Yusuf Pathan to feature in Hong Kong T20 league

Hong Kong, Feb 12: India discard Yusuf Pathan was on Saturday unveiled by Hong Kong s Kowloon Cantons franchise, making him the first Indian male cricketer to feature in an overseas Twenty20 league.Yusuf is the third big signing for Kowloon Cantons after Pakistan s Shahid Afridi and England s Tymal Mills for the second edition of the Hong Kong Twenty20 league, slated to be held from March 8 to 12, according to an espncricinfo report.Tim Cutler, chief executive of Cricket Hong Hong, thanked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for clearing Yusuf 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 No-Objection Certificate (NOC)," he said. "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."Other marquee signings for the league include Sri Lanka s Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan, West Indies Darren Sammy, New Zealand s James Franklin and the former South Africa off-spinner Johan Botha.The four-team event also includes Galaxy Gladiators Lantau, City Kaitak and Hong Kong Island United. The first four days will see play-off matches between each of the teams, following which the top two will progress to the final on March 12.