Published: Feb 07, 2019, 05:13 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 07, 2019, 05:13 PM (IST)
Ireland is the set to become latest cricketing nation to launch its own T20 league, possibly in the second half of 2019.
However, the franchise-based tournament will see participation of teams from two more countries. A total of six teams with at least two each from Ireland, Scotland and Netherland are touted to be part of the league.
As per a report in Belfast Telegraph, Cricket Ireland held a meeting with Cricket Scotland and Koninklijke Nederlandse Cricket Bond (KNCB) with the three boards set to confirm the tournament by the end of February.
“If there are six teams, it would allow the top 16 T20 players in Ireland to play with and against some of the top cricketers in the world, which can only help their game,” Cricket Ireland Performance Director Richard Holdsworth was quoted as saying in the report. “Currently, Paul Stirling and, to a lesser extent, Kevin O’Brien are the only Ireland players involved in the increasing number of T20 competitions which are taking place all over the world. Indeed, Ireland is the last Full Member not to have one.”
As per the report, each team will feature five overseas players with global T20 superstars of the likes of Brendon McCullum, Babar Azam, Luke Ronchi, Shadab Khan, Brendan Taylor, Imran Tahir set to feature in the maiden iteration of the league.
The competition will likely be held in Dubai and is backed by an Indian sports marketing company.
