Scotland, Ireland & Netherlands to start their own European T20 League

[TalhaSyed]

Domestic teams from Scotland, Ireland and the Netherlands will take part in a new European T20 league, which will debut later this year.

Each territory will provide two teams for a group stage followed by semi-finals and a final, with the event running from 30 August to 22 September.

The teams will have a minimum of nine domestic players and a maximum of seven overseas players in their squads.

On matchday, at least six of the 11 will be domestic players.

Organisers and sponsors have negotiated an initial 10-year agreement for the tournament.

"The chance to play alongside some of the best in the business will provide a great opportunity for our players to learn and develop their own skill-set as we strive to achieve full membership and climb the ICC team rankings," said Cricket Scotland chief executive Malcolm Cannon.

Cricket Ireland counterpart Warren Deutrom added: "We are very excited that what has essentially been an 18-month project in planning is across the line."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/47466844

 

[Arham_PakFan]

I think this is good for the cricket in these countries. Scotland especially I think has a lot of potential.

But overseas members in the squad should be limited to six. No more than 3 in an XI

 

[TalhaSyed]

[MENTION=136108]Donal Cozzie[/MENTION]

Bring it on

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Nice. They could call it: Europa Cricket League

Looking forward to it. Will try to attend a game if a Pakistani player gets drafted.

 

[TalhaSyed]

I think this is good for the cricket in these countries. Scotland especially I think has a lot of potential.

But overseas members in the squad should be limited to six. No more than 3 in an XI

Yes I think this is an excellent initiative for all three countries and if they can rope in a few big names it will be an excellent opportunity for the local players.

Yea it's always good to have more domestic players in the squad, however, I guess the international players is what distinguishes this sort of - almost franchise like - competition from your standard T20 competition. It's like PSL vs Faysal Bank T20.

I get that international players are needed to make the tournament a success - however - as you mentioned it's important to get the balance right and give local players maximum opportunity.

 

[TalhaSyed]

Nice. They could call it: Europa Cricket League

Looking forward to it. Will try to attend a game if a Pakistani player gets drafted.

Yea I'm looking forward to it and hoping to go to a few matches in Edinburgh Inshallah

 

[wrongun]

Great idea, good to see them doing what ICC does not for them.

Job well done if it helps their players earn a living. Bonus if it provides a pathway to bigger stages & improves cricket in those nations.

Dream result is the league succeeds enough to expand into another European country with potential- France or Germany or anywhere.

 

[TeymurBlake]

Good move. I'm really forward to this league.

 

[Donal Cozzie]

Yes I think this is an excellent initiative for all three countries and if they can rope in a few big names it will be an excellent opportunity for the local players.

Yea it's always good to have more domestic players in the squad, however, I guess the international players is what distinguishes this sort of - almost franchise like - competition from your standard T20 competition. It's like PSL vs Faysal Bank T20.

I get that international players are needed to make the tournament a success - however - as you mentioned it's important to get the balance right and give local players maximum opportunity.

I cant actually believe its happening. I never ever thought I'd see franchise cricket this part of the world. Will be invaluable in developing all three sides in this form of the game, Ireland in particular had fallen way behind.

I think Cricket Ireland deserve huge credit for this. All 3 boards had a part but under new ICC rules only Full Member's can ratify a new league, so for us to take the other Associate nations along is fantastic to see and great for the game in Europe. Important for each other that we all remain competitive. Could easily have told them to get stuffed.

Yes, it is yet another t20 league of which there are now over a dozen, but I think the international aspect, plus the fact that the standard of local players here unlike in, say, the Canadian league, wont be total garbage, might play a role in drawing some interest.

Fantastic to follow the model of the Pro14 and hopefully this sees similar success. I actually feel if the costs are kept sensible this could be a tidy investment with room for growth in future.

Honestly, with the Hundred looking like an absolute joke to the sport it wouldnt surprise me to see some English fans following this more keenly. The Natwest is great but I find it quite frankly bizarre to think that Ireland, Scotland and Holland are getting a city based t20 league running before the ECB are.

 

[Donal Cozzie]

If there's one thing rugby has shown successfully, its that if you get a pan celtic competition going, with matches on a weekend, with some good local and foreign players involved, with the potential for a decent friday night of entertainment and some beers, people here will back it.

Not like we'll get anywhere near the numbers of other leagues, but, say, Dublin vs Glasgow on a Friday in Malahide or even one of the smaller club venues more city centre based, with good weather and decent promotion, could draw in maybe a thousand. Which is insane for what youd realistically expect.

What we can say without doubt is that this existing is a significantly better world for all three boards both in terms of finances, exposure to quality cricket and a marketing perspective. CPL/Hundred will take most of the quality t20 guys off the circuit but even Aussie domestic players, middle profile players from Zim, BD, SL et al would be such a huge level up on current domestic quality.

 

[Mbappe]

If there's one thing rugby has shown successfully, its that if you get a pan celtic competition going, with matches on a weekend, with some good local and foreign players involved, with the potential for a decent friday night of entertainment and some beers, people here will back it.

Not like we'll get anywhere near the numbers of other leagues, but, say, Dublin vs Glasgow on a Friday in Malahide or even one of the smaller club venues more city centre based, with good weather and decent promotion, could draw in maybe a thousand. Which is insane for what youd realistically expect.

What we can say without doubt is that this existing is a significantly better world for all three boards both in terms of finances, exposure to quality cricket and a marketing perspective. CPL/Hundred will take most of the quality t20 guys off the circuit but even Aussie domestic players, middle profile players from Zim, BD, SL et al would be such a huge level up on current domestic quality.

Absolutely, something is better than nothing. Anyway it's about building quality cricket culture in these countries and their own stars.

 

[JattMaula]

This is type of initiative needed to keep cricket sustainable in these countries. it will keep decent no of domestic talent gainfully employed.

 

[Major]

this is bad for us.

If better quality leagues are made we are doomed.


Plus, this is a european legue, this could turn out to be a very big one.

 

[coy0607]

this is bad for us.

If better quality leagues are made we are doomed.


Plus, this is a european legue, this could turn out to be a very big one.

I don't see how this is bad for us (I assume you mean PSL). Primary consumption of PSL is in Pakistan and by Pakistani's around the world, they may watch other leagues but they won't ever approach those other leagues the same way they do with the PSL

If anything, this is bad for Test Cricket. The more T20 leagues there are, the more players and fans will be incentivized to put their time into the more lucrative and exciting T20

 

[Shaka81]

Sounds like a good initiative and if they can get a couple of big name cricketers involved, it should be a success. If they play any of the games in Glasgow, then I will definitely try to get to as many games as I can. Cricket in Scotland has come so far since I used to play in the local leagues for fun. A lot more people involved these days. Cricket needs T20 leagues. It's the only way to grow outwith the traditional cricket countries.

 

[TalhaSyed]

I cant actually believe its happening. I never ever thought I'd see franchise cricket this part of the world. Will be invaluable in developing all three sides in this form of the game, Ireland in particular had fallen way behind.

I think Cricket Ireland deserve huge credit for this. All 3 boards had a part but under new ICC rules only Full Member's can ratify a new league, so for us to take the other Associate nations along is fantastic to see and great for the game in Europe. Important for each other that we all remain competitive. Could easily have told them to get stuffed.

Yes, it is yet another t20 league of which there are now over a dozen, but I think the international aspect, plus the fact that the standard of local players here unlike in, say, the Canadian league, wont be total garbage, might play a role in drawing some interest.

Fantastic to follow the model of the Pro14 and hopefully this sees similar success. I actually feel if the costs are kept sensible this could be a tidy investment with room for growth in future.

Honestly, with the Hundred looking like an absolute joke to the sport it wouldnt surprise me to see some English fans following this more keenly. The Natwest is great but I find it quite frankly bizarre to think that Ireland, Scotland and Holland are getting a city based t20 league running before the ECB are.

Its a fantastic effort and hope it turns out to be a big success.

Making it city based makes a lot of sense and hopefully will help attract a bigger fan base. Hopefully they can get some half decent players involved who will help the team grow.

Would be good if for now with 6 teams they followed a PSL style format with each team playing a home and away game and then the play offs.

I feel this T20 league will help the local home grown cricketing talent (skill-wise, not financially) more than any other league out there.

I feel like the Hundred is getting unnecessarily complicated.

 

[Donal Cozzie]

Its a fantastic effort and hope it turns out to be a big success.

Making it city based makes a lot of sense and hopefully will help attract a bigger fan base. Hopefully they can get some half decent players involved who will help the team grow.

Would be good if for now with 6 teams they followed a PSL style format with each team playing a home and away game and then the play offs.

I feel this T20 league will help the local home grown cricketing talent (skill-wise, not financially) more than any other league out there.

I feel like the Hundred is getting unnecessarily complicated.

Agree with all of that.

First ten games are in Holland, next ten in Scotland, next ten in Ireland. Depending on the investors they may use two venues per nation, but likely one. Two matches per day.

Agree on the home cricket aspect. While certainly not of the standard of other top leagues, there's enough local talent in the three countries IMO for this to work and add it a but of variety.

Hundred is a joke. Barely even cricket at this stage and it seems to be despised by many of the english cricket fans I've seen on twitter.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Excellent initiative.. I think BCCI will give NOC to their players to go for some Euro hunting...

 

[Sami92]

Maximum overseas player in the XI should be no more than 4. Otherwise, overseas allrounders will do all the batting and bowling and local players will be playing a minor role.

Another thing, Irish player such as Paul Stirling should not be allowed to play as an overseas player for Sco/Net franchise. That will not make any sense. Read somewhere about it.

 

[PakLFC]

Other teams should join this league as well. Not sure if other second grade European countries play Cricket though. I believe Italy and Germany are trying to make it in the game as well.

 

[TalhaSyed]

Agree with all of that.

First ten games are in Holland, next ten in Scotland, next ten in Ireland. Depending on the investors they may use two venues per nation, but likely one. Two matches per day.

Agree on the home cricket aspect. While certainly not of the standard of other top leagues, there's enough local talent in the three countries IMO for this to work and add it a but of variety.

Hundred is a joke. Barely even cricket at this stage and it seems to be despised by many of the english cricket fans I've seen on twitter.

Ah the ten game split is a great idea!

I'm guessing the final will be in Dublin with playoffs taking place Scotland and Netherlands

 

[Sher Khan]

I have a feeling asif ali might be picked and play some entertaining cameos.

 

[Realromeo]

I cant actually believe its happening. I never ever thought I'd see franchise cricket this part of the world. Will be invaluable in developing all three sides in this form of the game, Ireland in particular had fallen way behind.

I think Cricket Ireland deserve huge credit for this. All 3 boards had a part but under new ICC rules only Full Member's can ratify a new league, so for us to take the other Associate nations along is fantastic to see and great for the game in Europe. Important for each other that we all remain competitive. Could easily have told them to get stuffed.

Yes, it is yet another t20 league of which there are now over a dozen, but I think the international aspect, plus the fact that the standard of local players here unlike in, say, the Canadian league, wont be total garbage, might play a role in drawing some interest.

Fantastic to follow the model of the Pro14 and hopefully this sees similar success. I actually feel if the costs are kept sensible this could be a tidy investment with room for growth in future.

Honestly, with the Hundred looking like an absolute joke to the sport it wouldnt surprise me to see some English fans following this more keenly. The Natwest is great but I find it quite frankly bizarre to think that Ireland, Scotland and Holland are getting a city based t20 league running before the ECB are.

The Standard of Canadian Gt20 League was very good cause only 1 Canadian played in every game. There was no rules on how many foreign players a team could have. I didn't pay $20 for a parking and pay $50 to sit in the baking hot sun to see Nitesh Kumar and 45 year old Rizwan Cheema lol.