The Abu Dhabi T10, also known as the 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 (ICC) 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 the United Arab Emirates.
+ Team name Debut season Latest season Current captain Ajman Titans 2025 2025 Moeen Ali Aspin Stallions 2025 2025 Sam Billings Deccan Gladiators 2019 2025 Nicholas Pooran Delhi/UAE Bulls 2019 2025 Rovman Powell Northern Warriors 2018 2025 Shimron Hetmyer Quetta Qavalry 2025 2025 Liam Livingstone Royal Champs 2025 2025 Jason Roy Vista Riders 2025 2025 Faf du Plessis
Former teams Ajman Bolts (2024) Bengal Tigers (2017–2018) Bangla Tigers (2019–2025) Chennai Braves/Chennai Brave Jaguars (2021/22–2024) Karnataka Tuskers (2019) Kerala Kings/Kerala Knights (2017–2018) Maratha Arabians (2017–2021) Morrisville Samp Army (2022–2024) New York Strikers (2022–2024) Pakhtoons (2017–2018) Pune Devils (2021) Punjabi Legends (2017–2018) Qalandars (2019–2021) Rajputs (2018) Sindhis (2018) Team Abu Dhabi (2019–2024) Team Sri Lanka (2017) UP Nawabs (2024)
Seasons +SeasonWinnerRunner-upWinning marginMost runsMost wickets2017Kerala Kings121/2 (8 overs)Punjabi Legends120/3 (10 overs)8 wicketsLuke Ronchi (197) Sohail Tanvir (5) Rayad Emrit (5) Hasan Ali (5)2018Northern Warriors140/3 (10 overs)Pakhtoons118/7 (10 overs)22 runs Nicholas Pooran (324) Hardus Viljoen (18)2019Maratha Arabians89/2 (7.2 overs)Deccan Gladiators87/8 (10 overs)8 wickets Chris Lynn (371) George Garton (12)2021Northern Warriors85/2 (8.2 overs)Delhi Bulls81/9 (10 overs)8 wickets Sohail Akhtar (248) Jamie Overton (12)2021–22Deccan Gladiators159/0 (10 overs)Delhi Bulls103/7 (10 overs)56 runs Hazratullah Zazai (353) Wanindu Hasaranga (21)2022Deccan Gladiators128/4 (10 overs)New York Strikers91/5 (10 overs)37 runsNicholas Pooran (345)Dwaine Pretorius (12)2023New York Strikers94/3 (9.2 overs)Deccan Gladiators91/5 (10 overs)7 wicketsTom Kohler-Cadmore (368)Qais Ahmad (16)2024Deccan Gladiators110/2 (6.5 overs)Morrisville Samp Army104/7 (10 overs)8 wicketsTom Kohler-Cadmore (278)Richard Gleeson (14)2025UAE Bulls150/1 (10 overs)Aspin Stallions70/4 (10 overs)80 runsTim David (393)Andrew Tye (13)
Teams' performances Seasons2017(6)2018(8)2019(8)2021(8)2021-22(6)2022(8)2023(8)2024(10)2025(8) Ajman Titans – 4th Aspin Stallions – RU Deccan Gladiators – RU 6th W W RU W 6th Delhi/UAE Bulls – 7th RU RU 5th 5th 3rd W Northern Warriors – W 5th W 5th 6th 6th 6th 5th Quetta Qavalry – 3rd Royal Champs – 8th Vista Riders – 7th Former teams Ajman Bolts – 8th – Bengal Tigers 5th 3rd – Bangla Tigers – 3rd 5th 4th 8th 4th 9th – – 6th 7th 7th 10th – Karnataka Tuskers – 8th – Kerala Kings/Kerala Knights W 7th – Maratha Arabians SF 4th W 7th – Morrisville Samp Army – 3rd 3rd RU – New York Strikers – RU W 7th – Pakhtoons SF RU – Pune Devils – 8th – Punjabi Legends R 5th – Qalandars – 4th 4th – Rajputs – 6th – Sindhis – 8th – Team Abu Dhabi – 6th 3rd 3rd 4th 8th 4th – Team Sri Lanka 6th – UP Nawabs – 5th –
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 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 being reported, leading to further corruption concerns.
See also T10 leagues
References
External links