The United Arab Emirates has announced a new cricket format with a number of international stars in it and it is named as T10 League. The league is going to start in December. The new ten-over-a-side matches will run for around 90 minutes (45 minutes a side) in Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Twenty20 (T20) cricket was introduced in England in 2003, with the first international T20 match held between Australia and New Zealand at Auckland in February 2005. Since then the shortest format, the other two are five-day Tests and 50-over internationals has become the most popular amongst the fans around the world.

The T10 tournament will last just four days from 21st to 24th December, with the four teams selected through a draft later this month. The tournament is going to feature some big hitters like India’s Virender Sehwag, Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi, Sri Lanka’s Kumara Sangakkara and England’s Eoin Morgan.

And is also likely to feature Pakistan’s Misbah-ul-Haq and Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan.

“The whole concept is exciting. We all remember when the first time Twenty20 cricket was played and since then it (T20) has impacted the other formats. “If this new idea takes off then I am sure it will also impact the other forms of the game,” said England T20 captain Eoin Morgan.

Pakistan’s former captain Misbah said the short duration of the matches will be good for aging players. “It’s an exciting idea and a good thing for players like me,” said 43-year-old Misbah who retired in May this year. “It will need just ten overs of batting and then fielding and at this age, I can afford that.”

The new league’s president Salman Iqbal said, “Everyone has played T10 cricket on the streets and this will give more fire to cricket and will be a big step forward and people will definitely enjoy it.”

Shaji Ul Mulk, president of TCL, said, “We are very excited about the concept of T10 as it brings cricket to the level of world sports of 90 minutes and fast pace action. We all enjoy T20. Wait till you experience T10! We have based this league on a South Asian concept as we have a dominant south Asian, cricket-crazy population in the UAE and GCC.” The auction will be conducted in the United Arab Emirates.

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