Abu Dhabi:
The 2024 edition of the Abu Dhabi T10 witnessed another thrilling Players Draft on Thursday, where young talent took center stage. Over 1,000 players registered this year, nearly 450 were shortlisted for the draft, and 107 ultimately secured spots on the rosters of the 10 teams.
The 10 franchises, including the two new ones, Bolts Ajman and UP Nawabs, joined the other eight — New York Strikers, Deccan Gladiators, Northern Warriors, Morrisville Samp Army, Delhi Bulls, Bangla Tigers, Team Abu Dhabi, and Chennai Brave Jaguars – to complete their rosters. A total of 179 international megastars will participate in the 2024 Abu Dhabi T10, making it the biggest season ever.
Players from 11 different nations were drafted, showcasing the truly global nature of the Abu Dhabi T10. Leading the selections were 20 players from the West Indies, 17 from the UAE, 15 from Sri Lanka, and 14 from Pakistan. Afghanistan contributed 11, while 9 English, 5 Zimbabwean, 3 Bangladeshi, 3 Australian, and 2 each from New Zealand and South Africa were also picked, highlighting the tournament’s international appeal.
Bolts Ajman,one of the new teams in the league, made the most draft picks, selecting 14 players and balancing youth with experience. They brought in seasoned stars like Mohammad Nabi and Alex Hales, alongside 20-year-old Sri Lankan batter Shevon Daniel, to create a well-rounded squad with new direct signings where James Neesham came as an icon player, Mujheeb Ur Rahman as a platinum superstar.
The UP Nawabs, the second new franchise, drafted 13 players, including West Indies fast bowler Odean Smith and Afghanistan’s dependable all-rounder Najibullah Zadran. Rahmanullah Gurbaz serves as the team’s icon, with English stars Dawid Malan, Tymal Mills, and Adil Rashid further strengthening the squad’s composition.