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"T10 is a format that we should definitely try to take to the Olympics" : Shahid Afridi

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Abdullah719

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After having played a match-winning innings against Northern Warriors, Pakhtoons captain Shahid Afridi said he is not playing the game silence his critics.

"I am not playing to silence my critics. I am playing because I am enjoying playing the game. I have played long enough at the top level for Pakistan. I am fit and I am enjoying the game even now," the former Pakistan captain said.

"There are many talented players in the dressing room. It's my honour that I am leading them even at this age. If I keep playing like this and if the boys keep learning, it's great.

"I think it's also great for this league that so many big names have come here and played a part in making this T10 a big success. The youngsters who want to play for their countries in future are getting a great chance to learn from these legends," he added.

Afridi then said the T10 format has Olympic potential.

"I think T10 is a format that we should definitely try to take it to the Olympics. Through this format, we can tell people in non-cricket playing countries what cricket is really about," he said.

https://www.khaleejtimes.com/sport/cricket/i-dont-play-to-silence-my-critics-afridi
 
Can't disagree with him. Even T20 can be lengthy for an olympic sport game me thinks.
 
light said:
Can't disagree with him. Even T20 can be lengthy for an olympic sport game me thinks.
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Exactly your correct Olympic sports are at max 90 mins long so t10 would be the way to go if it's the case it should be the only format they use for internationals in t10 their shouldn't be t10 World Cup or even series just for olympics
 
nextover666666 said:
Exactly your correct Olympic sports are at max 90 mins long so t10 would be the way to go if it's the case it should be the only format they use for internationals in t10 their shouldn't be t10 World Cup or even series just for olympics
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Agree! I don't think there needs to be another version of WC. However play it in olympics/domestic
 
Good suggestion by Afridi - T10 would be a good stepping stone for cricket to receive a more global appeal.
 
Only way you can have cricket in Olympics
 
its really sad to see that cricket is getting destroyed by the cricketers themselves who have played the game for over 2 decades and they know the value of it.

Money wins I guess all the time
 
Why cricket needs to be an Olympic game? It’s played seriously by 10-12 nations & in half of those, it’s a dying game.

Before Cricket, few other team games should make it to Olympics - baseball, giridoron (yanki eggball), softball, lacrosse, Rugby (not 7s, proper game) ....

Cricket is best at it’s ancient form & that doesn’t suit Olympics - T10 doesn’t represent cricket.
 
Will be demeaning to the game. Will become more like exhibition sports.
T20s/T10s are best left to domestic leagues for entertainment.
 
Shahid Afridi carrying the Olympic flag for Pakistan - now wouldnt that be an iconic image?
 
Guess no matter what we think and even if we don't support. T10 is gonna happen just like T20 did.
 
ARK Rafay said:
Guess no matter what we think and even if we don't support. T10 is gonna happen just like T20 did.
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No way. Top international cricketers should hang their heads in shame if they get involved with this rubbish. In all of eight overs I have watched of this tournament, I haven’t seen ONE proper cricketing shot :))
 
Usman Chadda said:
No way. Top international cricketers should hang their heads in shame if they get involved with this rubbish. In all of eight overs I have watched of this tournament, I haven’t seen ONE proper cricketing shot :))
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That is what we think. And I totally agree that this shouldn't happen. But as you see people are getting more interested in shorter formats and are moving away from test cricket. The crowd doesn't want to watch 5 Day Test match. Which means it doesn't generate the revenue that T20 does and now T10 is.

In fact, I think T20 is enough to provide that entertainment. But wouldn't be surprised if T10 is introduced as a solution (A.K.A more money) instead of promoting and looking into test cricket itself.
 
Who'll even watch it? Even if it's the olympics!

Why on earth will the ICC let this format get an International badge. Being a T20 lover, I still think it's absolutely joke of a thing.

Cricket is a game followed by over billions of masses, if the Olympics need it, should be T20!
 
super hitter said:
Who'll even watch it? Even if it's the olympics!

Why on earth will the ICC let this format get an International badge. Being a T20 lover, I still think it's absolutely joke of a thing.

Cricket is a game followed by over billions of masses, if the Olympics need it, should be T20!
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Agree that t20 should be the way to go but it's still long for an Olympic event

T10 would be the best option from an Olympic point of view if they can accompdate t20 than that would be the best
 
MMHS said:
Why cricket needs to be an Olympic game? It’s played seriously by 10-12 nations & in half of those, it’s a dying game.

Before Cricket, few other team games should make it to Olympics - baseball, giridoron (yanki eggball), softball, lacrosse, Rugby (not 7s, proper game) ....

Cricket is best at it’s ancient form & that doesn’t suit Olympics - T10 doesn’t represent cricket.
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Cricket is hardly ancient as a sport, it's at most 400-500 years old. Compare that with most of the track and field sports which have their roots back to Ancient Greece. THOSE are ancient.
 
Whilst there is money in this then players will play in this format and plug it.

It's easy money for players, bowl a couple of overs, slog from ball one and get paid well to do it.
 
I never got the obsession of adding major sports into Olympics. If an Olympic gold isn't the most celebrated thing in your sport then it shouldn't be part of Olympics. They make Tennis stars, soccer stars etc compete in Olympics but the Olympics really doesn't define their greatness. Its always been the grand slams in Tennis and the world cup / champions league etc on football. Cricket will be no different.


Besides, Olympics in its present form is unsustainable. They host it and spend billions of dollars on world class infrastructure never to be used to the same capacity ever again. A total waste of money. Ghost Olympic venues will scare you. Really.
 
zn426 said:
Cricket is hardly ancient as a sport, it's at most 400-500 years old. Compare that with most of the track and field sports which have their roots back to Ancient Greece. THOSE are ancient.
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There is a difference between medal sports & team game. Among modern team games, Cricket started it's international format in 1876 and since then the core of the game has remained same. Compared to that, soccer, basketball, field hockey, even rugby is quite young game.
 
Olympics medals are about excellence. Sportsmen work their guts out for Olympic glory. It is an event where we see great and memorable performances and Mr.Afridi wants a mickey mouse format to be a part of Olympics. Why don't Soccer bosses have Futsal in this prestigious event?
 
freelance_cricketer said:
I never got the obsession of adding major sports into Olympics. If an Olympic gold isn't the most celebrated thing in your sport then it shouldn't be part of Olympics. They make Tennis stars, soccer stars etc compete in Olympics but the Olympics really doesn't define their greatness. Its always been the grand slams in Tennis and the world cup / champions league etc on football. Cricket will be no different.


Besides, Olympics in its present form is unsustainable. They host it and spend billions of dollars on world class infrastructure never to be used to the same capacity ever again. A total waste of money. Ghost Olympic venues will scare you. Really.
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Agree.
Cricket already has the 3rd biggest sports event in the World, the World Cup; the sport doesn't need Olympics sort of a platform, it's mainly for the other, much simpler, sports games I'd say.
 
T10 is an absolute joke of a creation. Just blind slogging. Not what cricket is about.
 
T10 is for retirees and rejects who can’t even crack it at domestic level.

It is a pensioners league, should be called pensioners super league, or PS-... never mind :afridi
 
Even 10-10 is too long for olympics. Otherwise why only 16 teams in olympics instead of 32 in football wc.

Running time should be 10 minutes max like boxing match. 1 over each. Then 64 nations can participate and anybody can win.
 
QCA set to launch T10 League; gets ICC clearance

The Qatar Cricket Association (QCA) is getting ready to stage the country’s first T10 League before the end of the year, it was announced yesterday.

Former Pakistani captain and big-hitting Shahid Afridi will be the brand ambassador for the tournament - sanctioned by International Cricket Council (ICC) - QCA President, Yousef Jeham Al Kuwari said at a press conference.

The League will see six teams battling it out for honours at the Asia Town Stadium, located in Industrial Area.

Al Kuwari said QCA has started preparing to stage the ambitious T10 league.

“We’re delighted to announce that the QCA is going to host the professional T10 league at the Asia Town Stadium in Industrial Area this year. The ICC has given its recognition to the league. I have had a meeting with Pakistan’s cricket star Shahid Afridi who has happily agreed to become the brand ambassador,” Al Kuwari said.

“The initial plan is to have four to six teams in the first year. We’ll try to get eight foreign players. They may not be necessarily active, but they have to be known and experienced players. Also there will be three local players ones and when they will play with and against these stars, we hope this will help us in general pushing cricket here to next level,” Al Kuwari said.

When asked about the dates of the tournament, he said: “We’re talking to different boards so that we can have a suitable window for our league towards the end of the year. From time to time, we’ll keep people informed about the progress.”

The QCA President also said that they are eager to make the new League a big success.

“We have to attract major sponsors and TV channels like beIN and Alkass as well. We know that if we succeed, it will be watched by millions of fans around the world,” Al Kuwari said.

Al Kuwari also said that cricket has huge following in Qatar.

“There is a lot of talent available at different levels – senior, under-19 and under-16. I feel the T10 league would offer the sport a new fillip. I didn’t know that the expatriates from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal have such a huge passion for it,” he said.

“It was amazing to see them come out and play early morning even when they have just one off day. Whether they are labourers or doctors, all gather wherever they find space and start playing. I really appreciate their passion and now I know why the parents from these subcontinent nations allow their kids to play cricket. They grow up watching the sport so that has made the game so big there,” Al Kuwari said.

“Right now, we can’t compare our standard with theirs but our senior team has been playing well. They had an unfortunate loss against Singapore in the ICC T20 World Cup Asia Regional Final but they were able to beat Nepal, which was a remarkable effort. Nepal is ranked much higher than us but we were still able to beat them. Two matches are still left and we’ve a good chance to qualify,” Al Kuwari said.

The QCA President said QCA knows hard remains in front of his team before staging the tournament.

“It was even quite tough to get the ICC clearance for our T10 plan but Qatar has a big reputation of hosting successful international sporting events. So that made it easy for us to get the ICC nod,” he said.

“But that was just one of the challenges that we face for our T10 league. There is a lot of work to do, especially in the first year. We’re just working hard to ensure its success. If we can host the league in a big way in the first year, lot of things will be easy for next editions. So it is very significant for us to leave a good impression,” Al Kuwari said.

T20 cricket is getting huge popularity across the world and a number of leagues are played every year.

https://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/28/07/2019/QCA-set-to-launch-T10-League-gets-ICC-clearance

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I want to express deepest gratitude to The Qatar Olympic Committee President <a href="https://twitter.com/JoaanBinHamad?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JoaanBinHamad</a> & Mr Yousef Al Kuwari for announcing QPL T10 Cricket League.With your support&as a Brand Ambassador,we can make this a mega event which will not only promote cricket but also tourism in&#55356;&#56822;&#55356;&#56806; <a href="https://t.co/HvVe2M5yjz">pic.twitter.com/HvVe2M5yjz</a></p>— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial/status/1155327846115618816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Morgan, Afridi, Malinga set for Abu Dhabi T10 League

The T10 League caravan, in its third year, has moved from Sharjah to the Capital. All the matches of Abu Dhabi T10 will be played at the Zayed Cricket Stadium from November 15 to 24.

And the cricketing extravaganza, for the first-time ever, is supported by Abu Dhabi government entities - Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Abu Dhabi Cricket.

At a well-attended press conference, officials named first batch of star-studded players line-up led by England's World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan, Pakistan's Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi, Australia's Shane Watson, Sri Lankans Angelo Mathews and Lasith Malinga and West Indians Kieron Pollard, Darren Sammy, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine and Dwayne Bravo.

There are some 200 players confirmed so far and more will be confirmed by mid-September when the draft of teams will be ready, T10 League chairman Shaji Ul Mulk said.

He noted approvals have been sought from cricket boards of Pakistan and Bangladesh to release players and he was hopeful of a positive response.

"Players from India and other boards will also be part of this League," he said.

As of now, there are eight teams in fray: Kerala Knights, Bengal Tigers, Northern Warriors, Pakhtoon, Deccan Gladiators, Punjabi Legends, Maratha Arabians and Rajputs. The names of players, teams and telecast rights etc will be confirmed by next month.

Abu Dhabi Cricket CEO Matt Boucher highlighted the important aspect of government partnership.

"This is a five-year deal. We are here to stay and deliver one of the best sporting events in the world," he said.

Saeed Al Saeed, Director of Destination Marketing at the DCT - Abu Dhabi, said the capital is trying to expand its offering.

"The excitement of this format and the opportunity to grow the cricket fan base as a sport made us enter into such a partnership. The specific format of play made sense for us to bring this League here," he said.

Meanwhile, Mubashshir Usmani from Emirates Cricket Board said the T10 League will help prepare the UAE players for bigger stages.

"We are an associate nation. Such tournament gives exposure to our players. This can also prepare them for bigger matches, like we are hosting ICC T20 World Cup qualifier in October. Hopefully when we qualify for the World Cup in Australia next year such tournaments like T10 League will help in that preparation. So this is a good initiative to give opportunity to youngsters in the UAE," he said.

Players are keen on the T10 format and comparing it to his England team's recent success on the World Cup.

"I heard from a lot of parents that this year's ICC Cricket World Cup was the first one they could enjoy with their sons or daughters. Kids are discovering the joy of cricket all over again. Well, the T10 is brilliant for bringing kids and first-time fans into the stadium, where you've got all the stars, all the action and all the glamour you could hope for. It's just brilliant for the future of cricket all around," he said.

Former West Indies captain Sammy, echoed similar views. "Abu Dhabi is a fantastic choice to host the T10. There's a mixed audience with plenty of support for cricket. Everything is top-class, so I've no doubt the Abu Dhabi T10 will be a smashing success," he said.

The 10-over format will be 45-minute per side, which makes it 90 minutes of action-packed evening.

https://www.khaleejtimes.com/morgan-afridi-malinga-set-for-abu-dhabi-t10-league
 
QALANDARS IN QUEST FOR GLORY AS LATEST TEAM TO JOIN ABU DHABI T10

Pakistan Superstar Shahid Afridi to sign on as Qalandar’s Icon Player

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 22 September 2019: Team Qalandars is returning to the UAE capital this November, as the latest franchise to join the Abu Dhabi T10. The addition of the popular team, representing Pakistan’s strong cricketing tradition, underscores the diversity of the Abu Dhabi T10, and will resonate amongst over one million residents of Pakistan living in the UAE.

The Abu Dhabi T10, commencing on 14 November with a star-studded opening ceremony performance by a headline Bollywood entertainer, will see 29 fast-paced matches take place over 10 days ahead of the grand finale on 24 November 2019.

Announcing the arrival of the new team, His Excellency Aref Al Awani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council said: “The announcement of the Qalandars’ participation is a prestigious boost for Abu Dhabi T10’s global profile and demonstrates the desire of international teams to come to Abu Dhabi as a destination for world class tournaments.

Just like batting in cricket, we must recognize the importance of key partnerships and certainly our vision to bring the very best of cricket to Abu Dhabi would not have been possible without the cooperation of the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, T10 Sports Managements, and the franchises,” concluded H.E. Al Awani.

T10, in which only 120 balls are played in a fast-paced 90-minute game, was first introduced to the UAE in 2017. With players including England World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan, Shane Watson, Rashid Khan, Andre Russell, Lasith Malinga and Darren Sammy, the game has proven popular with audiences locally and internationally.

Fawad Rana, the Qalandars Chairman, commented: “I am delighted for the Qalandars to join the Abu Dhabi T10 as we look forward to helping build a new legacy for cricket in the UAE capital. The game is built on big stars and fast action, so Qalandars are very excited for the opportunity to bring iconic players like Shahid Afridi to play for the fans here in Abu Dhabi and around the world.”

Concluding, Rana commented: “My thanks to the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, to DCT Abu Dhabi, and to Abu Dhabi Cricket, for their support and promotion of the Abu Dhabi T10. I also express my admiration and thanks to the founder of the T10, Shaji Ul Mulk, whose vision has been instrumental in creating this great sporting event.”

CEO of Abu Dhabi Cricket, Matthew Boucher, commented on the announcement: “Through securing a renowned franchise such as the Qalandars, Abu Dhabi Sports Council has yet again demonstrated its mandate to host world-class international cricketing and sporting events. We have worked hard this year to prepare Zayed Cricket Stadium to be the new home of T10 cricket for the next five years,
“I would encourage all cricket fans in the UAE to book their tickets for Zayed Cricket Stadium well in advance of our November kick-off,” Boucher concluded.
 
I know it has nothing to do with the threa but qalandars should change their shirt color to black and red

Going back to the thread I still
Thing for Olympic event t10 would be the way to go or t20 but would still be long considering for an Olympic event
 
Abdullah719 said:
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Quotes from Afridi's presser:

Pakistan performance in the World Cup was not as good what we expected

This new setup at the PCB will bring some change and we would like this system to run for next 2-3 years, as we seem to change the system frequently

The new management will bring some hope

Misbah-ul-Haq has taken a huge responsibility and we are hoping that he will deliver on that commitment

Babar Azam is the only young player who is consistent and Shadab will become a good all-rounder one day.

Hasan Ali needs to be consistent with his performances and I feel he is the key guy

We have heard that they are working on Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad and I think that Misbah has a huge responsibility to bring in youngsters into the side
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Shahid Afridi "Babar Azam is the only player who is very consistent and Shadab Khan will be a very good all-rounder one day"<br>(Courtesy Qalandars)<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZuNOUKs3DI">pic.twitter.com/ZuNOUKs3DI</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1176232202176274432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
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After getting roped in for the upcoming Abu Dhabi T10 by newbies Qalandars, Pakistan great Shahid Afridi looks raring to go for another memorable limited-overs tournament. Entertainer, crowd puller and one of the most fearsome batsmen to step in the gentlemen's game for the Green Army, Afridi is a name that no needs introduction. Even years after his retirement from the international circuit, Afridi remains a relevant figure for being the flag bearer of cricket in unofficial tournaments.

Though 'Boom Boom' (Afridi) last headlined an international game in 2018, the explosive right-handed batsman still stands as a household name when it comes to global T20 leagues. And when UAE came calling with the Abu Dhabi T10 league, Afridi was humble to join the Qalandars in their quest for the ultimate showpiece. The UAE-based league is set to commence from next month with the tournament opener scheduled to take place at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Speaking about the event, the former Pakistan captain revealed that he is eager to participate in the contest and wouldn't have agreed to play if he was unfit for the format. “I wouldn’t have been here if I cannot play in this format. I am fit and enjoying playing. I will give my best, sometimes I am successful, sometimes I am not,” he said.

Giving his take on the 2019 World Cup where Pakistan failed to seal their berth in the semis, Afridi said;" Pakistan’s performance in the World Cup was not what we expected but under the new coach we expect some changes”.

Since Afridi's former teammate Mishab-ul-Haq is at the helm with dual responsibilities as the head coach and chief selector, it will be no brainer if Afridi opts for a coaching stint with the national side in the near future. When the legendary all-rounder was asked about whether he can pursue a coaching career, the 44-year-old said that he is only keen on playing cricket at the time.

“I don’t have the temperament to coach the national team. Moreover, I am fit as ever so my focus is on playing cricket right now and try and give my best for the team,” he said. However, Afridi said he can start by giving training to promising young talents of the country. “I would be interested in coaching young boys under 18 and 19. It is that age they need coaching," he said.

The T10 event has received the approval from the ICC and will be endorsed by the Abu Dhabi government with their five-year partnership. Going by the name of the cricket tournament, the Abu Dhabi T10 will have 10-over-a-side games that will be completed inside 90 minutes. Similar to the recently concluded ICC World Cup 2019, the elite tournament possesses a round-robin format before the league reaches the knockout phase.

https://www.timesnownews.com/sports...idi-on-coaching-pakistan-national-team/496479
 
Mumbai, Oct 14 (IANS) Former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi is all set to make his debut at the Abu Dhabi T10 league and will lead the Qalandars outfit this season. The 44-year-old has hailed the ten-over league, and has said that the format has the potential to take cricket to the Olympic Games.

"I think fans love T10 because it is fast-paced and the matches are over in 90 minutes. Cricket should always evolve and look at ways to maintain the excitement among the youngsters, and I think the Abu Dhabi T10 provides us a great opportunity to keep testing the format, and potentially take cricket to the Olympic Games," said the all-rounder who represented Pakistan in 398 ODIs and 99 T20Is.

Talking about the prospect of representing the popular Qalandars brand, Afridi said he is excited to play for a franchise which is a huge supporter of cricket back in Pakistan. "I am really looking forward to playing for the Qalandars in the upcoming Abu Dhabi T10. The franchise has also been a part of the PSL, and has been supporting cricket through multiple programmes in the region. Their developmental programme received national recognition earlier this year, and I am delighted to be playing T10 for a new team. I''m really looking forward to seeing them pick a solid side and achieve our ambitions of winning the tournament," Afridi said.

The third season of the league will take place in the capital city of the United Arab Emirates between November 14 and 24. With the upcoming season set for live telecast on Sony Pictures Network and over OTT platforms such as JIO and Sony Liv, Afridi reiterated that the Abu Dhabi T10 has become a huge hit among fans of the sport.

The Pakistani cricketer added that his counterparts are also very excited about the Abu Dhabi T10. "My fellow cricketers are very happy with the T10 format and so are the fans. T20 cricket was not accepted widely early on, but now we have a T20 World Cup being played. So I believe that with time, there will be more participation from established international players in the Abu Dhabi T10," Afridi signed off.

https://www.outlookindia.com/newssc...-represent-cricket-at-olympics-afridi/1640057
 
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has lamented the lack of power-hitters in the current set-up. Pakistan were beaten 0-3 by Sri Lanka in the recently-concluded T20I series at home. The team could manage to hit just couple of sixes in the series and Afridi has pointed fingers towards lack of explosive players in the side.

“Pakistan missed the element of power-hitting in the series against Sri Lanka,” Afridi was quoted as saying in a video by Business Recorded. “We managed to hit only two sixes and we are not seeing the expected talent when it comes to hitting.”

“Power hitters have always played a very important role in Pakistan cricket, for example Abdul Razzaq was a fine hitter.”

“Meanwhile, players such as Gayle, Pollard, Dhoni are renowned power hitters. Why we are not getting such players is a concern and it should be addressed,” he added.

Pakistan, who are the top-ranked T20I side in the world, were beaten by a second-string Sri Lanka and after the whitewash, head coach Misbah-ul-Haq said the humiliating loss has opened his eyes to the fact that there is something seriously wrong with the country’s cricket system.

Misbah, who has faced criticism since becoming the first man in Pakistan cricket to hold two top posts of head coach as well as chief selector, also rued the lack of talent at domestic level.

“This series has been an eye-opener for us and everyone else. These same players have been around for a while now. More or less the same team which made us number one and has been playing together for around three to four years now,” Misbah said after Pakistan lost the third and final T20I in Lahore.

“The result of series is also an eye-opener for our system as well. If we can lose to a side without its main players how did we think we were number one,” he added.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cric...in-pakistan/story-3HSaTkQopR80NtDPxuOfDM.html
 
TeamAbuDhabi announced as newest Abudhabi team in T10 League.
 
In his first stint with the innovative Abu Dhabi T10 League tournament, former ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat is up against a stiff challenge amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lorgat, who was appointed the league's director of strategy and development in October, remarked that the experience with the 10-overs format is new to him, while citing the tournament’s potential for global development as a factor behind his decision to take up the role.

“When I visited the tournament last year, I was quite impressed at not just the game and the way players have adapted, but also the attractiveness for the fans,” he said in an interaction with Sportstar.

The fourth edition of the league, which is set to begin on January 28, witnessed attendance of over 1,20,000 fans last season. However, Lorgat remains unsure of spectators' presence this time owing to COVID-19 concerns.

"We are governed by the regulations of the UAE and Abu Dhabi government on whether the spectators will be allowed. The roll-out of the vaccines is well under-way (in UAE). Let’s hope that the pandemic is under control by the end of January. If we get any number of fans for this event, we would be grateful," the South African said.

The tournament which was rescheduled from November to January has its task cut out with heavy logistical challenges for the season.

“The challenge currently is around ensuring a safe and secure bio-bubble environment. You must be very careful with the player flights and the kind of quarantine period that they would need. Logistically, it is a far greater challenge (due to the pandemic) and it adds to the cost of staging the event,” Lorgat said.

Having led the ICC and Cricket South Africa for years, Lorgat has no doubts about T10 cricket finding space on the global front. He said: “It is a format which lends to young cricketers embracing and playing. I would attempt to introduce this format to other countries and it would be great if, in a year or two, it is staged in other parts of the world.”

He was quick to back England limited-overs captain, Eoin Morgan’s statement to see the T10 format at the Olympics. “If it is approved as a proper format (by the ICC), it would be exceptional to be played at an event like the Olympics or the Commonwealth,” Lorgat said.

“It is 90 minutes. The attraction is you need one venue and you can play three matches in a day, if not more. It is hugely attractive and the teams and players love it because there is so much focus on the game, rather than to different venues which can be taxing,” he added.

The league which features some of the biggest names like Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard and Shahid Afridi, has also unearthed young homegrown talent from the UAE.

“The league has helped to develop young players like it has been elsewhere in the world. Like in the IPL, look at the quality of young players that have come out from India. There are young talents that are picked up by the franchises here this time as well. Playing with the best talents in the world helps to improve their game,” he said.

Lorgat also added that the league hopes to take the scouting structure to other countries. He said: “We are planning to take it elsewhere in the world as well. To grow the format and to grow the attraction of not just the Abu Dhabi T10 league but similar leagues around the world as well.”

https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cric...-local-talent-eoin-morgan/article33461164.ece
 
West Indies' swashbuckling opener Chris Gayle wants cricket's latest and shortest format -- T10 -- to be included in the Olympic Games roster.

Gayle, who will be representing Team Abu Dhabi in the upcoming season of Abu Dhabi T10 League, sees T10 as a format which can propel cricket entry into the world's biggest sporting extravaganza.

Speaking from his home in Jamaica, Gayle said he is looking forward to taking part in the tournament.

"At the moment, I'm actually getting some well-needed rest but keeping the Abu Dhabi T10 League in mind, I'm going to start some training soon and get ready to be back in business," he said.

Expressing his delight at returning to take part in the league after a gap of two seasons, Gayle stated, "There are lots of talented players who will be on show, with the likes of Kieron Pollard and the other international players.

"So I'm definitely looking forward to be back with Team Abu Dhabi. South Africa's Chris Morris is also in my team, and I've played with him before, so it's good to be back playing with him and the boys again."

Talking about T10's future prospects, Gayle added, "I would absolutely love to see T10 within the Olympics. It would be something huge for the sport from a general point of view.

"I also think T10 can be (held) within the United States also since it's a big platform. I think most people don't recognise the States (US) for cricket, but T10 is very much suitable to be held within USA, and I believe it can help generate bigger revenues as well."

https://www.outlookindia.com/websit...an-be-included-in-olympics-chris-gayle/369871
 
Over the last few years, there have been debates on whether cricket could make it to the Olympics with the T10 or T20 formats.

While stars like Chris Gayle have batted for the inclusion of the T10 in the Games, former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara believes that a lot of work needs to be done to include cricket in the Games.

“There is a lot of work to be done to get cricket into the Olympics. All the boards will have to vie, the ICC will have to have a good, solid push. It has to be a format that fits the sweet spot of timing and time limit and really entertains and engages an Olympic viewer,” Sangakkara, who is the mentor of the Abu Dhabi franchise in the T10 League, said on Monday.

“You are not just talking about the traditional cricket spectator, but also opening up completely new fan markets, so conversations are happening. It’s been many years since the push for cricket in the Olympics has started - it was in the Commonwealth Games for a couple of editions. This could be another format that could be pushed to see if it’s the T10 or T20 fits into the Olympics,” Sangakkara, who is also the head of the MCC, said.

Asked whether cricket can make it to the 2028 Olympics, Sangakkara said: “We will have to wait and see. I can’t really give you a time on when it will happen…”
 
'T10 is a perfect advert to bring new audiences to cricket,' says Shoaib Malik ahead of the second season of Abu Dhabi T10

~ Shoaib Malik speaks about playing alongside Mohammad Hafeez in the second season of Abu Dhabi T10 ~

Abu Dhabi, 17 January 2021: Former Pakistan captain and World T20 winner Shoaib Malik is set to feature in the second season of the Abu Dhabi T10 tournament as the captain and Icon Player for the defending champions Maratha Arabians. The Abu Dhabi T10, powered by sky247net, will be played at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi from 28th January - 6th February 2021. Malik expressed that the T10 format is a perfect advert to attract new fans to the game, "It’s always nice to be part of something positive in the game. T10 is a perfect advert to bring new audiences to cricket as it's short, exciting and a great way to show the best of cricket, especially the new skills that players are continually bringing."

Malik, who has scored over 11,000 runs in international cricket, said that he is looking forward to playing with his long-time Pakistan teammate Mohammad Hafeez in the upcoming Abu Dhabi T10, "It will be nice to be a teammate with my long-time international colleague Mohammad Hafeez. Plus, there are always new stars to identify as T10 offers fantastic opportunities and exposure to so many players. Hopefully, those new stars will come from Maratha Arabians."

The 39-year-old further added that his team will look to enjoy their cricket in the Abu Dhabi T10, "We have a mixture of experience and raw talent so hopefully we can all come together and contribute to the team cause and see if we can enjoy our cricket and win a few matches. You never know in T10. It’s an unpredictable format, which is why it’s exciting."

The co-owner of the Maratha Arabians team – Anurag Maheshwari expressed that the team is committed to defending their title in the upcoming season, "This year we the Mobiflix Sports owned Maratha Arabians are as defending champions. Our team is committed to defend the Abu Dhabi T10 title and make history by becoming the first side to win the tournament back-to-back."

Maheshwari believes that the Arabians have a great team for the second season of Abu Dhabi T10, "We have a great team and I am sure everyone will give their best to win the trophy this season also. The captain Shoaib Malik is a legend all-rounder and no one fits the bill as perfectly as Shoaib Malik does."

The defending champions Maratha Arabians are set to open the second season of Abu Dhabi T10 with a mouth-watering clash against the Northern Warriors at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on 28 January 2021.
 
Seems Ramiz also a fan of T10

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja wants T10 cricket to be explored in the country.

The former captain has already vowed to hold the Women's and U19 Pakistan Super League (PSL) in future but he wants cricket's shortest format to also take place in Pakistan.

Ramiz is keen to take PCB forward in three ways: Organisational excellence, cricket excellence and commercial excellence.

"Viewing organisational excellence, we brought new Chief Executive, a chartered accountant and his track record is superb," Ramiz said in a video released by the PCB.

"Second is cricket excellence and we are pushing very hard hence you can see performances of the national team. Third is commercial excellence which is based on our properties, junior PSL, women's PSL, i want T10 to be explored in Pakistan too," he added.

https://cricketpakistan.com.pk/en/n...xplore-t10-cricket-in-pakistan-too-ramiz-raja
 
MenInG said:
Seems Ramiz also a fan of T10

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja wants T10 cricket to be explored in the country.

The former captain has already vowed to hold the Women's and U19 Pakistan Super League (PSL) in future but he wants cricket's shortest format to also take place in Pakistan.

Ramiz is keen to take PCB forward in three ways: Organisational excellence, cricket excellence and commercial excellence.

"Viewing organisational excellence, we brought new Chief Executive, a chartered accountant and his track record is superb," Ramiz said in a video released by the PCB.

"Second is cricket excellence and we are pushing very hard hence you can see performances of the national team. Third is commercial excellence which is based on our properties, junior PSL, women's PSL, i want T10 to be explored in Pakistan too," he added.

https://cricketpakistan.com.pk/en/n...xplore-t10-cricket-in-pakistan-too-ramiz-raja
Click to expand...

Why not go a step further and just introduce Super Over cricket format with 1-over innings for both teams — Take that format to the Olympics also.
 
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