Robin Uthappa to mentor team at 10PL

India batsman Robin Uthappa will be seen in a new avatar at the upcoming Tayyarah.com 10 PL, Powered by Nafiya Tours & Travel.

Uthappa will be the brand ambassador and mentor for the team to be fielded by Tayyarah.com’s side in the tournament to be staged from 19-23 March at the historic Sharjah Cricket Stadium. In all 16 teams will be participating in what is the world’s biggest tennis ball cricket tournament.

Uthappa will be present in Sharjah on 21 March to cheer and support his team during the team’s two matches to be held on the day. Uthappa has played 46 ODIs and 13 T20Is for India since making his international debut in 2006.

“It will be interesting to see cricket in a new form. I am fortunate that I can bring in some of experience to cheer my squad, albeit from the sidelines. All of us have played tennis ball cricket at sometime in our lives in India. So it would be great to relive that experience,’’ said Uthappa.

In the first edition in addition to regular tennis ball cricketers, former Pakistan wicket-keeper batsman Zulqarnain Haider also participated in the tournament.

This year apart Pakistan paceman Mohammed Asif, Sri Lanka’s Thilan Thushara and Chamara Silva are also likely to play in the tournament. From India a number of players who have played Ranji Trophy are listed in squads, alongside former Rajasthan Royals paceman Kamran Khan.

Earlier last week at a gala dinner in front of a packed audience, former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram, also the brand ambassador for the tournament, unveiled the jersey, anthem and the trophy of the tournament. As the face of the tournament, Mr Akram will make an appearance on the final day of the tournament at Sharjah.

The launch event was held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Dubai Festival City. The event on also saw the tournament draws being revealed, with the 16 participating sides being divided into four groups of four each. The launch was attended by the teams along with several other stakeholders including sponsors and other commercial partners.

The tournament is the brainchild of UAE-based Petromann Events to manage, operate and market the Indian team. Petromann Events, brainchild of Mr Abdul Latif Khan, also known as Arif Khan in the sporting arena. The tournament boasts the highest prize money for tennis ball cricket anywhere in the world and is valued at a total of 250,000 Dirhams.

In January 2018, the organisers had also announced the new schedule for the event. The tournament will be staged under the aegis of the Sharjah Cricket Council, thanks to the able leadership of Waleed Bukhatir.