Organisers hail inaugural Arabian Cricket League and winners Fly Emirates

The success of the inaugural TNT Arabian Cricket League (TNT ACL) is set to lead to an expansion of the tournament for future editions, organisers have announced. This season’s event saw 16 corporate and club teams battle for honours in Twenty20 action under the floodlights of the ICC Global Cricket Academy (ICC GCA), with 51 matches over 51 days. Fly Emirates eventually prevailed, beating the Yogi Group by three wickets in a thrilling final last month. On Sunday they received the trophy, as well as sponsors’ awards and a cheque for $4,000 (Dh14,700). But such was the enthusiasm of players and teams for the TNT ACL that plans are already being put together to produce an even bigger event next season. ICC GCA Operations Manager Salman Hanif said: “When we started planning the TNT Arabian Cricket League, our idea was to give cricketers something they had never experienced before. “We achieved that aim by providing each team with a minimum of six matches and the chance to play under lights at our world’s-best facility. Now, with the high level of interest in what we have done, we are looking to expand the competition for future editions. “This is likely to involve more teams, two parallel events featuring amateur and emerging teams in one and Division A and Division B sides in another. “We are also looking to introduce quarter-finals, something we were not able to feature this season because of the need to have the facility ready for the Pakistan and England cricket teams. The expansion and division of the next ACL will allow players to get even more competitive cricket in a wonderful environment. It reflects the popularity of this inaugural edition and our desire to make this fantastic facility at the ICC Global Cricket Academy as accessible as possible to as many people as possible. “We would like to thank TNT for its superb support of the TNT ACL. That support has played a vital role in ensuring the tournament’s success. And congratulations to all the teams and especially Fly Emirates, the winners of the tournament.” Mark Pell, Country General Manager for TNT Express UAE, said: “It has been wonderful to see the success of the inaugural TNT Arabian Cricket League and we have been delighted to play a part in helping to ensure that success.” Maqbul Dudhia, Dubai Sports City (DSC) General Manager – Sports Business said: “The event has fitted ideally with Dubai Sports City’s vision of being a hub of sporting activity in the Emirate and we look forward to it going from strength to strength.” Runner-up the Yogi Group received $2,000 (Dh7,300). The two losing semi-finalists, Transworld and Phoenix Medicine, received year-long subscriptions to Sport360°, your essential daily sports paper, and media partner of DSC.