Chronicle Editor
THE Chevrons’ duo of Sikandar Raza and fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani have announced that they will be flying out to play in the inaugural UAE International League T20 tournament which is scheduled to be held in January 2023.
The Zimbabwean stars are among the 14 overseas players that were signed by the Dubai-based franchise, Dubai Capitals.
The team is owned by the owners of Indian premier league side, Delhi Capitals.
The signings come after Zimbabwe successfully completed a white ball series win over Bangladesh where Sikandar Raza starred with both bat and ball, scoring back-to-back centuries.
Blessing Muzarabani, who missed the ODI series due to injury, is however, no stranger to international leagues having played in the Pakistan Super League for Multan Sultans.
The Chevrons duo will be joined by other international stars who include Rovman Powell, Hazratullah Zazai, Fabian Allen, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Niroshan Dickwella and Dasun Shanaka.
Raza, in a twitter post, said he’s looking forward to playing in the UAE league.
“Really looking forward to joining the team and meeting my teammates, can’t wait to have Blessing Muzarabani with me at the International League T20,” posted Raza.
Muzarabani also welcomed the idea of playing in an international franchise league alongside his countryman.
In a twitter post, the Chevrons seamer said: “Can’t wait to join Dubai Capitals for the International League T20 alongside Sikandar Raza and so many great other players.”
The managing director of GMR Group, which owns the franchise team, Shri Kiran Kumar Grandhi said they formed the league in order to expand into the global popularity charts of T20 cricket.
“Being a part of T20 cricket’s most extravagant setup, the Indian Premier League, for 15 years now, we felt that it was the right time to expand our wings onto the global popularity charts of this format of the sport,” he said.
The league will be made up of six teams and the other five are: Abhu Dhabi Knight Riders, Desert Vipers, Gulf Giants which will be coached by former Chevrons star Andy Flower, Mumbai Indians Emirates and Sharjah Warriors.
Online Reporter