Shah Rukh Khan’s Knight Riders Group acquires Abu Dhabi team in UAE T20 league

Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla and Jay Mehta’s Knight Riders Group has acquired the rights to own and operate the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the United Arab Emirate’s T20 League. 

Knight Riders Group, which owns the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise cricket team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), has recently acquired the Caribbean Premier League's (CPL) Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) and has invested in Major League Cricket (MLC) in the United States. 

Khan said in a statement, “For several years now, we have been expanding the Knight Riders brand globally and closely watching the potential for T20 cricket in the UAE. We are excited about becoming part of UAE’s T20 League, which no doubt will become hugely successful.” 

Khalid Al Zarooni, chairman, UAE T20 League, said, “The commitment to grow the T20 format and the expertise gathered by the Knight Riders Group, through their involvement in franchise cricket across the world, is undisputed. We are exceptionally pleased with their foresight to join forces with the UAE’s T20 League and firmly believe it will elevate the reputation, and professionalism of the league throughout the cricket community.” 

Venky Mysore, CEO of KKR and Red Chillies Entertainment, said, “We feel fortunate to have been consistently recognized as a global brand in T20 cricket. As T20 cricket expands around the world, we are flattered by the regular invitations to play a major role in growing the sport across the world. We have had a keen interest in the developments in the UAE and our expansion is consistent with our long-term strategy.”