Defending champions UAE Bulls have become the first founding franchise confirmed for the next era of the Abu Dhabi T10, reinforcing the team’s long-standing commitment to cricket’s fastest format.

The announcement is the first of several franchise confirmations to come as Abu Dhabi T10 prepares for its 2026 edition, which will run from November 7 – 20 at the iconic Zayed Cricket Stadium in the UAE capital.

The UAE Bulls, who have been part of the T10 journey since the competition’s inception in 2017, have been confirmed as a founding franchise following the Deloitte Invitation to Bid process and will compete under the tournament’s new 10-year licence model. And the defending champions are already building towards their title defence, guided by internationally renowned Head Coach Andy Flower, with T20 great Dwayne Bravo continuing his involvement as bowling coach and mentor.

The confirmation comes as Abu Dhabi T10 enters a significant new chapter under the ownership and management of Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub (ADCSH), supported by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC) and under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Chairman of the Emirates Cricket Board.

The new structure is providing the tournament with stronger governance, long-term stability, and a platform for sustainable growth, while building on the pace, entertainment and global appeal that are now synonymous with T10 cricket.

For the UAE Bulls, the announcement also strengthens a relationship with the competition stretching back to its formative years when the team originally competed as the Delhi Bulls. Having rebranded, the UAE Bulls reached the final in 2024 before going one better in 2025, producing a dominant performance in the final to secure its first Abu Dhabi T10 title.

UAE Bulls Owner Neelesh Bhatnagar said the decision to commit to the competition’s next chapter reflected both its belief in the T10 product and confidence in the tournament’s future under its new stewardship.

“We have believed in T10 cricket and its potential from the beginning, so we are extremely proud that the UAE Bulls will be the first founding franchise confirmed for this exciting new chapter,” said Bhatnagar.

“The new institutional backing and long-term structure provide a solid foundation from which Abu Dhabi T10 can continue to grow in value, stature, and international appeal. Winning the title in 2025 was an incredibly special moment for everyone associated with the UAE Bulls, but we now see that achievement as the beginning of another journey. We are excited about what lies ahead and determined to play our part in the competition’s continued success.”

UAE Bulls Head Coach Andy Flower said his connection with Abu Dhabi T10 and the UAE Bulls had continued to strengthen over the years. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every visit to Abu Dhabi for the ADT10 over the years, and my connection with the Bulls has grown stronger throughout that time, particularly with the support and commitment Neelesh has shown towards the team,” said Flower.

“We have some very special memories from last season, and we’re excited to return as defending champions and be part of the relaunched Abu Dhabi T10.”

Matt Boucher, CEO of Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub and Abu Dhabi T10, welcomed confirmation of the UAE Bulls’ participation under the new structure, describing their long-standing association with the competition as an important asset as Abu Dhabi T10 moves forward.

“The UAE Bulls understand both the qualities that make T10 such a compelling format and the opportunity that exists to take the competition to another level,” said Boucher. “As we enter the tournament’s next innings, we value partners who share our ambition to build sustainably for the long term. The UAE Bulls have demonstrated that commitment over many years, and their confirmation as our first founding franchise is a fitting way to begin this next chapter.

“Our positioning of ‘Same Energy. New Ethos.’ captures exactly what we are seeking to achieve. We want to retain the excitement, intensity, and entertainment that audiences associate with Abu Dhabi T10 while introducing a structure and approach capable of supporting its ambitions for the decade ahead.”

The International League T20 Management has appointed Mike Fordham as Interim Chief Operating Officer. Fordham has been the league’s Head of Operations since the inception of the tournament – 2022.

Fordham has taken over the role with immediate effect and will spearhead the execution of DP World ILT20 Season 5, which will be played in November-December this year. In a career spanning two decades, Fordham has accumulated rich experience – specialising in sporting, governance and commercial set-up of new leagues, competitions and franchises.

Interim Chief Operating Officer DP World ILT20 Mike Fordham: “It is a real honour to have been given the task to spearhead the DP World ILT20 Season 5 execution. The DP World ILT20 has grown into one of the top T20 tournaments. The league is known for top-class cricketing action at three world-class venues.

“This year’s edition will be bigger and better. We are all excited about the upcoming DP World ILT20 Development Tournament – an incredible platform for young UAE players to make a claim for the main event later in the year. Some of the biggest T20 stars have signed up for the DP World ILT20 Player Auction which further exemplifies the league’s stature and reputation as a competition that attracts the very best in the business.”

Italy is about to get its own city-based franchise cricket league, and organisers are looking to the Middle East to help take it global.

Italia T10 Cricket will make its debut in Rome from November 7 to 15, 2026, with six city-based teams set to compete in the fast-paced 10-over format.

And while the league is being built around Italian cricket, its ambitions stretch well beyond Italy.

With three of the six franchises already secured, organisers are now turning their attention to the Middle East, hoping to build links with the region’s growing cricket community and attract stakeholders from across the GCC.

The league has been officially endorsed by the Italian Cricket Federation, with the organisers describing the competition as Italy’s first city-based franchise T10 league.

Why is Italy turning to the Middle East?

Cricket may not be one of Italy’s traditional mainstream sports, but the game has been steadily expanding across Europe, and the Middle East has become a major hub for international and franchise cricket.

The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain all have established cricket communities, creating a sizeable pool of players, fans and potential investors.

Aamir Akhtar, chairman of Apex T10 Ltd, said the response to the league’s announcement had been “phenomenal” and that the organisers were keen to bring the Middle East into the project.

For Akhtar, the connection is also personal. The former Nepal international played at the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in 2000 before representing Nepal at senior level.

He now wants to use franchise cricket to create more opportunities in emerging cricket markets.

What exactly is Italia T10?

The clue is in the name.

Each match will feature 10 overs per side, with games expected to last around 90 minutes.

That makes T10 one of cricket’s shortest and most explosive formats — designed to pack plenty of action into a compact viewing window.

The inaugural tournament will be played entirely in Rome, with six franchises competing across nine days.

The league also says its matches will be streamed live in more than 30 countries, giving the new competition an international audience from its very first season.

Could the Middle East become part of the league?

That’s one of the bigger questions surrounding the project.

Organisers say they see the Middle East as more than simply a commercial market. They want to build a cricketing bridge between Europe and the GCC, potentially bringing regional stakeholders, players and cricket communities into the Italia T10 ecosystem.

Nadeem Shahid, CEO of Apex T10 Ltd, said the league has an Italian foundation but an international outlook.

The company behind Italia T10 was founded by Shahid and Akhtar with the aim of developing cricket in associate territories through professionally run franchise competitions.

Why now?

The timing could hardly be more interesting for global cricket.

The sport is preparing to return to the Olympic Games at Los Angeles 2028, putting renewed focus on expanding cricket beyond its traditional strongholds.

Italia T10 hopes to play a small part in that expansion by raising the profile of cricket in Italy, creating more opportunities for local players and clubs and connecting Italian cricket with the international game.

With half of its franchises still to be secured and the first season only months away, the next phase will be worth watching.

Italy has the league. Rome has the stage. Now organisers want the Middle East to become part of the story.