Abu Dhabi T10


The Abu Dhabi T10, also known as T10 League, is a T10 cricket league in the United Arab Emirates launched and owned by T Ten Sports Management. The league is approved by the Emirates Cricket Board. The matches are 10-overs-a-side. The tournament is a round-robin format followed by a series of playoff matches and a final. The International Cricket Council officially sanctioned the league in 2018 as a semi-professional cricket tournament.
The league has seen significant year-on-year growth in viewership and economic value, with the 2021–2022 edition of the tournament having reached 342 million viewers through television and digital streaming compared to roughly 37 million viewers in the 2017 edition. The league's economic impact at the 2021–2022 edition was valued at US$621.2 million.

History

The league was founded by Shaji Ul Mulk, the chairman of T10 League. Ul Mulk intended to bring out the UAE's local talent on a greater stage and entertain viewers by doing something unique, introducing a new cricket format with 10-over-a-side contests.

Teams

Up to ten players on each team during a match can be overseas players, with the remaining player needing to be eligible to represent that United Arab Emirates.
Team nameDebut seasonLatest seasonCurrent captain
Ajman Titans20252025Moeen Ali
Aspin Stallions20252025Sam Billings
Deccan Gladiators20192025Nicholas Pooran
Delhi/UAE Bulls20192025Rovman Powell
Northern Warriors20182025Shimron Hetmyer
Quetta Qavalry20252025Liam Livingstone
Royal Champs20252025Jason Roy
Vista Riders20252025Faf du Plessis

Former teams

  • Ajman Bolts
  • Bengal Tigers
  • Bangla Tigers
  • Chennai Braves/Chennai Brave Jaguars
  • Karnataka Tuskers
  • Kerala Kings/Kerala Knights
  • Maratha Arabians
  • Morrisville Samp Army
  • New York Strikers
  • Pakhtoons
  • Pune Devils
  • Punjabi Legends
  • Qalandars
  • Rajputs
  • Sindhis
  • Team Abu Dhabi
  • Team Sri Lanka
  • UP Nawabs

    Seasons

Teams' performances

Controversies

The Abu Dhabi T10 has come under scrutiny by the ICC due to corruption. In September 2023, eight individuals including three players, coaches and team owners were charged by the ICC with breaches of the anti-corruption code. Former Bangladesh International Nasir Hossain was banned for 2 years, while two other players were banned for 17 and a half years and 5 years respectively. In October 2024, ICC anti-corruption officer Steve Richardson, while refusing to state which leagues were in question, stated that the ICC had concerns about short length tournaments hosted by associate members, such as the Abu Dhabi T10 for their high potential for corruption.
Questions were raised during the 2024 tournament, with cases of a bowler overstepping by a wide margin, as well as another bowling four no balls in an over were reported, leading to further corruption concerns.