Abu Dhabi T10 League Aims for Stability Ahead of Tenth Season

The Abu Dhabi T10 cricket league is set to begin its tenth season this year, under new league and franchise ownership that aims to solidify its reputation as a premier annual cricket event in the region. Launched in 2017 by UAE businessman Shaji ul Mulk, the ADT10 was the first league of its kind in the world, but has faced challenges due to integrity issues.

In September 2023, the International Cricket Council (ICC) charged eight individuals affiliated with one of the franchises for corruption during a previous season. Additionally, USA player B Akhilesh Reddy received an eight-year ban earlier this month for violating the ICC’s anti-corruption code.

Frequent changes in franchise ownership have hindered the league’s identity, which has seen participation from as many as 18 teams over the years, although eight teams competed last season. The challenges faced compelled the Abu Dhabi government to take a controlling stake in the league through the Abu Dhabi Cricket and Sports Hub earlier this year. “I do think that a number of challenges occurred in the past where that had an impact on the brand name of Abu Dhabi,” said Matt Boucher, CEO of the Abu Dhabi Sport Council. “And that was something that we couldn’t control because third-party team owners were making decisions that had a negative impact on the brand of Abu Dhabi.”

Boucher emphasized ongoing outreach to well-known owners and investors from South Asia as a positive sign of interest in the Abu Dhabi product. The government aims to enhance Abu Dhabi’s winter sports calendar, which already includes major events like the Formula 1 race and the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.

Discussions regarding equity with previous owners led to the recent government acquisition, and a bidding process overseen by Deloitte is currently underway to identify new team owners, with final bids expected this week. Boucher stressed the importance of long-term contracts with franchise owners to foster stability: “We want regular team owners; we want long-term contracts, so we don’t work in a world where we’re on one to two-year rotating agreements and then changing everything from year to year.”

As the league embraces new governance, Boucher expressed hopes that the involvement of the Abu Dhabi government would signal stability, attracting different types of investors. However, he confirmed that there are no immediate plans to expand the tournament beyond eight teams or collaborate with surrounding regions such as Dubai or Saudi Arabia.