Former India international and World Cup winner Robin Uthappa has been appointed Team Director of Yas Lions, the newest franchise to join the Abu Dhabi T10, as the Jeetu Kataria-owned team prepares for its debut in the tournament.

Uthappa will oversee the franchise’s cricketing strategy, player development, recruitment and squad culture, working alongside the coaching staff as Yas Lions build their identity ahead of the new Abu Dhabi T10 season.

The franchise has also confirmed West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder as its Icon player, while Andries Gous and David Willey have been unveiled as its Platinum signings.

Yas Lions will make their Abu Dhabi T10 debut at Zayed Cricket Stadium from November 7 to 20, joining an expanding 2026 line-up that includes Arabian Aces, Emirates Eagles, UAE Bulls, United Tigers and Royal Desert Champions.

Uthappa, who was part of India’s 2007 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup-winning squad, brings extensive experience from international and franchise cricket to his new leadership role. Since ending his playing career in 2022, he has developed a second career spanning entrepreneurship, broadcasting and high-performance coaching.

As Team Director, Uthappa will work closely with the franchise’s management and coaching team on player recruitment, mentoring and building the culture of the new side.

The former India international has long advocated for cricket to reach new audiences and sees the fast-paced T10 format as an opportunity to introduce the sport to a wider global fan base.

Robin Uthappa, Team Director of Yas Lions, said:“There is a lot to like about starting a franchise from scratch, because you get to build its identity around clarity, process and performance from the very first conversation. T10 cricket rewards players who can function under pressure rather than avoid it, and that is exactly the mindset we want running through this squad.

“Our Direct Signings include match winners with plenty of experience, class and versatility. I have long believed T10 can be a gateway for new fans into the sport. I am looking forward to working with this group and building something we can be proud of — a team that competes hard and helps grow the game.”

Jason Holder leads Yas Lions’ playing core

Former West Indies captain and T20 World Cup winner Jason Holder has been signed as the Yas Lions’ Icon player.

An experienced international all-rounder, Holder brings a combination of power hitting and seam bowling to the side. Renowned for his lower-middle-order batting and ability to generate bounce with his bowling, he will be one of the key figures in Yas Lions’ first Abu Dhabi T10 campaign.

The franchise has also secured two Platinum signings in Andries Gous and David Willey.

Gous, a wicketkeeper-batsman, has scored centuries across all three formats and boasts an average of almost 40. The aggressive right-hander is known for his boundary-hitting approach and adds further firepower to the Yas Lions batting line-up, alongside his skills behind the stumps.

Willey, the former England international, brings experience from the highest level of white-ball cricket. The left-arm bowler and batsman was part of England’s squad that won the 2022 T20 World Cup, adding further international pedigree to the new franchise.

Building a franchise for the long term

Yas Lions is owned by entrepreneur and investor Jeetu Kataria, who brings almost two decades of experience across institutional capital markets, investment banking, asset management and financial technology.

Kataria’s vision is to build more than a cricket team, with the franchise aiming to establish a strong identity based on governance, player development, performance and long-term partnerships.

Jeetu Kataria, Owner of Yas Lions, said:
“Building Yas Lions is about applying the core principles I stand by — meticulous planning and a long-term vision. The Abu Dhabi T10 gives us an outstanding platform to build a franchise with a real identity, one grounded in process, governance and respect for players and partners.

“Having Robin lead our cricketing operation gives us a rare combination of championship experience and modern high-performance thinking. Together with Jason, Andries and David, we have the foundations of a squad built to compete from the first season itself.

“Our ambition is clear: build a contender, build a brand, and help take cricket to new audiences around the world.”

Matt Boucher, CEO of the Abu Dhabi T10 and Abu Dhabi Cricket and Sports Hub (ADCSH), said the arrival of Yas Lions adds further momentum to the tournament’s international ambitions.

Matt Boucher said:
“Welcoming Yas Lions is another important step in our ambition to build the Abu Dhabi T10 into a truly global sporting property. With strong international investment, experienced leadership and world-class playing talent, franchises such as Yas Lions are integral to our strategy of expanding the tournament’s international reach, attracting new audiences and creating long-term value for the sport.

“Our vision extends well beyond the tournament itself. We want to establish Abu Dhabi as a leading international destination for cricket and major sporting events, bringing together global talent, commercial partnerships and passionate fans. Yas Lions share that ambition, and their arrival adds further momentum to an exciting new era for Abu Dhabi T10.”

Further squad announcements are expected ahead of the Official Player Draft in Abu Dhabi on September 30, as Yas Lions continue to build their squad for their inaugural Abu Dhabi T10 campaign.

Over the next three to five years, the franchise aims to establish itself as a consistent contender while developing into a recognisable global T10 brand, with a focus on talent development, fan engagement, sustainable partnerships and connecting with cricket communities across the UAE and wider diaspora.

Emirates Eagles have become the latest team to confirm it will vie for honours in the new era of the Abu Dhabi T10, unveiling a formidable cricket line-up featuring West Indies star Rovman Powell as captain, highly decorated international coach Mickey Arthur, and direct signings Trent Boult and Shimron Hetmyer.

Owned by Maverick Sports and Entertainment, the Eagles will debut when the Abu Dhabi T10 returns to Zayed Cricket Stadium from November 7-20.

The franchise has signalled its ambition by assembling an experienced leadership group and a powerful core of international talent capable of making an immediate impact in cricket’s fastest format.

Powell, one of the most destructive power-hitters in the global franchise game, will lead the side, while former South Africa, Australia, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka Head Coach Mickey Arthur will oversee its cricketing strategy. New Zealand left-arm fast bowler Trent Boult brings proven wicket-taking quality with both the new ball and at the death, while explosive West Indies batter Shimron Hetmyer adds further firepower.

Matt Boucher, CEO of both the tournament and its owners Abu Dhabi Cricket and Sports Hub (ADCSH) said: “Emirates Eagles arrive with an exciting vision for what they want to build, both on and off the field. The combination of Rovman Powell, Mickey Arthur, Trent Boult and Shimron Hetmyer gives them an outstanding cricketing foundation, while the ownership group brings the long-term commitment we want to see from our franchises.

“As we shape this new era of the Abu Dhabi T10, we want teams with strong identities, world-class talent, and the appetite to grow alongside the tournament. Emirates Eagles bring all three, and I am looking forward to seeing what they can deliver in November.”

Maverick Sports and Entertainment brings together Annam Satish Prabhakar, Classic Investments, Kondaveeti Durga Pavan Kumar, Bonam Suryaprakash, Annam Kusumkiran and Allada Ashok Vardhan.

The consortium views its entry into the Abu Dhabi T10 as a major step in expanding its presence in franchise cricket, with the long-term goal of developing Emirates Eagles into a competitive and commercially sustainable global sporting brand.

Annam Satish Prabhakar, Managing Director of Emirates Eagles, said: “We are entering the Abu Dhabi T10 with a long-term plan for Emirates Eagles. Our ambition is to create a franchise that combines success on the field with a strong, distinctive brand that can connect with cricket fans in the UAE and internationally.

“We have put together an exceptional leadership group and secured players who understand what it takes to perform at the highest level of franchise cricket. With Mickey guiding the team and Rovman leading on the field, supported by players of the calibre of Trent and Shimron, we believe we have the foundations to make a strong impression from our very first season.”

Powell’s experience across international and franchise cricket will be central to that challenge, with the West Indies star renowned for his ability to change the course of a game through aggressive middle-order hitting.

Powell said: “There is something special about joining a new franchise at the beginning of its journey because you can help create its identity from day one. T10 cricket demands confidence, clarity, and the willingness to take the game on, and I think the squad we are building has those qualities.

“We want Emirates Eagles to play fearless, entertaining cricket and, most importantly, compete to win. With Mickey’s experience and the quality already coming into the team, there is plenty for us to be excited about.”

Supporting the franchise’s leadership will be Chief Operating Officer Sandeep Yara, an Indian first-class cricketer whose professional playing background is complemented by experience in franchise operations, digital marketing, and brand building.

Nabeel Hashmi joins as Team Director following three years as Team Manager of Deccan Gladiators, bringing further Abu Dhabi T10 and franchise cricket experience to the Eagles’ management structure.

The arrival of Emirates Eagles adds another distinctive franchise to the evolving Abu Dhabi T10 line-up as the tournament prepares for its 2026 edition in the UAE capital.

Royal Desert Champions have become the latest team to join the Abu Dhabi T10 as the tournament enters a new era under the stewardship of Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub (ADCSH).

Royal Desert Champions takes its inspiration from the people who have made UAE their home – the dreamers who arrived with ambition, the builders who created something from ground up, and the achievers who continue to push the boundaries of what is possible. The team aims to celebrate that spirit of ambition, possibility and achievement, both on and off the field.

Reflecting this spirit is the appointment of Trinidadian superstar Nicholas Pooran as the captain and Icon player of the new franchise, while England international Phil Salt and West Indies all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford have joined as direct signings, giving Royal Desert Champions an exciting core of proven short-format talent.

Together, the three signings send an early signal of the Royal Desert Champions’ ambitions ahead of their debut in the 2026 tournament, which runs from 7-20 November at Zayed Cricket Stadium in the UAE capital.

Pooran is widely regarded as one of the standout talents of West Indies’ second generation of T20 stars. He represented the West Indies in limited-overs cricket until 2024 and previously captained the national team.

Salt adds another explosive presence at the top of the order. The England international is an aggressive right-handed opening batter and has built experience across international and domestic short-format cricket.

Rutherford meanwhile brings further power and versatility. The West Indian is an impactful short-format all-rounder, combining aggressive middle-order batting with medium-pace bowling and has competed across major competitions including the CPL, IPL, PSL, BPL, ILT20 and MLC.

Royal Desert Champions take their identity from resolute desert characteristics forged in a demanding environment. The new team has been founded by entrepreneur and former banker Amit Narang who has more than 17 years’ experience with leading international banks in India and the Emirates and has built a successful fintech business in the UAE.

Amit said the opportunity to create the first completely new franchise of the Abu Dhabi T10’s new era, backed by a strong group of initial signings, provides the foundations for ambitions extending well beyond on-field success.

“Royal Desert Champions is built on the belief that champions are revealed when conditions are toughest. The desert embodies the qualities we want this team to stand for – resilience, courage, adaptability, and ambition.

“As the first new founding team of this new Abu Dhabi T10 era, we have the opportunity to create something distinctive from the ground up – a team that the emirate can be proud of, a brand that connects with fans locally and globally, and a franchise with the ambition to build a lasting legacy.

“With Nicholas leading us, supported by outstanding players such as Phil and Sherfane, we have an exciting core around which to build. We are here to compete, to win and to create something that endures.”

Working alongside Pooran to shape that ambition on the field will be former India international all-rounder Robin Singh, who has been appointed Team Director. Singh brings extensive playing and coaching experience, including a long association with Mumbai Indians and roles across international and franchise cricket. His record also includes winning titles in both T10 and ILT20 cricket, giving the new franchise an experienced figure with an established understanding of success in the shortest formats.

“Having been closely associated with the Abu Dhabi tournament format over the years, I am delighted to continue my journey with the Royal Desert Champions,” said Singh. “I look forward to building around our strong core a quality and competitive team capable of making an immediate impact in the Abu Dhabi T10.”

Welcoming the new team to the Abu Dhabi T10 2026 field, Matt Boucher, CEO of ADCSH and the Abu Dhabi T10, said, “We’re thrilled to welcome the Royal Desert Champions to the Abu Dhabi T10. Bringing together a strong regional identity with world-class international talent is exactly the kind of ambition we want to see as the competition continues to grow.

“The new team ownership has set out a clear direction for the team, and they are already assembling an impressive combination of leadership, experience, and international talent. With Robin guiding the sporting operation and Nicholas, Phil and Sherfane providing such a solid early foundation on the field, it will be exciting to see how the Royal Desert Champions take shape ahead of November.”

Royal Desert Champions will now continue building their squad and sporting structure as preparations accelerate for the 2026 Abu Dhabi T10 Official Player Draft on 30 September in Abu Dhabi.