The Indian Premier League (IPL) isn’t the only 20-over competition kicking off in the UAE this week. The second edition of the Superstars T20 tournament begins this Friday featuring a mix of UAE internationals, residents and Pakistani stars which promises to be another successful competition.
Classed as the biggest domestic competition in the UAE, and sanctioned by the Dubai Cricket Council (DCC), 16 city-based franchises from UAE, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India will all battle to win the Dh80,000 prize money.
The competition, to be played at Fairgrounds Oval (Dubai Men’s College) with a round-robin and knock-out stage format, promises to be of the highest quality with former Pakistan skipper Younis Khan (Afridi’s Peshawar Panthers) and countrymen Nasir Jamshed (GMW Sharjah Royal Challengers) and Hasan Raza (Alu Bond Hyderabad Nawabs) all set to play.
Former West Indies and Zimbabwe players – Ryan Hinds and Charles Coventry as well as UAE captain Khurram Khan (all Wings Ahmadabad Aces) will also feature.
The competition was started by Abdul Azim Ansari (director) and Rahul Dalwale (manager) of Superstars T20 in collaboration with Web Channel, with the emphasis on promoting cricket in the UAE.
“We have been playing cricket here for a long time and the domestic game is not heavily promoted among the community players in the UAE,” said Ansari.
“We thought that with IPL being a hit around the world we wanted to plan something similar here. We got the backing from Amin Farooq, honorary DDC secretary, who has helped us a great deal as well as the sponsors and it started from there.”
Last year’s competition – won by Wings Ahmadabad Aces – was deemed a huge success and Ansari is confident this season’s will be the same.
“It was quite successful because a lot of international players were playing in the tournament. It created a huge buzz in the UAE as well as abroad, and I think the 2014 competition will be the same again,” he said.
When asked about the Pakistani professionals playing in the competition, Ansari replied: “Pakistan don’t have any series coming up since the IPL is currently being played. This is one of the prestigious tournaments right now and a lot of players are interested.
“The franchise owners made contact with the company representing the players in order to play. But because of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) restrictions, not all first-class and national players will be able to play.” Ansari is sure the competition will help raise the profile of cricket in the UAE.
“This tournament is going to have its benefits, there are a lot of talented players. With the UAE playing at the World Twenty20 and 50-overs format, it will be great to see some of these players play against the professionals and get to the next level,” he said.
Ansari isn’t too worried about IPL being played in the first two weeks of the one-month long competition. “Even last year we were playing at the same time. But even as (IPL) is taking place, our matches will continue and our knockout stages will commence in May,” said Ansari.
Teams:
Wings Ahmadabad Aces
Phoenix Medicines Karachi Kings
Global Westar Shipping Kochi Islanders
Alu Bond Hyderabad Nawabs
Danube Mumbai Warriors
Danube lahore Badshah
Ibsons Sialkot Sharks
Multiplex Dubai Royals
Brooks Colombo Lions
Seven Seas Rajasthan Royals
Al Faraa Al Ain Super Kings
Sasha Enterprise Islamabad Falcons
Interface Delhi Mughals
GMW Sharjah Royal Challengers
Afridi’s Peshawar Panthers
Yas Sports Faislabad rangers
Venue: Fairgrounds Oval, Dubai Men’s college
When: April 18 – May 17,
Price: Free Entry
