Emirates Cricket Board approves new 90-ball tournament; UAE to host inaugural edition next year

Ninety-Bash will be played in UAE next year.

Emirates Cricket Board has approved the idea of 90-ball franchise-based tournament and the inaugural edition of the Ninety-Bash will take place in UAE next year, Cricbuzz reported on Saturday (June 26).

According to the report, Ninety-Bash is the brainchild of Abdul Rehman Bukhatir, who played a key role in making Sharjah the hub of international cricket in the 80s and 90s, his son Khalaf Bukhatir, Karachi Kings owner Salman Iqbal and Imran Chaudhry, the MD of the Dubai-based Cinergie group of companies.

"The 90/90 is such a fresh take that is sure to make an indelible mark on the minds of fans and followers everywhere. After several other adjustments already in the market, this is probably the most attractive deviation of the modern game, especially with the notion that T10 is too short for real cricketing strategy to be showcased," Salman Iqbal told Cricbuzz.

The Ninety-Bash was officially launched in Abu Dhabi on Friday (June 25) in the presence of ECB chairman Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, who gave permission for the tournament. Khalid Al Zarooni, the vice-chairman of the ECB, Aref Al Awani, general secretary of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the Bukhatirs and Iqbal also graced the launch with their presence.

"I have been a part of cricket's journey here in the UAE from the very beginning, and it is my endeavour to continue to give cricket a home here in the Emirates, while finding ways in which to grow the game and keep it healthy. This new exciting format could be instrumental in creating a brand-new fan base for the sport, not just in the UAE, but across the globe," Bukhatir said.

Iqbal added, "Cricket is an incredibly popular sports globally and especially in this region. It is continuously evolving and this seemed like such a natural progression of evolving the game into a more compact sport without sacrificing on cricket's own aesthetic and planning. That is the main reason I created the concept -- it was a no-brainer for me to back fully with our sports management acumen and media muscle fully, in partnership with Imran Chaudhry and Mr Bukhatir."

A statement from the organisers said that the league will be an annual affair with Sharjah as host.

(Inputs from Cricbuzz)