T10 League announces new steps to fight corruption in partnership with ICC

Season 2 of 10-overs competition, to be held in Sharjah in November-December, issues regulation and sets up governing council to include ECB

SHARJAH , UNITED ARAB EMIRATES , DEC 17  – 2017 :- Shahid Afridi of Pakhtoons team hitting a six during the 2nd semi-final against Punjabi Legends in the T10 Cricket League held at Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah.  (Pawan Singh / The National) Story by Paul Radley
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The T10 League on Tuesday announced additional measures to keep this year's cricket tournament free of corruption.

Organisers of the first ever 10-overs competition, the inaugural season of which was held in Sharjah last year, also hoped to persuade the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to let its players compete in the tournament, which will again be held in the emirate from November 23-December 2.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) and its anti-corruption unit, which examine each league on financial and corruption-related issues, had in August given the green light for the expanded 2018 edition.

And aside from continuing to outsource anti-corruption, anti-doping and umpiring responsibilities to the ICC, the organisers announced a series of steps to counter corruption, including a regulation barring players from after-match parties to eliminate any potential contact with questionable elements.

Former Sri Lanka opening batsman Roshan Mahanama has been appointed head of the technical committee to ensure compliance to all ICC codes and regulations.

"We are fully mindful of the various ICC compliances, and make serious and continuous endeavours to total and complete implementation," Saadullah Khan, a partner of the league, said on Tuesday.

The league, which is close to appointing a former top official of an Indian Premier League franchise as the competition's chief executive, also announced the formation of a governing council that will include representatives from the Emirates Cricket Board.

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There is still hope among the organisers the PCB will allow its top players to take part in the tournament.

Last week, new PCB chairman Ehsan Mani had said he wants to enforce the policy of permitting their contracted players to play in just one Twenty20 league, other than the Pakistan Super League. This, he had said, is important so the board can manage the workload of its leading players, meaning they are less likely to appear in the T10 League and UAE T20x.

Mani added the PCB has a duty to protect its players’ welfare, as well as its own reputation.

Saadullah, however, said: "We hope we will have approval of PCB for participation of Pakistani players, as they are an integral part of T10 cricket growth."

The league has already placed former cricketers Mohammed Azharuddin of India and Pakistan's Wasim Akram in charge of their global talent hunt programme. Other former players – Shahid Afridi (Pakistan), Brendon McCullum (New Zealand) and Virender Sehwag (India) – have been named the league's "icons".

This year, two teams – The Karachians and Northern Warriors – have been added to the list of six teams: reigning champions Kerala Kings, Punjab Legends, Maratha Arabians, Bengal Tigers, Rajputs and Pakhtoons.

The teams will be drawn into two groups.