Singapore Cricketers Join Star-Studded Pro10 League in Malaysia

Singapore national team players Surendran Chandramohan and Manpreet Singh are set to rub shoulders with some of the world’s top cricketers in the inaugural edition of Pro10 Malaysia, a high-octane T10 tournament co-founded by Indian cricket legend Ravi Shastri.

The tournament kicks off on Jan 30 at the Bayuemas Oval in Selangor and runs until Feb 2.

The Pro10 format features 10-over-a-side matches completed in 90 minutes, blending entertainment with fast-paced cricket action.

With West Indies great Vivian Richards as its official ambassador, Pro10 aims to popularise cricket in emerging markets like Malaysia, Thailand, Poland and Bulgaria by giving local talent a chance to perform on an international stage.

Surendran, a hard-hitting opening batter who has played for Singapore since 2016, will represent the Thunder Strikers alongside England internationals Sam Billings, Jason Roy and Dawid Malan.

“A scout from Delhi, who had worked with the Singapore national team as an analyserin 2018, spotted my batting videos and asked me to apply for the draft,” said Surendran, 36, who has been living in Singapore since 2010 and works for MSD Pharma. “I’m excited to play at this level because of the quality of players from around the world.”

Wicketkeeper-batsman Manpreet has been picked by the Iron Titans, a side boasting the likes of Alex Hales, Ravi Bopara, and Unmukt Chand.

The tournament features four franchises – Iron Titans, Thunder Strikers, Royal Falcons and Shadow Blazers – with rosters that include Chris Lynn, Angelo Mathews, George Munsey, Andre Russell and Joe Burns.

Former Singapore captain Chetan Suryawanshi, who once featured in an Indian Premier League squad, encouraged both players to take the opportunity. “It’s a great platform for them to understand where they stand and learn from world-class professionals. A similar chance helped me grow in 2009,” said Chetan.

Pro10 is part of a broader global initiative led by Shastri and sports entrepreneur Neeraj Sareen. While the Malaysia leg features top names, the larger Pro10 League will soon expand to Thailand, Bulgaria and Poland, with the Terd Thai Cricket Ground in Thailand set to host the next round.

“The T10 format is perfect for today’s generation – fast, exciting, and easy to follow,” said Shastri. Richards added: “Cricket grows strongest when it reaches new people. Pro10 is the future.”

santosh@sph.com.sg