UAE T20x is ‘a great concept’ for ‘local’ cricket, says new ambassador AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers has announced that he will play the role of ambassador for the upcoming UAE T20x tournament, adding that he is excited about the league’s potential to help develop cricket in the United Arab Emirates region.
The five-team UAE T20x tournament will run from 19 December to 11 January and will be organised by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB).
De Villiers will not be playing in the tournament as a player after announcing his retirement from international cricket but re-affirmed his commitment to play Twenty20 cricket in South Africa and India.
‘The main thing that attracted me the most to this tournament is what it will do for young, emerging players. It will give them a great opportunity to play alongside some of the world’s best players,’ De Villiers told The National.
‘Not long ago, I was a youngster when I started playing cricket. I made my IPL [Indian Premier League] debut 10 or 11 years ago. One of my fondest memories of the tournament was spending time with guys like Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne – some legends of the game – who I did not have a reach-out to, you know.’
In his role as an ambassador, De Villiers is looking forward to the opportunity ‘to be sharing my experience around some of the guys who want to become some of the best players in the world’.
He adds: ‘I think we can expect lots of international stars playing, but a big focus on young and upcoming players, which is what I really love about the tournament. I can’t wait to see how it goes in the first year.’
The league will consist of 24 matches that will be contested across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
Say hello to Mr. 360!
Cricket legend and #UAET20x global ambassador @ABdeVilliers17 has a message to cricket fans in the UAE and across the world.
Follow us to find out more about the UAE's first international T20 league. pic.twitter.com/8U2CGQouN6
— UAE T20X (@UAET20X) August 14, 2018
