Today's Edition
Kuumar Shyam (Aletihad)
The player draft for the seventh season of Abu Dhabi T10 was held at a city hotel late on Monday evening. There were many big international stars, even if some are retired, who will make headlines in many countries.
The likes of Reece Topley, England’s hero against Bangladesh at the ICC World Cup yesterday, Colin Munro of New Zealand, Robin Uthappa (India), Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka), Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Naveen-ul-Haq (Afghanistan), Imran Tahir (South Africa), David Wiese (Namibia), and Keemo Paul (West Indies) featured on the draft even as many more were retained or pre-signed in the build-up.
As the squads shaped up, the picks by the local franchise in the eight-team tournament reflected a microcosm of what the event holds for the domestic cricket scene and its important in the global context.
Team Abu Dhabi picked up their home boy Ethan D’Souza, picked and recommended by his own coach, as well as Asif Khan, who has been having a record year on the run-scoring charts for the UAE. Ethan just turned 17 while Asif is almost twice his age at 33. Both are performing well and grabbing opportunities as they come. Ethan also boarded the flight yesterday morning to Malaysia as part of the UAE squad which will compete in the Asian qualifier for the next Under 19 World Cup.
For Ethan, it has been the next step of evolution, having represented the team as a substitute in the match for the third place in the same tournament last season.
Matthew Boucher, who heads the Abu Dhabi Cricket and Sports Hub with the headquarters at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, is all optimistic about the youngster.
“There are various categories for each player to fit in the squad as per various parameters of the tournament,” Boucher said.
“Last year, there were only specific places up for grabs. This year, he has made it on merit for his place in the team as a reserved place for a UAE player, so it is a natural progression for him, and we couldn’t be more happy for him.”
Left arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka picked by Team Abu Dhabi for the upcoming season of the Abu Dhabi T10 !#abudhabi #T10 #cricket #srilankacricket #dilshanmadushanka pic.twitter.com/gSxlRkQqUJ
— wajith.sm (@sm_wajith) October 9, 2023
With a blend of young and old, the established tournament may be a heady mix of local and international. Nevertheless, the Abu Dhabi T10 is doing its bit for promoting quality in domestic cricket in the shadow of its international appeal.
Rohan Mustafa, the UAE captain very recently, was at hand to help his team Bangla Tigers pick up talent. “We did not get a few names we wanted in the bowling department like Sherfane Rutherford, but the ones we got were also among the options we brought to the table, so we are happy.”
Rutherford went to the defending champions Deccan Gladiators and so did Fabian Allen and the plucky all-rounder Wiese.
Coach and former Pakistan spinner Mushtaq Ahmed was upbeat and reiterated that the team will be aiming to be the first to get a hat-trick of titles.
Speaking at the draft, Shaji Ul Mulk, Chairman, T10 Global, said: “The franchises have picked some of the best players in the world this season.
“The format has really captured the imagination of young people around the world, and it is also reflected in the quality of young players we saw in the draft today. We have kept the essence of cricket exactly the same, but the fast-paced format and the quality of players each season make it exciting every year for the fans. I am sure it will be yet another fantastic season, one that we await eagerly!”
