Yorkshire the fifth team to confirm participation in the Abu Dhabi T20 Trophy

The inaugural season of the annual tournament gets underway on October 4 and the final will be played on October 6.

Published - 10 Jul 2018, 15:00 IST | Updated - 10 Jul 2018, 15:00 IST

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Abu Dhabi T20 Logo. (Photo Source: Yorkshire CCC)

Six of the most prominent T20 teams from around the world will be in the United Arab Emirates in October this year to play the Abu Dhabi T20 Trophy 2018. The inaugural season of the annual tournament that will be played every year till 2020 gets underway on October 4 and the final will be played on October 6. The tournament has received support from the International Cricket Council (ICC). Among other teams, Yorkshire County Cricket Club has confirmed its participation in the event.

Along with Yorkshire CCC, the other participating teams in the tournament are Afghanistan’s domestic side Boost Defenders, the Hobart Hurricanes, from Big Bash League (BBL); the Lahore Qalandars from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and South Africa’s Multiply Titans. The sixth team is yet to be announced by the organizers.

Gayle, Mills to feature in the tournament

All the teams have roped in some popular T20 names from around the world. Chris Gayle will feature for the Defenders, Hurricane’s Tymal Mills will be a part of the league, Lahore Qalandars’ side will boast of Yasir Shah and Titans’ have two stars in Albie Morkel the captain of the team and Farhaan Behardien.

The organizers are calling it a contest of the best of the best. They are attempting to launch an exciting tournament that has a positive impact on the cricket in Emirates.

“Make no mistake, this is a dynamic field of the best of the best,” said His Excellency Aref Al Awani, General Secretary, ADSC. “With this level of player power, the tournament allows Abu Dhabi to deliver on our mandate of ushering in an exciting new era of cricket in the emirate,” he was quoted as saying by yorkshireccc.

“Fans can look forward to three days of thrilling entertainment in what we anticipate will be fiercely fought action to lift the inaugural Abu Dhabi T20 trophy. The tournament will certainly help cement Abu Dhabi’s international sporting credentials, reinforcing its major events hub reputation and expand awareness of our world-class facilities.”

Club CEO Mark Arthur added: “T20 cricket is becoming more and more significant and certainly in the sub-continent it’s their favourite format of the game. We want to compete as Yorkshire in all three formats of the game in this country and when you’re presented with the chance of playing against representation from Pakistan, Australia and Afghanistan; it’s a great opportunity.

“The prize money is very meaningful, it is effectively winner takes all and would be the icing on the cake. Some of the younger players, in particular, will learn from the experience and it helps the process that we’re undergoing to maintain our competitiveness in all three formats in 2018.”

All the matches will be played at the Zayed Cricket Stadium and will be telecast on various channels worldwide.

Yorkshires’ Director of Cricket, Martyn Moxon, said: “It’s tremendous that we’ve been asked to take part in this. With all 18 First-Class counties available, for us to be asked is a feather in our cap. It gives us the opportunity to pit our wits again some of the best players in the world. It’s similar to the Champions League back in 2012, so we’re all really looking forward to it.

“The way cricket is going, for us to be involved in these tournaments such as this, with our future in mind, is very promising.

“It will be a short trip and we’ll have three days over there to prepare, but it will be very interesting. It will be great to test ourselves against the best in the world.”