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ESPNCricinfo: The T10 League is eyeing international expansion, with Shaji Ul Mulk, the league’s chairman, in discussions with ‘a few’ international boards over taking the tournament abroad in 2019.
The ICC-sanctioned event currently operates in conjunction and with the approval of the Emirates Cricket Board at its UAE home. Ul Mulk is adamant that the format will only exist in commercially viable markets, where it is held with both the blessing and collaboration of the respective national board.
“Boards are coming to us and it’s all about how we fit in commercially. We will probably have one more T10 in 2019; that’s our ambition,” Ul Mulk told ESPNcricinfo. We are talking to a few boards, but it depends on how it goes. One thing is very clear: we only want to work with boards.”
While he stopped short of mentioning the boards he is currently engaged in dialogue with, Ul Mulk spoke favourably of the USA, England and South Africa as potential markets. The USA, in particular, Ul Mulk felt, can benefit from the infiltration of the league, which can help in the growth of the sport in the country. According to the T10 head, Cricket Australia is not one of those involved in discussions, but is nevertheless another corner of the world where he sees opportunity.
“Australia would be very interesting for us, but we’ve not started talking to them yet. They’re not one of the three boards that I’ve mentioned. But that would surely be a great market and there a lot of great markets for us. “The US market is great, the UK market is excellent for cricket, and South Africa, too, for that matter. With T10 the way it is, with 90 minutes [of] cricket, [it] actually opens up new markets that cricket doesn’t have now.
“For us, the US is one of those big markets where we feel that we can reconnect cricket there. Cricket can have a strong place in the US, which it doesn’t have at the moment.”
There have also been rumblings of more franchises in the offing to diversify the league’s ownership group. Ul Mulk, however, denied it, saying that any new investment is - at least for the time being - not aiming to bring new teams into the league.
“It’s possible [to have new franchises], but for the immediate future, in 2019 and 2020, I’m not looking to increase the number of teams. The whole idea is that the existing franchises have to become more commercially successful.”
Ul Mulk hoped that the teams can do just that by increasing the shared revenue pot that each franchise contributes to and the league pays out of. He is, however, welcoming investment from prospective partnerships, and said that an ongoing evaluation in the league will be reviewed at the end of the season that includes potential commercial growth.
“Diversifying or liquidating your ownership – there is nothing wrong with that. Major international companies and media houses are talking to us, but we are taking our time and doing the evaluation,” he said. “Once we finish the evaluation, we could be looking at liquidating some shares, but as strategic partners.
“What I’m looking for is a strategic partner that adds value to the league rather than just money. As things stand, the T10 League isn’t like the IPL or PSL that are massive leagues, we are a small league. So money is not really required for running the league.”
