Abu Dhabi T10 League 2026 draft: Naseem, Noor Ahmad, Shanaka among top picks
Synopsis
The Abu Dhabi T10 League 2026 draft is done, and the squad lists are loaded — Naseem Shah, Noor Ahmad, Shadab Khan, Dasun Shanaka, Andre Russell, Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine are all in the mix. With the season starting 7 November, this may be the most star-studded T10 edition yet.
Key Takeaways
The Abu Dhabi T10 League 2026 player draft concluded on 1 October 2026 , with all six franchises completing their squads.
The season is scheduled to begin on 7 November 2026 .
Naseem Shah goes to Royal Desert Champions ; Noor Ahmad and Kusal Perera to Emirates Eagles ; Shadab Khan and Muhammad Amir to UAE Bulls .
Dasun Shanaka and James Vince join Yas Lions , while Alzarri Joseph heads to Arabian Aces .
UAE domestic players including Alishan Sharafu , Muhammad Waseem , and Aayan Afzal Khan feature prominently across squads.
Pre-draft stars include Andre Russell , Kieron Pollard , Sunil Narine , Trent Boult , Nicholas Pooran , and Phil Salt .
The Abu Dhabi T10 League 2026 player draft concluded on Wednesday, 1 October, with all six franchises finalising their squads ahead of a season that kicks off on 7 November. Headlining the picks were pace spearhead Naseem Shah (Royal Desert Champions), spinner Noor Ahmad (Emirates Eagles), all-rounder Shadab Khan (UAE Bulls), and Sri Lanka's former T20I captain Dasun Shanaka (Yas Lions), among a wave of international talent distributed across the six teams.
Star Picks Across the Six Franchises
Muhammad Amir and Alzarri Joseph were among the notable pace additions, heading to UAE Bulls and Arabian Aces respectively. Kusal Perera and former England batter Alex Hales reinforced the Emirates Eagles batting line-up, while Chris Jordan joined Naseem Shah at the Royal Desert Champions. Former India wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat also secured a slot with the Emirates Eagles.
The UAE Bulls added power-hitting depth through Andre Fletcher, Aneurin Donald, and Azam Khan, supplementing pre-draft acquisitions Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, and Romario Shepherd. The Arabian Aces — already boasting Moeen Ali, Andre Russell, and Liam Livingstone as pre-draft signings — added Sam Billings, Imran Tahir, and Dwaine Pretorius through the draft.
UAE Players Feature Prominently
The draft also highlighted the growing depth of UAE domestic cricket. Alishan Sharafu (Arabian Aces), Aayan Afzal Khan (Royal Desert Champions), Muhammad Waseem (Royal Desert Champions), Haider Razzaq (Emirates Eagles), Ansh Tandon (Yas Lions), and Luqman Faisal (Emirates Eagles) were among the local stars selected. Further UAE representation came through Awais Ali Shah, Dhruv Parashar, Harshit Kaushik, Wali Muhammad, Adithya Shetty, Haider Ali, and Vriitya Arvind.
Squad Breakdown
The Royal Desert Champions blend pace — led by Naseem Shah, Maheesh Theekshana, and Dushmantha Chameera — with batting firepower from Nicholas Pooran, Phil Salt, and Sherfane Rutherford (all pre-draft). The United Tigers drafted Azmatullah Omarzai, Odean Smith, and Mahedi Hasan to complement a pre-draft Pakistani core of Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Faheem Ashraf.
The Yas Lions secured James Vince, Dasun Shanaka, Tom Moores, and Akeal Hosein at the draft, alongside Netherlands' Aryan Dutt as their Associate Member selection. Pre-draft signings Jason Holder, David Willey, and Andries Gous further deepen their resources. The Emirates Eagles boast an especially well-stocked bowling department, with Noor Ahmad, Rehan Ahmed, Ali Raza, and pre-draft signing Trent Boult all in the mix.
Season Start and What to Watch
The Abu Dhabi T10 League 2026 season begins on 7 November. With T10 cricket condensing all the action into 10 overs per side, the format rewards explosive batting and wicket-taking bowlers — making the presence of Narine, Russell, Pollard, and Naseem Shah particularly compelling. This edition sees arguably the deepest international participation in the league's history, reflecting the format's growing global footprint.
Point of View
Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and Trent Boult — alongside emerging names from Afghanistan, the UAE, and the Netherlands — points to a league that is maturing beyond a novelty event. What remains to be seen is whether the broadcast and commercial infrastructure keeps pace with the on-field star power, especially as franchise T10 competes for calendar space with an increasingly crowded T20 circuit.
NationPress
1 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Abu Dhabi T10 League 2026 season start?
The Abu Dhabi T10 League 2026 season begins on 7 November 2026. All six franchises completed their squads at the player draft held on 1 October 2026.
Which team did Naseem Shah join in the Abu Dhabi T10 League 2026?
Naseem Shah was picked by the Royal Desert Champions at the Abu Dhabi T10 League 2026 draft. He joins a pace-heavy squad that also includes Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, and Chris Jordan, alongside pre-draft signings Nicholas Pooran and Phil Salt.
Which team did Noor Ahmad join in the T10 League 2026?
Noor Ahmad was selected by the Emirates Eagles. He strengthens a bowling attack that also includes Rehan Ahmed, Ali Raza, and pre-draft signing Trent Boult.
What is the Abu Dhabi T10 League format?
The Abu Dhabi T10 League is a franchise cricket tournament played over 10 overs per side, making it the shortest professional cricket format in the world. It is hosted in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and features top international players from across the globe.
Which UAE players were selected in the Abu Dhabi T10 League 2026 draft?
Several UAE domestic players featured in the draft, including Alishan Sharafu, Aayan Afzal Khan, Muhammad Waseem, Haider Razzaq, Ansh Tandon, Luqman Faisal, Awais Ali Shah, Dhruv Parashar, Harshit Kaushik, Wali Muhammad, Adithya Shetty, Haider Ali, and Vriitya Arvind, spread across all six franchises.
