Sharjah: Top international cricketers, who will be in action during the T10 Cricket League to be held at the Sharjah Stadium from December 14-17, are reaching out to the various communities that they will be representing.
As the tournament is slated to be a contest of supporters of the South Asian communities, star cricketers in the six teams are keen to ignite the fervour among the fans for their teams — calling them to come out in large number to cheer for their teams.
The six teams of the league are Colombo Kings, Bengal Tigers, Maratha Arabians, Punjab Legends, Pakhtoons and Kerala Kings.
England skipper Eoin Morgan, who will lead Kerala Kings, is hoping that the large number of Keralites in the UAE will cheer up for his team. Morgan has revealed that he wants to play the T10 format due to a special reason. “When T20 was launched I was not old enough to be a part of the first year of T20 cricket. I want to be part of the first T10 tournament. It will be something really special,” said Morgan.
Punjab Legends and Pakhtoons are hoping that all Pakistan supporters turn up for their matches.
Shahid Afridi, who will lead the Pakhtoons team, has always been the hero of the Sharjah Cricket Stadium fans.
“I am fit and you all can see me in action during the T10 league. I am still enjoying playing and so my Sharjah fans will not miss me,” said Afridi.
In fact, cricket-loving blue-collar workers living in the various labour camps are planning to turn up in large numbers for the event at Sharjah Stadium. After T10 organisers staged a tournament for the labourers, excitement to watch T10 matches have spread fast. Farrukh Hussain, who won the player of the tournament award cracking a whirlwind 92 off 34 balls in T10 tournament for labourers, has expressed his desire to receive the award from Afridi.
Danube Construction Company, who are the co-owners of the Bengal Tigers team, will be creating a separate section for the workers to come, wear their team jerseys and cheer for their team.
Pakistan captain Safraz Ahmad, who will lead the Bengal Tigers, said: “The colour of our team jersey represents passion, pride and glory. We will hunt our opposition like Tigers.” In fact, Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akthar has pledged his support for Sarfraz and his team.
Maratha Arabians captain Virender Sehwag has urged all fans to turn up in large numbers.
“It will be exciting cricket. Cricket should be entertaining and all my life I have played the game to entertain and this is the right format for such cricket,” said Sehwag. The fact that Maratha Arabians will be coached by legendary Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram has put Pakistan supporters in a dilemma on which team to support.
All Sri Lankans clubs in the UAE, meanwhile, are expected to turn up and cheer for Dinesh Chandimal-led Team Sri Lanka.
