16 Windies Stars Set to Shine at 2026 Abu Dhabi T10 Season

Abu Dhabi, October 25: The 2026 Abu Dhabi T10 League is set to be dominated by West Indies talent. From November 7 to 20, Zayed Cricket Stadium will host the competition, with 16 Caribbean stars spread across six franchises.

The Caribbean influence is clear from the start. Four of the six icon players, signed before the draft, are from the West Indies. Their presence underlines how important the region's cricketers are to the league. Power hitting is likely to add extra excitement to the matches.

The franchise captains reflect this strength. Kieron Pollard leads defending champions UAE Bulls, Jason Holder represents Yas Lions, Nicholas Pooran captains Royal Desert Champions, and Rovman Powell leads Emirates Eagles. Arabian Ases have added Andre Russell before the draft, while United Tigers have brought in fast-bowling all-rounder Odean Smith.

Each T10 innings consists of only 60 balls. This short format puts a premium on early boundary hitting, which is why explosive batters can have a major impact.

Several players arrive with impressive records. Pooran was the top run-scorer and Player of the Tournament in 2022, scoring 345 runs for Deccan Gladiators, including 31 sixes. He went on to help the franchise win another title in 2024. He also holds the league record for the most sixes, with 137.

Akeal Hosein, now with Yas Lions, produced a memorable performance in the 2023 Qualifier 1, taking five wickets for six runs, including a hat-trick.

Franchises have also invested in Caribbean players beyond their headline names. UAE Bulls retained Pollard, Sunil Narine and Romario Shepherd and added Andre Fletcher. Royal Desert Champions combined Pooran with Sherfane Rutherford, Brandon King and Kemo Paul. Shimron Hetmyer has joined Powell at Emirates Eagles.

Arabian Ases and Yas Lions have also strengthened their fast-bowling units with Alzarri Joseph and Obed McCoy.