Arabian Aces head coach Lance Klusener has expressed full confidence in the franchise's squad ahead of their debut in the Abu Dhabi T10 league, describing the ten-over format as 'explosive' and unlike anything most players have experienced. The tournament is scheduled to run from 7 November to 20 November, with six franchises set to compete following Wednesday's draft.

A Squad Built for Firepower

Arabian Aces entered the draft with three marquee pre-signings already in place — Moeen Ali, Andre Russell, and Liam Livingstone — forming the spine of what promises to be an aggressive unit. The draft added further depth, with Sam Billings, veteran leg-spinner Imran Tahir, and England pacer Richard Gleeson among the notable additions. The full squad reflects a deliberate strategy to cover all phases of the game, both with the bat and the ball.

Klusener on the T10 Challenge

'The plan was always to go with a squad that could do their job both up top and pull off games for us with the ball if it comes down to that. T10 is an explosive format and is nothing like any of these players have played before barring here,' Klusener said. 'You need innovation and serious problem-solving skills, and I'm confident that the squad is full of boys who will put their hand up and make it happen for Arabian Aces. It's the perfect formula to excel in a T10 format, and we can't wait to get started.'

Owners Set Out Their Vision

Franchise owners Pankaj Jain and Neeraj Jain outlined the ambition behind their investment in the Abu Dhabi T10. 'Arabian Aces represents an exciting new chapter for us, and we are delighted to be joining the Abu Dhabi T10 at such an important point in the tournament's evolution. Our ambition is to create a professionally managed franchise with a strong identity and a culture built around performance, ambition and teamwork,' they said. The owners added that they were 'quite content' with their draft picks and expressed confidence in Klusener to deliver results.

COO Highlights Development Opportunity

Chief Operating Officer Shoeb Ahmed echoed the optimism, noting the dual value of the squad for both performance and player development. 'We have some really serious talent that will take the league by storm and some really promising names that are tomorrow's superstars. This is a unique opportunity for the young boys to play along with and learn from the likes of Moeen Ali, Andre Russell and Liam Livingstone,' Ahmed said. The squad's blend of global stars and emerging talent signals a long-term franchise-building approach rather than a purely results-driven assembly.

Full Arabian Aces Squad

The complete Arabian Aces squad reads: Moeen Ali (Captain), Andre Russell, Liam Livingstone, Alishan Sharafu, Muhammad Arfan, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Richard Gleeson, Sam Billings, Paul Walter, Alzarri Joseph, Imran Tahir, Salman Irshad, Quentin Sampson, Dwaine Pretorius, Vriitya Aravind, Ibrahim Masood, Amshi D'Silva, and Dunith Wellalage. With the tournament just weeks away, all eyes will be on whether Klusener can translate this depth of talent into silverware in the franchise's inaugural T10 campaign.