Abu Dhabi T10 players from around the world to arrive from January 21

By K.R. Nayar

Matt Boucher, Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Cricket, talks on how the players’ draft, which picked top cricketers from around the world, would boost the contest in the fourth edition of the tournament.

Matt Boucher, Chief Executive Officer Abu Dhabi Cricket  

With the Abu Dhabi T10 players’ draft for the fourth edition having completed successfully, cricketers from around the world will arrive in Abu Dhabi by January 21, 2021,  for the tournament that will be held from January 28 to February 6 at the Abu Dhabi Zayed Cricket Stadium.

Speaking to krbuzz.blogspot.com, Matt Boucher, Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Cricket, expressed his delight that some of the best cricketers from around the world have been picked by the eight teams. He said, “The multi-national element of the event in bringing world cricket to the T10 epi-center in Abu Dhabi is something that we were targeting to do. We are now looking forward to the players’ arrival from January 21 to have the tournament running.”

Deccan Gladiators team officials  

The players' draft saw cricketers from Test-playing nations, especially the sub-continent nations like India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, as well as South Africa, England, and West Indies being picked for the different teams. Players from the USA, Nepal, Oman, and the UAE have also been included.

Team Abu Dhabi officials 

Boucher highlighted the presence of icons who would add glitter to the event. According to him, “I think we've got an incredible icon line up. Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, Dwayne Bravo, Shahid Afridi, Andre Russell, Shoaib Malik, Thisara Perera, and Isuru Udana. This is exactly the type of multinational icons that we are after to represent Abu Dhabi T10. The teams have done a great job as they have filled in their line- up brilliantly.”

The third edition at the Abu Dhabi Zayed Cricket Stadium was watched by a record crowd in 2019, and organisers are hoping that the government would allow spectators to watch the tournament from the stadium from January 28.

Bangla Tigers team officials 

Boucher was pleased with the manner in which the draft went on right from the start at the Oaks Hotel in Dubai. “The first pick of the night, Mohammad Hafeez, went to Maratha  Arabians. So that was great to see Pakistan playing such a leading light in the picks. Hafeez was followed by players like Hardus Viljoen, Fabian Allen, and Sam Billing getting drafted.  It was notable that top coaches like Andy Flower and player and captain Shoaib Malik were personally present to pick their players.”

The manner in which the draft went on was electrifying. Some of the best shorter format cricketers from Sri Lanka got snapped up in a flash. Team owners ensured that almost all the best Afghanistan players, known for their fighting ability, were picked. Nepal’s promising players, some of whom were closely watched by many of the teams'  talent hunters, got drafted.

Delhi Bulls team officials 

When Pakistan stars like Hasan Ali, Sohail Tanvir, Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz, and hard hitters such as Nicholas Pooran, Lendl Simmons, Andre Fletcher, Tom Banton, and Alex Hales were picked, it was clear that the tournament was set to create great battles. To add to the local flavor, some of the best UAE players too got selected into the different teams.