Retirement from India duties allow players to take part in international franchise competitions, paving the way for Karthik to sign up with the Bangla Tigers.
The league has expanded to 10 teams with two new sides in Ajman Bolts and UP Nawabs. The New York Strikers won the previous championship in 2023, but the Deccan Gladiators, featuring impressive stars like Buttler, Pooran, Russell, and Theekshana, are arguably the team to watch out for with two titles to their name thus far.
“Last year, the T10 League decided to go global with the launch of the US Masters, Zimbabwe, and Sri Lanka T10. The response has been very encouraging. The Abu Dhabi T10 League has been strengthening with the addition of two more teams, so there have been positive signs,” T10 League founder and chairperson Shaji Ul Mulk said.
He added, “An Indian T10 league is definitely on the cards. Irrespective of the number of T20 leagues across the world – the T10 is a very special niche. Because of the short format, the slot required is a very small of merely 10-12 days, which is the beauty of the tournament.”
Transfer Movement
Pace duo Josh Little and Henry Brookes join the ????’s camp#BanglaTigers #LetsGoHunt #AbuDhabiT10League #JoshLittle #HenryBrookes pic.twitter.com/txeJmzJRwp
— Bangla Tigers (@BanglaTigers_ae) November 19, 2024
The T10 League franchises have strengthened their squads with new signings and key retentions for the upcoming season.
New York Strikers added Pathirana and Donovan Ferreira to their ranks, retaining stars like Kieron Pollard, Mohammad Amir, and Sunil Narine. Deccan Gladiators signed Jos Buttler, Anrich Nortje, and Marcus Stoinis while retaining big names such as Andre Russell and Nicholas Pooran. Delhi Bulls secured Wanindu Hasaranga, Tim David, and Matthew Wade, retaining Rovman Powell and James Vince.
Team Abu Dhabi acquired Jonny Bairstow and Shimron Hetmyer while holding onto Phil Salt and Kyle Mayers. Northern Warriors revamped with Trent Boult and Finn Allen, retaining Colin Munro and Azmatullah Omarzai. Morrisville Samp Army signed David Willey and Imad Wasim, retaining Faf du Plessis.
Bangla Tigers added all-round skills with Shakib Al Hasan, Rashid Khan, and Liam Livingstone, alongside retentions like Hazratullah Zazai. Chennai Brave Jaguars signed Chris Lynn and Thisara Perera, retaining Bhanuka Rajapaksa. UP Nawabs brought in Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Dawid Malan, while Bolts Ajman added James Neesham and Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
“We have over 160 players and most of them are still playing competitive international cricket. The roster is made up of players from all countries and that’s a fantastic asset for the tournament. We have over 35 matches in 12 days in a good seasonal time. For professional players, the league is an attractive proponent,” Matt Boucher, CEO of Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub, explained.
The opening clash will see Ajman Bolts and Team Abu Dhabi square off in the home ground of the latter on Thursday, November 21.