulf News, Rohan Mustafa, who was the first pick in the draft to be roped in by Kerala Kings, said: “It is great to be picked to be with my all time favourite player Brian Lara (Kerala team mentor). I think I will have to learn some Malayalam, the language of the Kerala fans, that may drop in to cheer for our team.”
In a bid to encourage local talent, nearly 27 players were included in the draft and owners made their selections. Ten players have been drafted into the five teams. The sixth team: Team Sri Lanka Cricket will not have any UAE players as Sri Lanka Cricket have announced that their team will only be made up from the winners of their Super Provincial title held recently.
Kerala Kings also roped in Imran Haider with Kerala’s icon player Morgan attending the draft along with their coach Robin Singh.
Maratha Arabians, which will be led by Virender Sehwag, has picked Anwar who had cracked a century in the 2016 World T20 for the UAE. “It’s a great honour to be able to play under Sehwag and I would be delighted to display some of Sehwag’s favourites shots that I play regularly.” Promising fast bowler Zahoor Khan, who came to limelight through ANIB XI, also got picked for Maratah team.
The Punjab Legends icon player Shoaib Malek, who was present in the draw, opted for UAE wicketkeeper-batsman Ghulam Shabber and fast bowler Shareef Asadullah.
The Bengal Tigers picked UAE’s opening bowler Mohammad Naveed, who is hailed as one of the finest pacers among the Associate countries, and middle order batsman Rameez Shahzad who carried with him experience of playing in county cricket.
The Pakhtoons team got all-rounder Amjad Javed, who is an accurate pacer and a hard hitter. Javed have also led UAE in One Day internationals. Wicketkeeper batsman Saqlain Haider also has got picked.
“The whole tournament will be played only by internationals but we wanted two players to be from UAE. We are delighted to be able to give local players an opportunity to play with the big boys and garner the experience,” remarked Shaji Ul Mulk, the Chairman of the T10 committee.
Meanwhile, the Team Sri Lanka Cricket will be made up for players like captain Dinesh Chandimal and all-rounder Thisara Perera. The League Directors who will be in charge of Team Sri Lanka Cricket are Kashif Shahzad and Vijay Vyas. The other players that comprise Lankan team will be Lahiru Thirimanne, Dilshan Munaweera, Kithruwan Vithanage, Nipun Karunanayake, Angelo Perera, Shehan Jayasuriya, Wanidu Hasaranga, Kasun Madushanka, Dushmantha Chameera, Vishva Fernando, Sachithra Senanayake, Jeffery Vandasay, Alankara Asanka and Angelo Jayasinghe.
