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Tag: Abu Dhabi T10

  • New York Strikers partner with Digital Giants for Abu Dhabi T10 2024

    New York Strikers partner with Digital Giants for Abu Dhabi T10 2024

    Mumbai: The defending champions, New York Strikers, have teamed up with top-tier digital and sports brands as they gear up to defend their crown at the 2024 Abu Dhabi T10. With cricket legends Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine leading the charge, the Strikers have secured key sponsorships: NewCity.vip as principal title sponsor, IceCric.News as back presenting sponsor, and New York Strikers Sports Management as platinum sponsor.

    These partnerships mark a major milestone in the team’s strategy to strengthen its global brand. By blending cricket, digital content, and gaming, the Strikers are positioning themselves for even greater fan engagement and success.

    The partnership with IceCric.News enhances the team’s digital presence, offering fans around the world exclusive access to news, updates, and behind-the-scenes content. NewCity.vip’s sponsorship adds an exciting layer of fan interaction by merging the worlds of sports and gaming. Meanwhile, the backing from New York Strikers Sports Management ensures the team has the necessary resources for continued success, both on and off the field.

    New York Strikers owner, Sagar Khanna emphasises the significance of these strategic partnerships: “These partnerships are integral to our mission of elevating the cricket experience and offering our fans a deeper, more interactive connection to the game. It’s about aligning with brands that share our ambition to push boundaries. We’re not just aiming for success on the field—we’re shaping the future of how cricket is experienced globally.”

    New York Strikers CEO, Shazmeen Kara adds, “As a franchise, we’re always looking for ways to enhance the fan experience, and these partnerships do just that. This season is about combining the best of cricket, technology, and entertainment, and we can’t wait to see it all unfold.”

    With a star-studded lineup that includes international heavyweights and emerging talents, the New York Strikers are set for an exhilarating 2024 Abu Dhabi T10. Supported by IceCric.News, NewCity.vip, and New York Strikers Sports Management, the team is focused on retaining its title and offering an unforgettable experience to fans worldwide.

  • This season cricket fans can watch Abu Dhabi T10 for AED 10!

    This season cricket fans can watch Abu Dhabi T10 for AED 10!

    Mumbai: The much-awaited seventh edition of Abu Dhabi T10 is just around the corner and cricket frenzy fans in the region will be delighted to know that the tickets for cricket’s fastest format are now available for sale for just AED 10. Tickets can be purchased online.

    Abu Dhabi T10 is partnering with Q-Tickets as their exclusive ticketing partner for the upcoming edition. Q-Tickets will also be running co-promotions with 360 Play in various malls across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Fujairah to sell tickets and other bundled offers.

    In Abu Dhabi, the tickets will be sold at the Jumpo Trampo in Yas Mall, and at the Beanstalk at the Marina Mall. In Dubai, the tickets will be available to purchase at the 360 Play Jumpo Trampo at the Spring Souk Mall, Adventure Land at the Al Ghuriar Mall, and at the Trampoline at the Century Mall. Tickets for Abu Dhabi T10 Season 7 will also be sold at the Spider Tower in the Century Mall in Fujairah.

    Abu Dhabi T10 2023 will take place between 28 November and 9 December with 32 matches set to be played between eight well-rounded teams namely Deccan Gladiators, New York Strikers, Northern Warriors, Morrisville Samp Army, Delhi Bulls, Bangla Tigers, Team Abu Dhabi, and Chennai Braves.

  • Abu Dhabi T10 2023 to begin from 28 November

    Abu Dhabi T10 2023 to begin from 28 November

    Mumbai: The eight teams of Abu Dhabi T10, the fastest format of cricket, have made their picks, and – the road to another exciting season is officially underway with the players draft for 2023 coming to a close on Monday evening.

    It was a fantastic evening that saw some exciting picks, with former Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis and India heavy hitter Robin Uthappa being the Bangla Tigers’ prominent signings. Strategically, the Tigers also bolstered their pace attack with Reece Topley.

    The Chennai Braves went for veteran spinner Imran Tahir who has been showcasing unbelievable skills across various leagues for the past several years. The defending champions Deccan Gladiators made bold moves straightaway, packing their squad with Sherfane Rutherford and Fabian Allen. Picking David Wiese as their first optional pick, Gladiators showcased their intentions of bringing on all-rounders among their ranks.

    Delhi Bulls picked up the popular fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq along with the rising Sri Lankan youngster Dunith Wellalage, who has been predicted to be an unexpected trump card by cricket pundits, being a massive signing for the franchise. Morrisville Samp Army had their plans well laid out as they brought on young England allrounder George Garton and Netherlands fast bowler Bas de Leede. With Monank Patel and Obus Pienaar as their optional picks, Morrisville showed that they are relying on youth in the shortest format.

    New York Strikers picked Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Odean Smith in their team, along with youngster Lasith Croospule as their Emerging player. Northern Warriors made the first draft pick of the day with Kiwi batting-allrounder Colin Munro who has growing among the ranks in the T20 format recently. Warriors also picked Indian talent Ankur Sangwan and Abhimanyu Mithun.

    Team Abu Dhabi packed powerhouses Dwaine Pretorius and Colin Ingram on their squads, while Keemo Paul was also picked up by Team Abu Dhabi.

    Speaking at the draft, T10 Global chairman Shaji Ul Mulk said, “The franchises have picked some of the best players in the world this season. The fans will get to witness real skillsets on display which will truly give an international dynamic to the tournament. T10 is already going global, and these are exciting times for us. The format has really captured the imagination of young people around the world, and it is also reflected in the quality of young players we saw in the draft today. We have kept the essence of cricket exactly the same, but the fast-paced format and the quality of players each season make it exciting every year for the fans. I am sure it will be yet another fantastic season, one that we await eagerly!”

    Abu Dhabi T10 Season 7 full teams:

    Bangla Tigers:

    Draft Signings: Kusal Mendis (Cat A), Dominik Drakes (Cat B), Reece Topley (Cat B), Saim Ayub (Cat B), Matiullah Khan (Cat C), Haider Ali (UAE-RES), Abdul Ghaffar (UAE-RES), Amartya Kaul (Emerging), Rassie van der Dussen (Opt 1), Taskin Ahmed (Opt 2), Robin Uthappa (Opt 3)

    Retained: Shakib Al Hasan (Icon), Iftikhar Ahmed (Cat C), Matheesha Pathirana (Cat C), Rohan Mustafa (UAE-RES), Daniel Sams (Cat A)

    Pre-Signings: Carlos Brathwaite (Platinum), Azam Khan (Asian Super Star)

    Chennai Braves:

    Draft Signings: Sam Cook (Cat B), Imran Tahir (Cat B), George Munsey (Cat C), Kobe Herft (Cat C), Richard Ngarava (Cat C), Junaid Siddique (UAE-RES), Aayan Khan (UAE-RES), Vriitya Aravind (UAE-RES), Kai Smith (Emerging), Stephen Eskinazi (Opt 1)

    Retained: Obed McCoy (Cat A), Sikandar Raza (Cat B)

    Pre-Signings: Jason Roy (Icon), Charith Asalanka (Platinum), Bhanuka Rajapaksa (Cat A), Hassan Ali (Asian Super Star)

    Deccan Gladiators:

    Draft Signings: Sherfane Rutherford (Cat A), Fabian Allen (Cat B), Joe Clarke (Cat B), Zahir Khan (Cat C), Waqar Salamkheil (Cat C), Mohammad Zahid (UAE-RES), Nav Pabreja (UAE-RES), Khawaja Nafay (Emerging), David Wiese (Opt 1), Nuwan Thushara (Opt 2)

    Retained: Nicholas Pooran (Icon), Andre Russell (Cat A), Tom Kohler-Cadmore (Cat B), Joshua Little (Cat C), Zahoor Khan (UAE-RES)

    Pre-Signings: Trent Boult (Platinum), Imad Wasim (Asian Super Star)

    Delhi Bulls:

    Draft Signings: Naveen-ul-Haq (Cat A), James Vince (Cat B), Usman Khan (Cat C), Richard Gleeson (Cat C), Dunith Wellalage (Cat C), Muhammad Rohid Khan (UAE-RES), Wasim Akram (UAE-RES), Ali Abid (UAE-RES), Sufiyan Muqeen (Emerging), Johnson Charles (Opt 1), Usama Mir (Opt 2), Abbas Afridi (Opt 3)

    Retained: Dwayne Bravo (Cat A), Rilee Rossouw (Cat B), Fazalhaq Farooqi (Cat B)

    Pre-Signings: Quinton de Kock (Icon), Rovman Powell (Platinum), Ambati Rayudu (Asian Super Star)

    Morrisville Samp Army:

    Draft Signings: George Garton (Cat B), Bas de Leede (Cat B), Andries Gous (Cat C), Najibullah Zadran (Cat C), Salman Irshad (Cat C), Ansh Tandon (UAE-RES), Muhammad Irfan (UAE-RES), Tadiwanashe Marumani (Emerging), Peter Hatzoglou (Opt 1), Monank Patel (Opt 2), Obus Pienaar (Opt 3)

    Retained: Moeen Ali (Cat A), Maheesh Theekshana (Cat B), Basil Hameed (UAE-RES), Karim Janat (Asian Super Star)

    Pre-Signings: Faf du Plessis (Icon), Jason Holder (Platinum), Dewald Bravis (Cat A)

    New York Strikers:

    Draft Signings: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Cat A), Odean Smith (Cat B), Mohammad Haris (Cat B), Lahiru Kumara (Cat C), Chamika Karunaratne (Cat C), Kusal Perera (Cat C), Muhammad Jawadullah (UAE-RES), Chundangapoyil Rizwan (UAE-RES), Lasith Croospule (Emerging), Will Jacks (Opt 1), Ali Khan (Opt 2)

    Retained: Kieron Pollard (Icon), Akeal Hosein (Cat B), Muhammad Waseem (UAE-RES)

    Pre-Signings: Sunil Narine (Platinum), Mohammad Amir (Cat A), Shoaib Malik (Asian Super Star)

    Northern Warriors:

    Draft Signings: Colin Munro (Cat A), Romario Shepherd (Cat B), Mohammad Hasnain (Cat B), Tabraiz Shamsi (Cat B), Ziaur Rahman (Cat C), Rahul Chopra (UAE-RES), Rameez Shahzad (UAE-RES) Kaunain Abbas (UAE-RES), Shamar Joseph (Emerging), Ankur Sangwan (Opt 1), Abhimanyu Mithun (Opt 3)

    Retained: Wanindu Hasaranga (Icon), Kennar Lewis (Cat C), Adam Hose (Cat C)

    Pre-Signings: James Neesham (Platinum), Hazratullah Zazai (Cat A), Angelo Mathews (Asian Super Star)

    Team Abu Dhabi:

    Draft Signings: Dwaine Pretorius (Cat A), Rumman Raees (Cat B), Leus de Plooy (Cat B), Mohammad Nawaz (Cat C), Keemo Paul (Cat C), Colin Ingram (Cat C), Asif Khan (UAE-RES) Alishan Sharafu (UAE-RES), Ethan D’Souza (UAE-RES), Allah Mohammad (Emerging), Dilshan Madushanka (Opt 1)

    Retained: Philip Salt (Icon), Tymal Mills (Cat A), Alex Hales (Cat B)

    Pre-Signings: Noor Ahmad (Asian Super Star), Kyle Mayers (Platinum)

  • Rajeev Khanna is Abu Dhabi T10 COO

    Rajeev Khanna is Abu Dhabi T10 COO

    MUMBAI: The cricket league Abu Dhabi T10 announces the appointment of Rajeev Khanna as COO for the upcoming season of the tournament, wherein he will be responsible for the overall management and the competition’s operations.

    Khanna, who is a former cricket player, has been a pioneer in the field of sports management. He has converted his passion for sports into a career with tenures at leagues such as the Indian Premier League (IPL), Pro Kabaddi League and International Tennis Premier League.

    Khanna has been working in the IPL since 2009. He has served as Punjab Kings, COO at Rajasthan Royals, VP at Rajasthan Royals and currently as a consultant for Rajasthan Royals. Through the years, he has been able to bring about a phenomenal change in the ways of sports management at the highest stage.  

    Khanna said, “The Abu Dhabi T10 is the most exhilarating cricket tournament in the world and therefore, I am very excited to join the bandwagon as the COO of the competition. I will definitely look to ensure that the legacy of the tournament continues to grow exponentially and becomes an even bigger attraction for the stars of the game in the future.”

    T10 Sports Management chairman Shaji Ul Mulk said, “Rajeev Khanna has achieved great heights during his career and we are very excited to welcome him to the Abu Dhabi T10 family. I am sure that our tournament will benefit hugely from his experience, and we look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with him.”

    The Abu Dhabi T10 will be played at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi from 23 November – 4 December 2022.

  • Viacom18 launches marketing blitz to build fandom for Abu Dhabi T10

    Viacom18 launches marketing blitz to build fandom for Abu Dhabi T10

    Mumbai: Viacom18 will begin airing the Abu Dhabi T10 league on 19 November starting at 7 p.m. The network has started a marketing blitz to build a fandom for the league amongst cricketing fans in India. The Abu Dhabi T10 league is co-presented by Dream11 and has onboarded Fairplay as a digital sponsor on Voot.

    “The Abu Dhabi T10 tournament has emerged as one of the most entertaining spectacle events in the sporting calendar since its launch,” Viacom18 head of marketing and digital – Hindi mass entertainment Sapangeet Rajwant. “Our aim will be to enhance the overall experience of viewers and reach out to the mass, cricket-crazy audience in India to increase the fan base and popularise the event in the country.”

    Abu Dhabi T10 league will premiere from 7 p.m on 19 November, live on Colors Cineplex, Rishtey Cineplex, and Voot. The six teams that will be a part of this series represent 20 nations and include cricketing legends like Yusuf Pathan, Eoin Morgan, David Wiese, Faf Du Plessis, Chris Gayle, Babar Azam, Wahab Riaz, Imran Tahir and many more.

    Viacom18 has initiated a 360-degree mix of marketing initiatives starting from 15 November to build up the excitement for the tournament. The network is driving communications on TV for the league across 50 channels in the movies, music, regional GECs, and news genre along with a promotional plan for cable across Maharashtra and Gujarat markets as well as collaboration with several DTH providers. Along with OOH hoardings across Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Chennai markets, there is also a robust print ad plan underway.

    Moreover, the network is driving instream inventory and interstitial ads across social media, gaming apps, and short video platforms and placing GDN banners on cricket-focussed websites. While on radio, RJ mentions, spots, and score updates have been planned with leading stations across Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Nashik, Ahmedabad, Baroda, Surat, Rajkot markets.

    Leveraging the digital outreach, carousel ads and push notifications will be driven across Jio platforms. On social media, push across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube are targeted towards reaching out to cricket and sports fans, as well as engagement, which will be driven through hashtag challenges. Digital impact amplification will also be done through channels/platforms with Google products and a host of cricket websites.

  • Deccan Gladiators signs nine sponsors for Abu Dhabi T10

    Deccan Gladiators signs nine sponsors for Abu Dhabi T10

    Mumbai: Following the start of Abu Dhabi T10, Deccan Gladiators has signed a host of sponsors. The list includes brands such as 1NE, Insiya, and Kenza as premium sponsors, Baskin-Robbins, Shivoy Group and Clubhouse Amritsar as the official sponsors, SportGully as principal sponsor, Kragbuzz, a premium athleisure and sportswear brand approved by ICC, as apparel partners and Arean as the hygiene partners.

    Welcoming these brands on board, Deccan Gladiators team owner Gaurav Grover said, “We extend a warm welcome to all the sponsors on behalf of the entire team of Deccan Gladiators. These couple of months has been a roller-coaster and we are happy that brands have come forward and extended their support towards the team.”

    Deccan Gladiators marketing head Udit Vats added, “It was crucial for us to come back stronger after the pandemic. The threat still looms large, but these associations have provided the Gladiators some much-needed morale-booster before the event. We would like to thank these sponsors for believing in our values and supporting us in these difficult times. We are looking for one big season ahead of us and without their support, it won’t be possible.”

  • RISE Worldwide bags media rights for Abu Dhabi T10

    RISE Worldwide bags media rights for Abu Dhabi T10

    Mumbai: T Ten Sports Management has awarded RISE Worldwide a multi-layered and multi-year mandate for the upcoming Abu Dhabi T10.

    RISE Worldwide will be the exclusive partner to the Abu Dhabi T10 – for broadcast production, global media rights and sponsorship package to build strategic brand partnerships.

    The Abu Dhabi T10, featuring eight teams, will be held from 19 November to 4 December at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. For India, the Abu Dhabi T10 will be broadcast on Viacom18’s network of five channels.

    “We are excited to have been presented with the opportunity to facilitate an end-to-end package for the unique and exciting Abu Dhabi T10 League,” said RISE Worldwide, head – sponsorship and talent, Nikhil Bardia. “We are confident in enabling Abu Dhabi T10 achieve its goals through structured strategic brand partnership and global audience.”

    “Together with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Department of Culture & Tourism, we are thrilled to partner with RISE Worldwide as we continue to evolve the brilliant Abu Dhabi T10 into one of cricket’s most exciting destination events,” said Abu Dhabi Cricket, chief executive officer, Matthew Boucher. “RISE driving the global audience and international viewership firmly enhances our gold star product within Abu Dhabi’s world-class sports portfolio.”

    “Undoubtedly, the T10 format is the fastest-growing format of the game today, and we are encouraged with the initiatives and partnerships that show the same passion and commitment. Emirates Cricket are delighted to have RISE Worldwide join us on this journey as a premier facilitator in media strategies,” said Emirates Cricket Board, general manager, Mubashir Usmani.

    “RISE Worldwide is one of the best end-to-end service providers in the sports industry. With their expertise, brand Abu Dhabi T10 will scale greater heights and be at par with the top leagues in the world,” said Abu Dhabi T10, chairman, Shaju Ul Mulk.

  • Viacom18 bags exclusive TV, digital rights for Abu Dhabi T10

    Viacom18 bags exclusive TV, digital rights for Abu Dhabi T10

    The sporting extravaganza will premiere LIVE on COLORS Cineplex SD (Hindi), COLORS Cineplex HD (English), Rishtey Cineplex (Hindi), Voot, and Jio starting 19 November. The multi-year partnership was facilitated by sports management firm RISE Worldwide.

    Speaking about the partnership Viacom18, head- Hindi mass entertainment and kids TV network, Nina Elavia Jaipuria said, “Sporting events have always attracted a wide spectrum of audiences and we have been successfully experimenting with sports content on our network. The Abu Dhabi T10 collaboration is a bold step in further enhancing our sports content mix and we are hopeful it will help us expand our viewer and sponsor base.”

    The format will have eight participating teams, each representing a region from the subcontinent. The team comprises Delhi Bulls, Pune Devils, Bangla Tigers, Deccan Gladiators, Maratha Arabians, Qalandars, Northern Warriors, and Team Abu Dhabi. The league will witness participation from cricketers like Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Shahid Afridi, Muhammad Amir, Eoin Morgan, David Miller, Dawid Malan, Faf Du Plessis, Jason Roy, Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Colin Munro, Babar Azam, Wahab Riaz, Imran Tahir and many more.

    The tournament is sanctioned by ICC and licensed for ten years by Emirates Cricket Board. It will have 90 minutes of fast-paced ‘cricketainment’ spread over 34 matches, said the company in a media statement on Tuesday.

    Viacom18, business head-Hindi movies cluster, Rohan Lavsi said, “It is our vision and constant endeavour to present our viewers with an unmatched entertainment experience that doesn’t require an episodic commitment. Movies and sports fit this vision and in that sense are quite complimentary as a variated content mix. This belief has been validated by both our viewers and advertisers as we witnessed significant uptakes whenever we have showcased sports – be it the NIDAHAS trophy or the RSWS.”

    Abu Dhabi Cricket, CEO, Matthew Boucher said, “Broadcasting the Abu Dhabi T10 to homes in the Indian subcontinent on one of the leading television and streaming channels in the country makes this media agreement truly unique as a global multiplatform viewership is a priority for us as a host destination partner. Together with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the Department of Culture & Tourism Abu Dhabi, we are thrilled to continually evolve the Abu Dhabi T10 into an event that drives growing audiences every year – digitally and otherwise.”

    T10 Sports Management, chairman, Shaji Ul Mulk said, “The Abu Dhabi T10 has grown by leaps and bounds over the past four seasons and has generated keen interest globally and gained tremendous traction in India. To our ever-growing list of fans and followers, we promise an even more exhilarating experience through one of India’s best media and entertainment networks- Viacom18”.

    Emirates Cricket Board, general secretary, Mubashshir Usmani said, “Starting out in 2017, we are happy with the growth that Abu Dhabi T10 has achieved over the years. The advent of this league has provided a huge platform for our domestic players. The league has provided entertainment to cricket fans in India, and we are pleased that Viacom18 is now aligned with the league to further enhance the reach on its varied TV channels and digital platforms.”

  • Sony Pictures Networks India bags broadcast rights of Abu Dhabi T10

    Sony Pictures Networks India bags broadcast rights of Abu Dhabi T10

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) has returned as the official broadcast partner for the second edition of Abu Dhabi T10. The tournament is slated to take place at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium from 28 January to 6 February 2021.

     All 29 Abu Dhabi T10 matches will be telecast live on Sony Six in English and 27 matches on Sony Ten 3 in Hindi and will be livestreamed on its on-demand OTT platform SonyLIV which will allow viewers to watch the tournament on their mobile phones, bumping potential viewership numbers for the event.

    This year’s Abu Dhabi T10 will feature eight teams: Maratha Arabians, Bangla Tigers, Delhi Bulls, Northern Warriors, Deccan Gladiators, Qalandars, Team Abu Dhabi and Pune Devils that will face each other in 29 action-packed matches across 10 days. The star-studded line-up of international cricket talent features West Indian icons like Chris Gayle, Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, English stars Alex Hales and Sam Billings, along with lethal South Africans Imran Tahir and Chris Morris. With more experienced international stars coming into the league, fans can expect not just more entertainment on the field but also a higher level of cricket.

    To drum up the excitement for the tournament, Sony Sports has launched the campaign Cricket Ka Naya Avatar – Tod Phod Cricket where the entire game is of Powerplay and fans can look forward to ten overs of power packed entertainment at its best.

    YouTube Links for the Campaign Film:

    Sony Pictures Networks India  distribution and head – sports business chief revenue officer Rajesh Kaul said, “Cricket has always been India’s passion and we are excited to partner with this innovative, fast paced format in the Abu Dhabi T10 once again. Abu Dhabi T10 has grown from strength to strength and cricket lovers can look forward to some of the biggest names in the game producing power-packed performances this season."

    In addition to its massive subscriber base, Sony Pictures Networks India brings broadcast expertise and strong credentials to its part of the deal. The network is the premier destination for cricket in India, with rights to four international cricket boards – England and Wales Cricket Board, Cricket Australia, Sri Lanka Cricket and Cricket Ireland. It is also the official broadcaster of the ongoing India tour of Australia and the Big Bash League.

    T10 Sports Management chairman Shaji Ul Mulk said, “The Abu Dhabi T10 has become increasingly popular in the last few years and it's only fitting that Indian cricket fans get a chance to watch engaging cricket through Sony Pictures Networks India. The matches last for only 90 minutes and each game is guaranteed to have a lot of drama and entertainment. India will witness Abu Dhabi T10 becoming the next big thing in cricket over the next few years.”

    Abu Dhabi Cricket CEO Matthew Boucher said, “Global viewership in priority tourism source markets is a key driver behind our five-year 2019-2023 agreement to be the host destination of the Abu Dhabi T10. In this digital age, we are thrilled to offer cricket fans the best of the sport – and the best of Abu Dhabi – through Sony Pictures Networks, which has a massive audience base in India.”

    Abu Dhabi T10 is the world’s only ten-over cricket tournament officially sanctioned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and licensed by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB). Abu Dhabi T10 is a UAE product that has grown into a globally accepted cricket format. Matches have a 10-over-a-side format and duration of 45 minutes a side totalling 90 minutes of play. The tournament is played over ten days, with a round robin followed by semi-finals and the final. The Abu Dhabi T10 tournament is a short, high energy format loved by global audiences and international cricket stars alike.

  • Abu Dhabi T10 & Sony Pictures Networks India to capture massive global audience

    Abu Dhabi T10 & Sony Pictures Networks India to capture massive global audience

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) has joined with Abu Dhabi T10 as their official broadcast partner for the third consecutive year to bring the unique cricket extravaganza to a worldwide viewership of nearly a billion fans.

    All twenty-nine Abu Dhabi T10 matches will be telecast live on Sony Pictures Network India’s massive viewer base of 700 million on Sony Six and Sony Ten 3 channels. In addition to this, SonyLIV and Jio will allow another 300 million viewers to live-stream the tournament on their mobile phones through their OTT platforms, bumping potential viewership numbers for the event to truly astronomical levels.

    Sony Pictures Networks India, chief revenue officer, distribution and head – sports business Rajesh Kaul said, “Cricket dominates the viewership in India and our aim is to serve the interests of our viewers. The T10 League is extremely engaging and its fast-paced format has attracted a loyal following across demographics since its inaugural edition on Sony Pictures Networks in 2017. The T10 League is considered the latest avatar of the most watched sport in the country and this edition awaits a higher degree of thrill and excitement with the inclusion of some of the biggest names in the sport.”

    The move comes as the next strategic step in positioning the Abu Dhabi T10 franchise as a truly world-class sporting spectacle, after moving to the United Arab Emirates capital and forging key partnerships with local government entities there.

    The prime mover behind the deal and the originator of the only ICC-sanctioned ten-over cricket league in the world, T10 Sports Management chairman Shaji Ul Mulk, spoke glowingly about the significance of ten-over cricket and the new broadcast partnership: “This is a very fast format and I’m sure children will take a liking towards the league. It is like watching a football match, the action is over in 90 minutes and there is lot of drama and entertainment. It is the next big thing in the world of cricket. As the format gathers more fans, we want to make sure that no one is left disappointed and so we have partnered with Sony Pictures Networks India and Jio to telecast the cricket extravaganza live on their platforms.”

    In addition to its massive subscriber base, Sony Pictures Networks India brings broadcast expertise and strong credentials to its part of the deal. The network is the premier destination for cricket in India, with rights to eight international cricket boards including England and Wales Cricket Board and was also the official broadcaster of the recently concluded Ashes.

    On Monday, Sony representatives and Abu Dhabi T10 officials mingled with celebrities and cricket superstars to celebrate the partnership deal. England’s World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan and former India speedster Zaheer Khan were on hand as official ambassadors for the Abu Dhabi T10 which is set to kick off from 14 November 2019 to 24 November 2019 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in the UAE capital.

    Morgan spoke of the shift in perception with the new deal and the move to Abu Dhabi: “More people are watching because it’s a faster game and we’re playing in a city that loves to do things big. Big stars, big audiences, big action on the pitch. And players love playing in Abu Dhabi because it represents an audience that loves one-of-a-kind entertainments. That’s T10 in a nutshell.”

    For this year’s Abu Dhabi T10, eight teams will face each another in 29 action-packed matches across 10 days. The star-studded line-up of international cricket talent shines a light on the game’s global appeal, with the likes of Australian icons Shane Watson and Cameron White, West Indians Darren Sammy, Andre Russell, Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo; Sri Lankan duo Angelo Matthews and pacer Lasith Malinga; and Afghanistan’s Mohammad Shahzad and Rashid Khan all set to participate in November.

    The global appeal of cricket and the attraction of Abu Dhabi as a travel and sporting destination create a winning formula for local government stakeholders, as well, including the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Sports Council, according to CEO of Abu Dhabi Cricket, Matthew Boucher: “This media agreement is truly unique, broadcasting the destination of Abu Dhabi to over 700 million homes in India via 6 of the most renowned television and streaming channels in India. Together with the Department of Culture & Tourism Abu Dhabi we are thrilled to be partnering with Sony Pictures Network to amplify the Abu Dhabi T10 broadcast so comprehensively into one of our key source tourism markets.”

    With potential viewership numbers approaching those of elite global sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics, some have speculated that the T10 format may play a key role in taking cricket to the Olympics as an official competitive sport.  

    Former Indian pacer, Zaheer Khan, said, “The success of Abu Dhabi T10 can lead to greater things for cricket. As more people enjoy the game live or on TV, this can lead to greater development and the spread of cricket to other non-traditional countries.”   

    During the first season of the league Kerala Knights were crowned as champions while second season saw Northern Warriors come out on top. This year with more international stars coming into the league, fans can expect more entertainment on the field with the level of cricket set to improve manifolds.