UAE planning to host an international T20 tournament

Dubai International Stadium in UAE

The United Arab Emirates is planning to host an international T20 tournament on the lines of the Indian Premier League and is already in talks with few of the top 10 cricketing nations, according to a member of the Emirates Cricket Board.

“We are in talks with some of the top Test cricket playing nations to hold a UAE T20 tournament. However, we still don’t have a timeframe as talks have been ongoing,” Shaji Ul Mulk told Emirates 24|7.

He elaborated that as per the regulations of the International Cricket Council (ICC), the UAE was not allowed to organize a T20 tournament, but a partnership with any top cricket playing nation give them the permission.

“Moreover, it is a complex thing. Television is the main thing and as there are [several] tournaments all over the world. It is not clear at the moment how much appetite television has for this kind of series in the UAE.”

UAE vs Pakistan series a possibility

Mulk, who is also the Chairman of Mulk Holdings, also hinted towards the possibility of a UAE vs Pakistan cricket series in the country.

“Matches between the UAE and Pakistan are absolutely possible now that we [the UAE] have international status.”

At the recently concluded ICC World Cup 2015 the UAE squad had one player from Mulk Holdings, which is building a cricketing facility in the emirate and spends Dh1.5 million annually to support cricket.

The UAE is no stranger to high profile T20 cricket tournaments as they hosted 16 matches of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2014.