The Pro10 Malaysia T10 league, backed by former India coach Ravi Shastri and scheduled to start on 30 January, was put on ice only hours before the first ball. Organisers blamed “logistical issues”, yet multiple accounts point to unpaid bills and flights that never materialised.
Several well-known names – Andre Russell, Alex Hales, Jason Roy, Chris Woakes, Wayne Parnell and Chris Lynn among them – had been advertised. In reality, most stayed at home once seats on planes failed to appear. Those who did travel faced a different headache. Staff at the Four Points by Sheraton in Kuala Lumpur told players and support personnel their rooms would be billed to personal credit cards “due to non-fulfilment of the agreed payment terms by the organiser”.
One player, still waiting in the lobby when the postponement email landed, summed up the scene: “[It was] absolutely carnage, and obvious nothing was organised on time… They’ve been pretty vocal about no one taking the field till people are paid.”
The league, founded by entrepreneur Neeraj Sareen, had ICC approval and the blessing of the Malaysian Cricket Association (MCA). That ratification, on paper at least, should have offered protection. Instead it has raised fresh questions about how pop-up franchise events are vetted, especially after a similar venture in the Cayman Islands folded mid-season last year.
In a brief statement organisers insisted: “The Pro10 Malaysia cricket tournament has been postponed to a later date, post the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup in India, due to logistical issues. New dates will be announced in due time.” They added: “All the stakeholders, including cricketers, match officials and the Malaysian Cricket Association, are aligned with the postponement and have extended full support to the tournament.”
The MCA remains outwardly optimistic. “The event promises our top players a great opportunity to play against global players and set their sights at other leagues,” it said. “We are hopeful it will go ahead as planned once fresh dates are finalised by Pro10 Group who are tournament owners.”
Behind the scenes, though, agents and lawyers are tallying costs. Players arrived expecting appearance fees, match payments and simple practicalities such as transport to training. Instead they found an unpaid hotel bill and no formal schedule. For many, that experience will colour any decision to return if and when new dates emerge.
ICC officials declined to comment publicly, yet the episode is bound to be noted in Dubai. The governing body has encouraged new-market T10 and T20 start-ups, mindful of growth in Asia, but it will not welcome another headline about cheques that bounced before the first over.
