The Pro10 in Malaysia has been postponed indefinitely following financial issues, joining an infamous list of T10 competitions to unravel into off-field scandal and chaos before a ball is bowled.
After days of speculation, the league provided an updated on its social media channels on Friday afternoon, hours after tournament was scheduled to begin.
“The Pro10 Malaysia cricket tournament has been postponed to a later date, post ICC T20 Cricket World Cup in India, due to logistical issues,” the statement began.
“New dates will be announced in due time.
“All the stakeholders, including cricketers, match officials and the Malaysia Cricket Association, are aligned with the postponement and have extended full support to the tournament.”
In its build-up, the tournament has faced serious allegations of mismanagement, financial disputes and complete organisational breakdown, with unpaid players forced to pay for their own travel.
According to one player at the tournament, reimbursement for his outlaid costs is not expected, despite promises from the organisation.
In several corroborated reports, players were also blindsided upon checking into accommodation and met with blank looks in Kuala Lumpur, with reservations not covered by the league.
Dodging calls, tournament owners had not responded until the statement today.
Initially a four-team tournament, the late withdrawal of several players who saw the writing on the wall shrunk the tournament to three teams.
The tournament, which was originally to take place in Thailand, also had future plans to hold subsequent events in Eastern Europe.
Malaysia Cricket Association, who are only playing a minor role in the competition as venue operator among other minor support, provided a statement on Friday on their side before official word from the league.
The tournament had attracted a number of notable players with Full Member international experience, from the likes of Andre Russell, Wayne Parnell, Sam Billings and Dawid Malan, to Associate standouts Mark Watt and Matthew Cross.
It’s understood Watt, Cross and a number of Scots at the tournament had already left Malaysia as they prepare for the eleventh-hour T20 World Cup campaign in the subcontinent, replacing Bangladesh at the tournament.
With top talent displaced, the unfolding situation again raises serious questions around the viability and legitimacy of T10 leagues, where accountability, financial safeguards, and player welfare are repeatedly lacking.
It’s not the only negative T10 story to break this week, with USA’s Aaron Jones facing corruption charges from the ICC following conduct at the Barbados Bim10 in December 2023 and January 2024.
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