Four players joined UAE T20 League teams that were not owned by the proprietors of their IPL teams.
Four players joined UAE T20 League: Teams in the UAE T20 League, also called the International League T20, have announced the foreign players they will pick for the first season. The owners of four teams in this league also own a team in the Indian Premier League. On the other hand, all of the teams in the CSA T20 League are owned by people who own teams in the IPL. It is clear that the companies behind the IPL teams want to build a brand by having teams in different T20 Leagues. Most of the time, these owners have hired cricket players who also play for them in the Indian Premier League. But there are a few players who don’t fit into this group. These players have signed contracts with teams in the UAE league that are not owned by the owners of their IPL teams. In turn, the owners of the IPL teams have signed different cricket players. It remains to be seen if these players will stay on with their current IPL teams for the next season. So, let’s look at four IPL players who joined UAE T20 League teams that were not owned by the same people who owned their IPL teams.
1) Sam Billings
Team Joined – Desert Vipers
Team Jumped – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
Sam Billings is one of the players in the UAE T20 League who joined a team that wasn’t owned by the same people who owned their IPL team. The same group of people owns both the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Abu Dhabi franchise in UAE. Sam Billings plays for KKR in the IPL, but he has joined Lancer Capital’s Desert Vipers in the UAE T20 League.
The Englishman’s choice could be because he wants to be captain. Most likely, he will be given the job in the Vipers. With people like Andre Russell on the Abu Dhabi team, though, Billings might not get a chance to lead the team.
2) Fabian Allen
Team Joined – Dubai Capitals
Team Jumped – MI Emirates
In IPL 2022, the West Indian all-rounder played for Mumbai Indians. But he didn’t have many opportunities to make an impression. So now, he is playing for a team in the UAE T20 League that is owned by the same people who own the Delhi Capitals in the IPL.
It wouldn’t be strange if MI let Fabian go before IPL 2023. R Sanjay Yadav, a similar player who is in good shape, is on their team. Also, letting Fabian go will open up a spot overseas that can be filled by someone else.
3) Mohammad Nabi
Team Joined – Sharjah Warriors
Team Jumped – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
Mohammad Nabi is also one of the players in the UAE T20 League who joined a team that wasn’t owned by the same people who owned their IPL team. The Afghan cricketer plays in the Indian Premier League for the Kolkata Knight Riders. But he did not get a chance in the last season.
The Sharjah Warriors are a UAE team that is owned by Capri Global Capital. In the IPL, they also own the Gujarat Titans. So, it is strange that Nabi signed up with the IPL owners of a team that competes directly with his. Nabi could have joined the Warriors because he was looking for a better chance or because KKR decided to let him go.
4) Dominic Drakes
Team Joined – Gulf Giants
Team Jumped – Sharjah Warriors
In 2022, Dominic Drakes was on the Gujarat Titans team that won the IPL. But the West Indian did not join the team that Gujarat Titans’ owners own.
Drakes has agreed to work with Gulf Giants, which is owned by the Adani Group. It’s also possible that GT will put Drakes out before the following season. However, as a left-handed seamer, Yash Dayal is doing well, so the West Indian might be too much.