The T10 League is planning to expand to five different locations after receiving approval from two ICC full members

The organisers of the Abu Dhabi T10 League, which has been running for the past six years, are making plans to expand their operations to five other sites across the world.

Since joining T10 League Sports Management in January of this year as the Chief Operating Officer, IPL veteran Rajeev Khanna, who has vast experience working with both the Rajasthan Royals and the Punjab Kings, is in charge of supervising the expansion plans for the league.

It has already been revealed that the inaugural season of the T10 League will take place in the island nation of Sri Lanka during the month of June. This will take place in partnership with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

One is scheduled to take place in Zimbabwe in the month of March, and two more are scheduled to take place in Europe and North America in the not too distant future.

“The first ever sanction from ICC full member SLC is by far the most significant endorsement that we have received. They have given their blessing to the league, and they will be participating in it. Khanna disclosed this information to the PTI on Saturday. “We are also in talks with Zimbabwe and closing on that (contract).”

When full members of the ICC endorse a league, it demonstrates that the league has some substance to it. In the not too distant future, I have little doubt that other boards, including the BCCI, will give it some thought.

According to what he said, “We are planning one in Europe as well, possibly Scotland or the Netherlands, and the fifth one in North America.”

Despite the fact that the International Cricket Council has not yet acknowledged T10 as a legitimate format, the organisation has given its blessing to the competition. However, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has sent its anti-corruption section to Abu Dhabi in order to monitor the event.

There is a clear interest in the league being shown by some of the best players in the globe. The Abu Dhabi T10 League is currently being played in this location, and it features notable players such as Kieron Pollard, Moeen Ali, David Miller, Nicholas Pooran, Tim David, and Shakib Al Hasan.

“There were 1600 international players who had enrolled for the draught, but we could only pick 250 of them. In reference to the interest for the Abu Dhabi leg, Khanna remarked, “It indicates there is a lot of interest, and that makes us feel more confidence about the league’s future.”

“We are not here to compete with the Twenty20 format,” the spokesperson said. The T10 tournament can serve as a talent feeder series for the T20 tournament. The players enjoy the format since it is short, and it only lasts for two weeks (whereas the T20 leagues last for a considerably longer period of time). Khanna noted that despite the increased interest in the league, it still faces a number of problems.

“The most difficult task will be to sell this product and ensure that it can be profitable in the long run.”

Due to the fact that this is a new format and not everyone is familiar with it, including the participants, there will also be operational issues.

Given that both the international calendar and the schedules of cricket franchises are busier than they have ever been, it will be difficult to find a window in which to play the five planned legs of T10.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has grown into a product worth one billion dollars, and the BCCI is adamant on keeping its position of exclusivity in the league market. Taking all of these into consideration, is it possible to hold T10 in India?

“I have only recently joined the team, and I will be talking to the BCCI to determine whether or not there is an opportunity and whether or not it would be accepted. Who among us would not like for the league to be held in India? Additionally, we are engaging in conversation with state associations,” Khanna added.

Khanna has high hopes that India’s female players would participate in the first-ever women’s competition to be held in Sri Lanka in June. India’s female players are permitted to compete in leagues outside of India.