Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) Approves New Cricket Format- The Ninety-90 Bash; To Be Played In UAE

A new format of cricket has been approved by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) and they are calling it the Ninety-90 Bash. This is a franchise-based 90-ball tournament to be played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The first edition of the Ninety-Bash will be held next year.

Abdul Rehman Bukhatir, chairman of the Bukhatir Group and the man behind making desert kingdom popular for cricket by bringing international cricket to Sharjah, is the mastermind behind this venture along with his son Khalaf Bukhatir, Salman Iqbal, the owner of the Karachi Kings franchise in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), and Imran Chaudhry, the MD of the Dubai-based Cinergie group of companies.

The 90/90 Is Such A Fresh Take And The Most Attractive Deviation Of The Modern Game: Salman Iqbal

It has been reported that various global business houses have shown interest in being part of the Ninety-90 Bash format as the organizers said and claimed that it will be a heady mix of ‘iconic cricketing stars and emerging players’.

“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 a real cricketing strategy to be showcased,” Iqbal, who also owns the ARY Digital Network, told Cricbuzz on Saturday (June 26).

The Ninety-90 Bash was formally launched in Abu Dhabi on Friday with Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the Abu Dhabi Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and chairman of the ECB, providing the approval for the tournament.

“I have been a part of cricket’s journey here in the UAE from the very beginning, and it is my endeavor 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.

A statement from the organizers said it will be an annual affair with Sharjah-based Century Events, Sports FZC, and the ECB conducting the league at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

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