Expanding regional influence and fostering cricket talent: Collaboration between ILT20 and Kuwait Cricket announced
Wow, the DP World International League T20 (ILT20) has shook things up! This fresher-than-ever partnership picks Kuwait as its first partner outside the UAE, despite the country only having a solitary grass cricket field. The goal? To cultivate cricketing talent within the Kuwaiti community!
The news signifies a massive leap for Kuwait Cricket, with their national team climbing up the T20I world rankings to secure the 23rd spot - a notable accomplishment, especially among Gulf countries. They now stand third in the ranks, only following the UAE and Oman, and beating out former ODI nations like Hong Kong and Kenya.
Khalid Al Zarooni, ILT20's Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Emirates Cricket Board, views Kuwait as a significant player in the cricketing world, describing them as "a great country" brimming with passion for cricket development. He emphasized the league's ambition of nurturing cricket across the Gulf region.
The strategic partnership with Kuwait Cricket Board means more than just promoting cricket in Kuwait. It includes organizing matches within Kuwait to unearth hidden talents, hosting an annual domestic tournament similar to ILT20's UAE Development Tournament, and, eventually, hosting ILT20 matches in Kuwait itself.
Head coach Qasim Ali, a former ICC Academy coach in Dubai, sees this alliance as a monumental boost for Kuwaiti cricket. "It's a golden opportunity for cricket in the GCC," he declared. "It brings our players into a professional franchise environment, enhancing their skills and exposure."
Sajid Ashraf, Kuwait Cricket's Secretary General, hopes the partnership fuels investment from local businesses. "This partnership heralds our players' dreams of pursuing professional cricket careers on the international stage," expressed Ashraf.
While the dream of hosting ILT20 matches in Kuwait remains a longer-term goal, stakeholders remain optimistic. "We're not there yet, but I'd love to see it happen sooner rather than later," shared Qasim. "Building infrastructure, cultivating local talent, and ultimately seeing our players in the auction would mark a significant achievement."
Sports have become more exciting in Kuwait as the DP World International League T20 (ILT20) partnership with them has been announced. This move will not only help in promoting football – which is also growing in popularity – but will also bring the exciting world of cricket closer to the Kuwaiti community, nurturing new talent and possibly even hosting ILT20 matches in Kuwait itself in the future.
