Premier League giants Manchester United have denied claims that co-owner Avram Glazer is planning to use the football club’s name to start a cricket franchise in the upcoming league in the UAE. Glazer met with Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, on Thursday. A tweet by Sheikh Mansoor fueled the rumors of Glazers planning to start a cricket franchise named Manchester United.
“I met Avram Glazer, Co-Chairman of Manchester United today, to discuss ways to work together to advance Dubai’s profile as a global sports hub,” he tweeted alongside a photo of the two.
“We also discussed the launch of the UAE T20 Cricket League in January 2023 featuring the Manchester United cricket team and other teams,” he added.
I met with Manchester United co-chairman Avram Glazer today to discuss ways to work together to advance Dubai’s profile as a global sports hub. We also discussed the launch of the UAE T20 Cricket League in January 2023 featuring the Manchester United cricket team and other teams pic.twitter.com/GNtmanePz9— Mansoor bin Mohammed (@sheikhmansoor) March 17, 2022
However, according to a report in SkySports, Manchester United said that the idea was proposed but is not under consideration by the club.
Glazer bought one of six teams that will be part of the UAE’s T20 league starting in 2023, which had unsuccessfully bid for a franchise in the Indian Premier League.
Manchester United legend Gary Neville reprimanded Glazer for meeting with Sheikh Mansour regarding cricket, days after the club’s exit from the Champions League.
“He must have stopped on his way to Manchester for the fan meetings he promised after the ESL (European Super League)! United are out of the Champions League and he goes to Dubai to discuss cricket,” He tweeted.
He must have stopped on his way to Manchester for the fans meetings he was promised after ESL!! United pulled out of the Champions League and went to Dubai to discuss cricket https://t.co/JCgsG5iuXV
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) 18 March 2022
Last year, Glazer had said that he was happy to be a part of the T20 tournament, which is expected to start from January next year.
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