Marcus Stoinis has made his first appearance in the United Arab Emirates to win an important game in a ‘busy year’ after becoming a centrally contracted Australian player to take part in a new tournament crossing over with the Big Bash. I would like to use the ILT20 league.
The all-rounder made only a brief appearance in the back end of the UAE tournament and has vowed to play a big bash against the Melbourne Stars, who are currently bottom of the table and unlikely to reach the final again.
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Stoinis, a member of the Australian team that won the T20 World Cup in 2021, joins Chris Lynn, the only Australian currently signed for the tournament starting January 13.
“Before a busy year full of cricket, it is a great opportunity for me personally to record important playing time in a tournament like this in the UAE,” he said.
“These are very exciting times for the international cricket franchise and I am delighted to be part of a team like Sharjah Warriors in the inaugural edition of the history-making competition of the league.
“I can’t wait to team up with some of the best all-rounders in the world in the Sharjah Warriors squad.”
The new league, funded by Indian Premier League franchise owners, can sign up to nine international players for a four-and-a-half-week season with salaries worth up to $650,000.
Big names in the UK have already signed up, including Dawid Malan and Chris Woakes.
Australia will not play a T20 international match until August, but will have three ODIs in India in March in key preparations for the World Cup in India in November.
Stoinis, who has scored just 94 runs in six innings of big bash this season, will remain with the Lucknow Supergiants for the 2023 season, heading to the Indian Premier League in March.