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Zaheer Khan and Irfan Pathan Hail EU T20 Belgium League for Global Cricket Growth

Former Indian cricketers Zaheer Khan and Irfan Pathan have lauded the EU T20 Belgium League as a significant boost for global cricket growth. Zaheer highlighted the league as a platform for players to make an impact at the highest level, noting the strong synergies and governance. Irfan Pathan emphasized the importance of exposure for smaller European teams, citing Italy's success in the T20 World Cup. The tournament, running from June 4-14 in Brussels, features stars like David Warner, Alex Hales, and Martin Guptill across multiple franchise teams.

Key Points: Zaheer, Irfan on EUT20 Belgium League Boost

  • Zaheer Khan and Irfan Pathan praise the EUT20 Belgium League
  • League runs June 4-14 in Brussels
  • Star players include David Warner, Alex Hales, Martin Guptill
  • Irfan Pathan cites Italy's T20 World Cup performance as growth example
2 min read

Zaheer Khan, Irfan Pathan laud EUT20 Belgium League as boost for global cricket growth

Zaheer Khan and Irfan Pathan praise the EU T20 Belgium League as a key platform for global cricket growth, featuring stars like David Warner.

"Cricket is growing in all directions. Globally, we've seen that cricket is growing at a good pace. EUT20 Belgium is also one platform where it's going to help players, help cricketers make the impact at the highest level. - Zaheer Khan"

Mumbai, April 29

Former Indian cricketer Zaheer Khan expressed optimism about the growing global reach of cricket, highlighting the EU T20 Belgium League as a significant platform for players to showcase their talent at the highest level.

The EUT20 Belgium League is part of the growing wave of T20 franchise cricket taking root across Europe. The league's inaugural edition will be played from June 4-14 in Brussels, featuring multiple franchise teams and a roster of international talent that reflects the global appeal of the shortest format of the game.

"Cricket is growing in all directions. Globally, we've seen that cricket is growing at a good pace. EUT20 Belgium is also one platform where it's going to help players, help cricketers make the impact at the highest level," Zaheer Khan told ANI.

"So that's the effort, the synergies are there. You see the match officials who are involved, see the kind of players which are going to be part of this league, see the kind of teams which are putting in work to make sure that the cricketing infrastructure, cricketing processes and protocol are put in place, the governance is good," he added.

Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan also praised the EU T20 Belgium Cricket League as a significant boost for European cricket, particularly for smaller teams that need exposure.

He noted the growth potential, citing Italy's strong performance in the 2026 T20 World Cup as an example of how associated nations can thrive with more opportunities.

"It's great news for European cricket. Because in European cricket, especially when we are going to Belgium, we have seen small teams, exciting teams, but they need a little exposure. They will get it here. We saw how well Italy did in the World Cup. And for world cricket, the growth of the associated nations is very important," Pathan told ANI.

The tournament brings together some of the most recognisable names in global T20 cricket, playing for franchise teams that represent Belgium's rich multicultural landscape.

Among the confirmed players across franchises for the tournament are David Warner, Alex Hales, Sam Billings, Saim Ayub, Maaz Sadaqat, Martin Guptill, Sakib Ul Hasan, Colin Munro, Wayne Parnell, Chris Lynn, Sandeep Lamichhane, Shoaib Malik, Deep Airee, and Rohit Paudel, among others, making this one of the most star-studded T20 leagues to debut in Europe.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
Finally some attention for European cricket! Belgium has a growing South Asian diaspora, and this league will give local talent exposure to world-class players. Irfan Pathan's point about Italy's World Cup performance is spot on — more opportunities = better cricket. 👏
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Sarah B
As a cricket fan from the UK, I'm thrilled to see more leagues popping up in Europe. The Netherlands and Scotland have already shown what associate nations can do. This Belgium league with players like Martin Guptill and Colin Munro will be a real spectacle. Hope it gets good viewership in India too! 🇧🇪🏏
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Rohit P
Honestly, while this is good for global cricket, I hope the ECB and BCCI don't get too many parallel leagues. Player burnout is real — we've seen it with injuries. But if managed well, this could be a great platform for associate nations to grow. Just needs proper scheduling. 🤔
J
Jessica F
Brilliant initiative! As someone from the Netherlands, I've seen how T20 leagues in Europe can transform cricket. The mix of international stars like David Warner and local talent will inspire a whole new generation of Belgian cricketers. Let's hope the weather cooperates in June! ☀️🇧🇪
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Nikhil C
Zaheer and Irfan are absolutely right. The growth of associate cricket is crucial for the sport's future. I remember watching Nepal and Uganda punch above their weight in recent tournaments — these leagues provide the exposure and professionalism needed. The Belgium league seems well-organized with proper governance. 🏆

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