Ex India player Robin Uthappa became the first player from India to sign up for the new International League T20 (ILT20), the T20 franchise league in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Robin Uthappa retire from all forms of Indian cricket in September want to pursue opportunities in the shortest format across the world.
As BCCI doesn’t allow its contract state and national men’s players to play in the T20 leagues around the world, as players can only do so after retiring.
Players like Virender Sehwag (T10 League), Yuvraj Singh (Global T20 in Canada) and Suresh Raina (T10 League) follow the same and Robin Uthappa has follow the same path as well.
Robin Uthappa said that he want to do something like this as if in the future he wants to be a coach, having experience of playing with and against players from around the world will add value to that.
Robin Uthappa Said :
“It is something I wanted to do [play in overseas T20 leagues]. Now that I have retire it gives me the opportunity. I consider myself a student of the game. So I will only be enriching my own knowledge and experience and information about the game when I go and play in different conditions in the world. Tomorrow if I want to be a coach, I should have some kind of stand when I am having a conversation with the lads. I believe all these experiences will add value to that,”.
Robin Uthappa mention that not just in the UAE, he wants to play in England, Australia and the Caribbean too if the opportunities present themselves.
As it wasn’t easy for Robin Uthappa to get into the ILT20 as well.
It could only happen, following a rule change by the league organisers.
About the Rule Change
Recruitment rules state that every franchise would have 18 players in the squad, 12 international, two associate and four local UAE players.
The squad size was increase to 25 and then each of the six sides could make further recruitments ahead of the inaugural edition of the UAE’s ILT20.
Before, when Dubai Capitals got Robin Uthappa on board.
Robin Uthappa wasn’t the only Indian signing by the GMR Group-own franchise.
Robin Uthappa will be join by Yusuf Pathan, with whom he play at the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL.
Dubai Capitals Squad
- Rovman Powell (West Indies),
- Robin Uthappa (India),
- Yusuf Pathan (India),
- Hazratullah Zazai (Afghanistan),
- Daniel Lawrence (England),
- George Munsey (Scotland),
- Bhanuka Rajapaksa (Sri Lanka),
- Niroshan Dickwella (Sri Lanka),
- Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe),
- Dasun Shanaka (Sri Lanka),
- Fabian Allen (West Indies),
- Isuru Udana (Sri Lanka),
- Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan),
- Dushmantha Chameera (Sri Lanka),
- Fred Klaassen (Netherlands),
- Blessing Muzarabani (Zimbabwe).
