The ninth edition of the Abu Dhabi T10 League is set to begin on 18 November, and as the tournament approaches, teams are busy finalising their squads.
Ahead of the tournament, Delhi Bulls have signed two Pakistani cricketers for their squad. The franchise announced on their official social media accounts, “Young pacer Ubaid Shah and experienced all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed will be part of the team this season.”
Ubaid Shah will be making his debut in an international franchise league. The 19-year-old pacer recently impressed in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), taking 12 wickets in 11 matches for Multan Sultans. His consistent performance and evident talent earned him this opportunity to play in an international league.
On the other hand, experienced Pakistani batsman Iftikhar Ahmed has already played 66 T20 International matches for the national team. The 35-year-old right-handed batsman has scored 998 runs at a strike rate of 129, including four fifties. Iftikhar also has prior experience in other franchise leagues, including the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), and Lanka Premier League (LPL).
Previously, in the player draft held on 19 October, Delhi Bulls signed pacers Salman Irshad and Mir Hamza. In the same draft, Deccan Gladiators signed Ali Raza and the mystery spinner Usman Tariq. Ali Raza took 12 wickets in 9 matches for Peshawar Zalmi in the previous season, while left-arm pacer Mir Hamza has claimed 33 wickets in 29 matches across six seasons for Karachi Kings and Peshawar Zalmi.
Another Pakistani left-arm pacer, Akif Javed, is preparing for his second international franchise league. Spinner Usman Tariq will also play his second international franchise season this year. In the recent CPL, Usman was the second-highest wicket-taker for Trinbago Knight Riders, claiming 20 wickets in 10 matches.
Additionally, the Azman Titans squad will include Pakistanis Zaman Khan, Asif Ali, and Akif Javed, adding more depth and talent to the tournament’s roster of players.
Pakistani Players in T10 League (by Franchise)
| Franchise | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi Bulls | Ubaid Shah | Pacer |
| Delhi Bulls | Iftikhar Ahmed | All-rounder |
| Delhi Bulls | Salman Irshad | Pacer |
| Delhi Bulls | Mir Hamza | Pacer |
| Deccan Gladiators | Ali Raza | Pacer |
| Deccan Gladiators | Usman Tariq | Spinner |
| Azman Titans | Zaman Khan | Bowler |
| Azman Titans | Asif Ali | Batsman |
| Azman Titans | Akif Javed | Pacer |
This year’s T10 League promises an exciting display of talent, with a mix of emerging young players and seasoned internationals from Pakistan bolstering multiple teams. The addition of Ubaid Shah and Iftikhar Ahmed is expected to strengthen Delhi Bulls’ campaign considerably.
