UAE cricket: Shah Rukh Khan, Mumbai Indians, Manchester United owners part of Emirates T20 League

UAE will have its very own T20 League soon.

And there won't be any shortage of international stars with the UAE well-positioned geographically, and not to mention its credentials in successfully hosting the recently concluded T20 World Cup, IPL and the PSL.

Six heavyweights from franchise tournaments worldwide, including IPL's Mumbai Indians and Shah Rukh Khan's Knight Riders franchise, are set to join hands in the upcoming Emirates T20 League in January next year, The Times of India reported on Friday.

The Glazer family, owners of the Manchester United football club, who recently fell short in their bid for one of the two new IPL franchises, will also invest in the new League.

Financial services company Capri Global also showed interest in the bids for the IPL franchise. They, too, will finance a team in the Emirates T20 League. Delhi Capitals co-owner Kiran Kumar Gandhi will also invest in the League, albeit without Parth Jindal, the other 50% co-owner of the IPL franchise.

The Sydney Sixers, one of the most successful Australian Big Bash League franchises, will make the final team of the Emirates T20 League, adding to their long-going attempts to invest in leagues outside their home country.

ALSO READ:

• Rahul, Rohit rock as India sweep series against Kiwis

• Abu Dhabi T10: De Lange scalps five as Team Abu Dhabi beat Bangla Tigers

• Video: Hasan Ali reprimanded for rude behaviour during T20I match

Work on the League began in 2019. The Chennai Super Kings franchise had also shown initial interest but opted out later.

The League has been sanctioned by ECB chairman Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister for Tolerance and Coexistence. Sheikh Nahyan is an avid cricket follower and played a massive role in bringing and hosting the T20 World Cup, the IPL, in the UAE.

UAE's League will follow the same blueprint of successful franchise leagues around the world like the Indian Premier League, Pakistan Super League (PSL), Australian Big Bash (BBL), Caribbean Premier League (CPL), and many others. The modalities of the League are still being worked out, the ECB said.

• UAE