Key points

• The Abu Dhabi T10 2026 begins on Saturday, 7 November, and runs until 20 November at Zayed Cricket Stadium.
• Six franchises take part, with an opening triple-header on day one.
• A last-minute agreement between the PCB and the league cleared the way for 16 Pakistan players to take part.
• The PCB had demanded a $10,000 No Objection Certificate fee per player, putting participation in doubt.
• Naseem Shah, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir and Fakhar Zaman are among the Pakistan players in the tournament.

The 10th edition of the Abu Dhabi T10 begins on Saturday, 7 November, with an opening triple-header at Zayed Cricket Stadium — and with 16 Pakistan players cleared to take part after a last-minute agreement ended a dispute that had threatened to keep them out entirely.

The tournament runs until 20 November and features six franchises: UAE Bulls, Yas Lions, Royal Desert Champions, Emirates Eagles, United Tigers and Arabian Aces, playing a round-robin followed by knockouts.

The NOC standoff — and the deal

The build-up to the tournament was dominated by a dispute over No Objection Certificates. The Pakistan Cricket Board had demanded $10,000 per NOC for each of the 16 Pakistan players picked in the draft on 30 September — a total of $160,000 — and reports indicated the players were unlikely to take part.

The standoff was resolved on 5–6 November, when the PCB and the league organisers reached an agreement. According to reports in Geo News and A Sports, the organisers agreed to provide compensation and facilities worth up to $200,000 — roughly Rs 5.6 crore — to the board in exchange for the NOCs. The PCB has not issued an official public statement on the agreement, and confirmation that every individual certificate has actually been issued remains outstanding.

Which Pakistan players are involved

The 16 Pakistan players are spread across five of the six franchises:

• UAE Bulls: Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Khawaja Nafay, Khushdil Shah, Azam Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jr
• United Tigers: Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Sufyan Muqeem, Abbas Afridi
• Emirates Eagles: Hasan Nawaz, Akif Javed, Ali Raza
• Royal Desert Champions: Naseem Shah
• Arabian Aces: Salman Irshad

Only the Yas Lions have no Pakistan player in the group. The tournament overlaps with Pakistan's home Test series against Sri Lanka, which begins in Rawalpindi on 9 November.

Opening day fixtures

The first day features three matches, with all six franchises in action:

• UAE Bulls vs Yas Lions — 5:00 PM IST
• Royal Desert Champions vs Emirates Eagles — 7:15 PM IST
• United Tigers vs Arabian Aces — 9:30 PM IST

The 10-over format has built its appeal on fast scoring and short, sharp contests, and the 10th season arrives with its usual mix of international stars and emerging players. The league will be broadcast across India, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia.

FAQ

When does the Abu Dhabi T10 2026 start and end?

The tournament starts on 7 November 2026 and runs until 20 November at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi.

How many teams play in the Abu Dhabi T10?

Six franchises: UAE Bulls, Yas Lions, Royal Desert Champions, Emirates Eagles, United Tigers and Arabian Aces.

Why were Pakistan players at risk of missing the tournament?

The PCB demanded a $10,000 NOC fee per player. A deal reported on 5–6 November, involving compensation and facilities worth up to $200,000 for the board, cleared the way for the 16 players.

Who are the main Pakistan players in the T10?

Naseem Shah, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz and Khawaja Nafay are among the 16 Pakistan players in the tournament.