MAJOR SIGNING

Yusuf Pathan to play for Cantons in Hong Kong T20 Blitz

by Cricbuzz Staff • Published on

"[Yusuf's signing] will go a long way to help the development of the sport in the region" - Tim Cutler © Cricbuzz

Yusuf Pathan, the 34-year-old allrounder, has been granted permission by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to feature in the Hong Kong T20 Blitz that will be played from March 8 to 12. Pathan, the first Indian player to feature in the tournament, will turn up for Kowloon Cantons in the second edition of the Hong Kong Twenty20 league.

Pathan is one of several international players who have signed up to participate in the T20 tournament. He is the third big signing for Kowloon Cantons, who already have the likes of Pakistan's Shahid Afridi and England's Tymal Mills, apart from Scotland's Calum MacLeod in their squad.

By signing Pathan, Cantons became the first franchise outside India to sign a male Indian cricketer. (Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana, who participated in the Women's Big Bash League, were the first two Indian cricketers to be picked up by a foreign Twenty20 league).

Pleased with their latest addition to the squad, Urvashi Sethi, CEO of the team, said: "We are delighted that a player from India is joining our team. We believe that it is our love for the game and commitment to its development in Hong Kong that has enabled us to get one of the best players of this format of the game, Yusuf Pathan. An international player and in particular an Indian one attracts world attention, which is good for our local cricketers. They now have the opportunity to showcase their talent to a larger audience."

Pathan, who has represented Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League, has scored 2761 runs over the nine editions of the league, and is among the top-15 run-getters. An integral member of the Kolkata franchise, Pathan holds the record for the fastest fifty in the IPL. He scored a 15-ball half-century against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2014 edition. In 2010, he also scored a 37-ball century against Mumbai Indians, the then fastest hundred in the IPL.

Tim Cutler, CEO of Cricket Hong Hong, thanked BCCI for clearing Pathan's participation in the tournament and said his presence will be a big boost for the game in the country. "This is amazing news and we are very appreciative of the BCCI in granting this NOC [Non Objection Certificate]. This will go a long way to help the development of the sport in the region and with even more stars still to be announced this is shaping up to be a superb tournament that will be enjoyed by millions across the world.

"The tireless work of the Cantons should also be acknowledged. Without the tenacity of [Cantons CEO] Urvashi Sethi-Sodhi this simply would not have happened and it is great to see the Cantons again lifting the event to greater heights with their hard work," Cutler added.

The four-team tournament also includes Galaxy Gladiators Lantau, City Kaitak and Hong Kong Island United. The first four days will see playoff matches between each of the teams, following which the top two will progress to the final on March 12.

A host of overseas stars have already signed up to participate in the league. Some of the big names include Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan, West Indies' Darren Sammy, New Zealand's James Franklin and South Africa's Johan Botha. Former Australia captain, Michael Clarke, had represented Cantons as a marquee player last year.

© Cricbuzz

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