KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)

The Abu Dhabi T10 is set for a new chapter under the aegis of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, with the player draft for the 2026 season bringing a host of international stars into the competition ahead of its ninth edition.

Naseem Shah, Noor Ahmad, Mohammad Amir, Alzarri Joseph, Dasun Shanaka, Shadab Khan, Kusal Perera and Chris Jordan were among the headline selections at the draft, which also saw a number of leading UAE players distributed across the squads.

The 2026 tournament will be held from November 7 to 20 at Zayed Cricket Stadium, as the Abu Dhabi T10 seeks to strengthen its position on the international cricket calendar.

Matt Boucher, who is overseeing the cricketing operation, said the tournament's development under the new structure was focused on establishing long-term foundations.

"The next chapter of the Abu Dhabi T10 is about building something with real long-term value. We want this to be recognised as a tournament that brings together some of the world’s best players and as a major international sports property with strong franchises, high standards and a clear identity rooted in Abu Dhabi.

"The changes people are seeing this season are the foundations of that vision. Over time, we want to strengthen the quality and competitiveness of the cricket, build franchises that fans can genuinely connect with, create opportunities for emerging talent alongside established international stars, and deliver an experience that keeps supporters engaged well beyond the matches themselves."

Boucher also outlined wider ambitions for the tournament and its role in Abu Dhabi's sporting landscape. "Abu Dhabi T10 can play an important role in strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position as a global destination for cricket and major international sport, attracting players, fans, partners and audiences from around the world," he said.

"For us, the measure of success will not be one season. It will be whether, five or ten years from now, Abu Dhabi T10 has grown in stature, credibility and global reach and established itself as an enduring part of the international cricket calendar."

The draft also highlighted the growing involvement of UAE players, with Alishan Sharafu, Aayan Afzal Khan, Mohammad Waseem, Haider Razzaq, Mohammad Rohid, Ansh Tandon, Luqman Faisal, Awais Ali Shah, Dhruv Parashar, Harshit Kaushik, Wali Muhammad, Adithya Shetty, Haider Ali and Vriitya Arvind among those selected.

Defending champions UAE Bulls retained a core of experience and power as they were added as a founding member franchise in the new setup. Once known as Delhi Bulls, team owner Neelesh Bhatnagar welcomed the transition to the competition’s ownership.

"I am very happy that the league now has been taken over by Abu Dhabi Sports Council and has bigger plans for its expansion and future development," he said.

"As regards my team selection I am very confident that our team management has selected the best team and being current Champions, this squad has the ability to retain the title in 2026 also."

Yas Lions owner Jeetu Kataria said the new structure would provide an opportunity to develop the franchise both on and off the field. The team’s mascot is former India wicketkeeper Robin Uthappa, a Dubai resident now, as the team director.

"The Abu Dhabi T10 gives us an outstanding platform to build a franchise with a real identity, one grounded in process, governance and respect for players and partners," he said.

"Having Robin lead our cricketing operation gives us a rare combination of championship experience and modern high-performance thinking. Our ambition is clear: build a contender, build a brand, and help take cricket to new audiences around the world."

The 2025 Abu Dhabi T10 recorded $512 million in media value and 687 million global social media impressions, according to the independent GSIQ report.

Key draft selections

Arabian Aces: Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Sam Billings, Imran Tahir, Alzarri Joseph, Richard Gleeson, Dwayne Pretorius, Dunith Wellalage, Alishan Sharafu, Vriitya Arvind.


Emirates Eagles: Alex Hales, KS Bharat, Hassan Nawaz, Kusal Perera, David Wiese, Chris Green, Noor Ahmad, Rehan Ahmed, Ali Raza, Haider Razzaq, Luqman Faisal, Harshit Kaushik.

Royal Desert Champions: Naseem Shah, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Chris Jordan, Mohammad Waseem, Brandon King, Jayanth Liyanage, Gulbadin Naib, Keemo Paul, Aayan Afzal Khan, Dhruv Parashar.

UAE Bulls: Andre Fletcher, Aneurin Donald, Khwaja Nafay, Max Bryan, Azam Khan, Shadab Khan, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Amir, Nuwan Thushara, Bradley Currie, Mohammad Rohid, Wali Muhammad.

 

United Tigers: Azmatullah Omarzai, Odean Smith, Mahedi Hasan, Abbas Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Awais Ali Shah, Adithya Shetty, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf.

Yas Lions: James Vince, Dasun Shanaka, Tom Moores, Akeal Hosein, Eshan Malinga, Obed McCoy, Haider Ali, Ansh Tandon, Aryan Dutt.