Captains of the 10 participating teams at a press conference on Wednesday. — Supplied photo
As the latest edition of the Abu Dhabi T10 is set to kick off on Thursday, representatives from all 10 teams convened at Zayed Cricket Stadium on Wednesday for a pre-tournament press conference. The captains discussed their strategies for the upcoming season and highlighted how the inclusion of two new teams will intensify the competition and add excitement to the event. The 2024 Abu Dhabi T10 will mark the largest season to date with 10 teams competing.
Mohammad Nabi, captain of the newly-formed Ajman Bolts, expressed his enthusiasm for the season ahead. “It’s an honor to be part of a league that has championed the introduction and global popularity of T10 cricket. Although this is our inaugural season, we are well-prepared and training diligently to make this a memorable one for our team,” Nabi stated.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz, skipper of UP Nawabs, shared similar sentiments. “The team is in great shape. This is our first season, and we are eager to make it a thrilling and successful journey. The Nawabs are here to make their mark,” Gurbaz said.
The defending champions, New York Strikers, will start their title defense on Friday against Morrisville Samp Army. “We had a successful campaign last year and aim to replicate that this season, aiming for our second consecutive title. All players are excited to return to the field and deliver two weeks of outstanding cricket,” said vice-captain Mohammad Amir.
Rohan Mustafa, who is leading Samp Army this year, also expressed his excitement. “It’s a great honor to be part of this fantastic team and tournament. Our goal is clear—to lead the team to the championship. However, it’s equally important that the players enjoy the process and deliver performances that the audience will love,” Mustafa noted.
Team Abu Dhabi, who will also begin their season with a match against Ajman Bolts, is aiming for their first title this year. New captain Phil Salt outlined the team’s objectives and their readiness for the challenge. “Our goal is to lift the trophy on December 2. This is my first season as captain, and I aim to lead the team in a manner that brings us positive results. The players are bonding well and are fully committed to our shared goal,” Salt said.
The eighth season of the tournament will commence with the first match between Team Abu Dhabi and Ajman Bolts. The playoffs will start on December 1, featuring the Qualifier and two Eliminator games. The tournament will conclude with the final on December 2.
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