Abu Dhabi T10 League 2021 Schedule: Full Squads, Key Players

Icon player: Isuru Udana

Key players: Andre Fletcher, Johnson Charles, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Bangla Tigers have retained the likes of Andre Fletcher, Chirag Suri, Qais Ahmad, David Wiese and Tom Moores this year but added extra quality to both the batting and bowling line-ups.

Isuru Udana replaces compatriot Thisara Perera as the icon player, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s spin bowling will be a key bowling asset.

If Fletcher and fellow West Indian Johnson Charles fire at the top of the order, meanwhile, run rates will be no issue.

Icon player: Dwayne Bravo

Key players: Mohammad Nabi, Adam Lyth, Rahmanullah Gurbaz

Another team to have retained some key players – in their case Ali Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Sherfane Rutherford among them, Delhi Bulls have plenty of batting firepower in particular.

Rutherford, Nabi, English opener Adam Lyth, West Indian powerhouse Evin Lewis and rising Afghan star Rahmanullah Gurbaz – who impressed at the Lanka Premier League – could all play their part with the bat.

Amad Butt, Ravi Bopara and captain Dwayne Bravo are key all-rounders, meanwhile. Out-and-out star quality is lacking, meanwhile.

Icon player: Shoaib Malik

Key players: Mohammad Hafeez, Laurie Evans, Mosaddek Hossain

Defending champions Maratha Arabians face an uphill battle if they are to defend their crown in 2021.

Shoiab Malik leads the team and fellow evergreen Pakistani veteran Mohammad Hafeez are on board this year, but last season’s stars – the likes of Lasith Malinga and Chris Lynn, are not.

The squad is a pale reflection of last season’s champions and the Arabians will be outsiders for this year’s tournament.

Icon player: Nicholas Pooran

Key players: Andre Russell, Lendl Simmons, Wahab Riaz

Northern Warriors are packed with big-hitting Caribbean stars, including some of the West Indies’ most iconic players in T10 League 2021.

Andre Russell is the most obvious, and will lead the batting and bowling if he hits top form, while captain Nicholas Pooran, batsmen Lendl Simmons and Brandon King and all-rounders Rayad Emrit, Rovman Powell and Fabian Allen are all in the squad.

Add in the experience of Wahab Riaz, in a bowling attacking which also includes Nuwan Pradeep and Wayne Parnell, and it is a squad who should be targeting the play-offs at least.

Icon player: Sunil Narine

Key players: Kieron Pollard, Colin Ingram, Imran Tahir

Where Northern Warriors have turned to the Caribbean for their star players, Deccan Gladiators have balanced their experienced West Indians with South African T20 stars.

Narine and Pollard will be key with bat and ball as long as they stay fit, while Colin Ingram, Cameron Delport and Imran Tahir are also key players.

Tahir’s evergreen quality could be a particularly key factor. If he keeps the run rates down with the ball, the Gladiators have the batting quality to make it count.

Icon player: Thisara Perera

Key players: Mohammad Amir, Hardus Viljoen, Tom Kohler-Cadmore

Pune Devils have a new name for 2021 and seemingly a new approach too. Where in 2019, as the Karnataka Tuskers, their budget went on experience, this time they have taken a punt on more unsung heroes.

Thisara Perera and Mohammad Amir are notable exceptions, but Hardus Viljoen and Tom Kohler-Cadmore have both made their names away from the international arena.

Nepalese star Karan KC could be a dark horse too – he has proved he is capable of wickets and fast runs and this is his chance to star on the big stage. They are among the dark horses for the tournament though.

Icon player: Shahid Afridi

Key players: Chris Jordan, Tom Banton, Ben Dunk

Qalandars were hit with enforced last-minute alterations last time out, and will hope the likes of Shahid Afridi are able to play their part this time in T10 League 2021.

Chris Jordan, Tom Banton, Samit Patel and Phil Salt have been retained, with Banton in particular key last year. Top wicket-taker George Garton is not on the list, however.

Nevertheless, if Banton fires with the bat again and Qalandars are able to make use of their Pakistani core this time around, they can challenge for the play-offs once more.

Icon player: Chris Gayle

Key players: Luke Wright, Chris Morris, Alex Hales

At their best, Chris Gayle, Luke Wright, Paul Stirling and Alex Hales will make a formidable top-order batting line-up whichever way Team Abu Dhabi opt to play them.

The problem is consistency, particularly with Gayle – who, especially as his career winds down, is just as capable of using up too many balls for not enough runs as he is to produce fireworks.

Hayden Walsh Jr and local icon Rohan Mustafa add bowling quality, meanwhile, alongside Morris and Usman Shinwari. If all hit top form, Team Abu Dhabi could be among the favourites.