Former Major League Players Bartolo Colon, Robinson Canó, Pablo Sandoval Drafted in Inaugural Dubai-Based Baseball United League

Inaugural draft of Middle East and South Asia's first pro baseball league showcases notable former MLB players, with games slated to begin in November 2023 and plans for future expansion.

Bartolo Colon, Robinson Cano, and Pablo Sandoval, notable former major league players, have been drafted to the new Baseball United League, based in Dubai, marking the first professional baseball league in the Middle East and South Asia.
Mumbai's first pick in the draft was right-hander Karan Patel, known for being the first player of Indian descent taken in MLB's amateur draft by the Chicago White Sox in 2017.
The initial four teams part of the league - the Dubai Wolves, Karachi Monarchs, Mumbai Cobras, and Abu Dhabi Falcons - will begin playing in fall 2023, with plans to unveil four more teams by next year.
Notable investors in the league include Hall of Famers Mariano Rivera and Barry Larkin. CEO Kash Shaikh says the league promises unique rules to broaden its appeal to cricket audiences.
An All-Star showcase featuring the league's teams is planned to take place next month at Dubai International Stadium, kicking off the inaugural season of Baseball United.