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Biggest season of Abu Dhabi T10 kicks off in style

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With the latest edition of Abu Dhabi T10 set to begin from November 21, 2024, the representatives from all ten participating teams gathered at Zayed Cricket Stadium on Wednesday to address the media in the pre-tournament press conference. The leaders shed light on the plans for the season and explained how the addition of two teams will elevate the level of competition and add more thrill to the tournament. The 2024 Abu DhabI T10 will be the biggest season in history with 10 participating teams.

Mohammad Nabi, skipper of newly-formed Ajman Bolts, said, “It feels great to be a part of the league which is a champion in introducing and popularising the T10 cricket across the globe. Though it’s our debut season, we are pretty confident and are training well to make the season memorable for the team.”

UP Nawabs’ skipper Rahmanullah Gurbaz, echoed similar statements and said, “The team is in good shape. It’s the team’s first season and we are thrilled to make it an exciting and successful journey. The Nawabs are here to stay.”

The season 7 champions New York Strikers will also be beginning their title defence journey on November 22 against Morrisville Samp Army. Vice-captain Mohammad Amir addressed the media and said, “We had a pretty successful campaign last year and will attempt to replicate it this season as well and win our second consecutive title. All players are pumped up to be back in action on the field and have a great two weeks of cricket.”

Rohan Mustafa also expressed his delight in joining Samp Army as the skipper this year and shared his vision for the season. “It feels great to be a part of this wonderful team and tournament. The goal is clear- to lead the team to the championship title. However, at the same time, it is important to ensure that the players enjoy the process and the sport and give our viewers performances worth enjoying.”

Team Abu Dhabi, which is also going to mark the beginning of the season with their clash against Ajman Bolts, will also be looking forward to winning their debut title this year. The new captain Phil Salt confirmed the team’s agenda and how well-prepared they are for the new challenge.

“The aim, obviously, will be to lift the trophy on December 2. It’s my first season with the team in the role of skipper and I will try to lead the team in the best way possible, which yields us positive results. All players are bonding well and also giving their all in the training sessions, reflecting the commitment towards our collective goal and the enthusiasm to make it happen.”

Two-time Abu Dhabi T10 Champions, Deccan Gladiators and Northern Warriors are also pumped up to create history by lifting the third title and becoming the most successful team in the history of the league.

Gladiators’ star David Wiese gave a brief insight into the team’s agenda for this season. “We are one of the most successful teams in the league and wish to become the squad with the greatest number of titles by winning the trophy this year. We fell short slightly last year but this season, the aim will be to not let history repeat and emerge successful in the title quest.”

Warriors have a similar goal and the opening batter Colin Munro is aligned to make it successful. “Although we have two titles to our name, it’s been quite some time since we lifted our last trophy. This season, we are aiming to change this and add a third trophy to our cabinet, becoming the most successful team in the league. All players are quite zealous to kick off the action and we are looking forward to adding yet another exciting chapter to our book.”

Bangla Tigers, Chennai Braves and Delhi Bulls are all aiming to lift their debut cup, especially after the leadership of the three teams has now been given in the hands of new skippers.

Shakib Al Hasan, skipper of Bangla Tigers, stated, “It feels great to be back with the team and experience the exhilarating atmosphere of this tournament. All players are aligned with the team’s objective and game plan and cannot wait to step out on the field and show their exemplary skills.”

Thisara Perera, who took over the Chennai Braves’ captaincy this year, is also quite determined to make the season memorable. “The franchise joined the league in 2021 and is yet to open its title account. That’s the goal for every player who is a part of our squad. Players are doing well in the practice sessions and with the help of our excellent coaching staff, we should be able to finally mark a victory this season.”

James Vince will be a part of Delhi Bulls this year. “The adrenaline has started to kick in as we are just a day away from the beginning of this season. But the team is well-prepared and trained and is quite excited to begin the campaign, which we hope ends up with the trophy in our hands.”

The eighth season of Abu Dhabi T10 will commence on November 21 with the debut match between Team Abu Dhabi and Ajman Bolts. Being played in a round-robbin format, the playoffs will begin on December 1 with the Qualifier and two Eliminator games happening on the same day. The tournament will conclude with the final on December 2.

The Abu Dhabi T10 will be broadcasted in India, in English, Hindi and other regional languages by Star Sports while FANCODE will stream the games on OTT in the country. Styx Sports will be broadcasting the tournament in Nepal, T Sports in Bangladesh and Sky Sports NZ in New Zealand respectively. Afghanistan and Sri Lanka audiences can watch the games on RTA Sports and C.Live, and Supreme TV respectively.

Sky Sports has also acquired the broadcasting rights of Abu Dhabi T10 in the UK & Ireland while Willow TV can be used to watch the league by people in the US & Canada. Broadcast of matches in the Caribbean will be done by Sports Max while Super Sports has gained the rights for Sub-Saharan African fans. In MENA, Cricbuzz 1 & 2 and Abu Dhabi Sports will be the primary broadcasting channels for the league.

As a trainee reporter and creative lead, I focus on curating engaging content and managing the social media presence for the company. I aim to connect audiences with relevant, impactful news through multiple digital platforms.

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Dubai robotics team earns global recognition at elite US competitions

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A Dubai-based student robotics team has put the UAE on the global STEM map after securing a major award at one of the world’s leading robotics competitions and earning an invitation to an elite international event in the US.

Team UFORCE, representing Unique World Robotics (UWR), finished third in the prestigious Inspire Award category at the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Michiana Premier Event, held in Indiana from June 18 to 21.

The Inspire Award is FTC’s highest judged honour, recognising excellence in robot design, engineering, programming, innovation, teamwork and community impact. Team UFORCE competed against 96 top robotics teams from around the world.

Invited to exclusive global event

Following its strong performance, Team UFORCE also competed at the Multinational Tech Invitational (MTI) in Maryland, an invitation-only competition featuring just 44 of the world’s best FTC teams selected from more than 11,000 active teams globally.

Showcasing UAE STEM talent

The 16-member team includes students from schools across Dubai and Sharjah, highlighting the UAE’s growing talent in robotics and engineering.

“This achievement reflects the dedication, innovation and perseverance of our students and mentors,” said Bansan Thomas George, founder of Unique World Robotics.

Head coach Mohammed Mukhtar said competing on global platforms demonstrates the ability of young innovators from the UAE to excel internationally.

Team captain Aarnav Bhargava described the competitions as a valuable opportunity to develop technical skills, teamwork and confidence while competing against some of the world’s best robotics teams.

About FIRST Tech Challenge

FIRST Tech Challenge is one of the world’s largest youth robotics programmes and is supported by organisations including Google, Amazon and NASA.

The programme also offers students access to scholarships, mentorship opportunities and pathways to leading universities and STEM institutions.

The achievement also reflects the growing impact of firstrobotics.ae, a UAE volunteer-led robotics community that supports students interested in robotics, artificial intelligence and STEM education.




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DP World ILT20 is opening doors for local cricket talent, says UAE Fast Bowler Muhammad Rohid 

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For UAE fast bowler Muhammad Rohid, being among the highest-valued local players at the DP World ILT20’s first-ever player auction was more than a career milestone, it was proof that homegrown cricketers now have a genuine pathway to the professional game.

The left-arm pacer was signed by MI Emirates for $140,000 ahead of Season 4, making him the fifth-highest-priced UAE player in the historic auction. Rohid believes the league is changing the future of cricket in the Emirates by giving young players a platform to showcase their talent alongside some of the biggest names in the sport.

“The biggest thing the DP World ILT20 has done is create a clear pathway for UAE players,” Rohid said. “Young cricketers can now see that if they perform well, opportunities will come, whether that’s with a franchise or the national team.”

The 24-year-old credits the tournament with helping him develop both on and off the field. He recalled one of his standout moments from

Season 4, when he was told he would be playing in Qualifier 2 just 10 minutes before the toss. Despite the late call-up, Rohid delivered figures of 2 for 19, dismissing Brandon McMullen and Liam Livingstone during a match-winning spell.

“The biggest lesson I learned was to always stay ready because opportunities can come at any moment,” he said. “The environment taught me to trust my preparation, stay calm under pressure and back my abilities.”

Rohid also highlighted the value of sharing a dressing room with international stars such as Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Shakib Al Hasan.

“Watching how they prepare, train and handle pressure has been a huge learning experience. They were always willing to share advice, and those conversations helped me become a better player.”

The pacer has since become a regular member of the UAE national team, featuring in ODIs and T20 Internationals, while also earning selection for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, where he represented the UAE against New Zealand.

Looking ahead, Rohid says his focus remains on improving his game and becoming a bowler his captain can rely on in every situation.

“I want to keep getting better every season and contribute more for both the UAE and MI Emirates. I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve received and hope to make the most of them.”

Season 5 of the DP World ILT20 is scheduled to take place in November and December 2026.

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UAE wins three ICC Development Awards for women’s cricket and grassroots growth

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The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) celebrated a landmark achievement after winning three honours at the ICC Development Awards 2025, recognising its outstanding contribution to grassroots cricket and the growth of the women’s game in the UAE.

The awards were presented during the International Cricket Council (ICC) Annual Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland, where cricket boards from around the world were recognised for programmes that have helped expand participation and develop the sport.

Initiative of the Year

The ECB’s first award came in the Marriott Bonvoy ICC Development Initiative of the Year category for its pioneering Girls U15 Academy League. The programme, the first of its kind in the region, was recognised for creating new opportunities for young girls to participate in competitive cricket while promoting inclusion and wider access to the sport.

The board also shared the ICC Female Cricket Initiative of the Year award with Türkiye Cricket. The honour recognised the UAE’s efforts to expand girls’ cricket through the Get into Cricket – Girls Only programme and the Interschool Criiio Gulf Cup, initiatives launched following the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 to introduce cricket to schools and communities across the country.

Victory for UAE women’s national team

Completing a memorable evening, the ECB received the ICC Associate Member Women’s Team Performance of the Year award after the UAE women’s national team made history during its tour of Zimbabwe.

Competing in their first-ever 50-over series after gaining ODI status, the UAE secured a 2-2 draw in the One-Day International series before defeating Zimbabwe 2-0 in the subsequent T20 International series. The result marked the UAE’s maiden bilateral series victory over a higher-ranked Full Member nation on foreign soil.

ECB Board Member Zayed Abbas described the awards as a significant milestone for everyone involved in UAE cricket.

“These awards are a massive encouragement for the Emirates Cricket Board management, officials, players and support staff,” Abbas said.

He thanked the ICC for recognising the work of Associate Members and said the honours had strengthened the board’s determination to invest further in cricket development.

Abbas also praised the rapid rise of women’s cricket in the UAE, saying growing media attention and increased participation at grassroots level were creating a strong foundation for the future.

“Thousands of girls are now playing cricket, which means that we have a solid foundation to work on for the years ahead,” he said.

Bright future for women’s team

Looking ahead, Abbas said the Emirates Cricket Board remains committed to providing the national women’s team with greater exposure against leading international sides as preparations continue for the ACC Women’s Asia Cup 2026 and qualification campaigns for future ICC Women’s T20 and ODI World Cups.

The ICC Development Awards recognise outstanding programmes and achievements that contribute to the growth of cricket globally, with winners selected from regional nominees across multiple development categories.

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