The Abu Dhabi T10 is the marquee 10-over cricket tournament of the world and its popularity can be attributed to the presence of global superstars, who make the tournament an exciting affair. Moreover, it wouldn’t be correct if the world’s fastest cricket format didn’t have the world’s biggest cricketers playing it.
Therefore, we have eight Icon Players, one for each team, that will pass their rich experience and talent to their team and help them get their hands on the 2020 ADT10 trophy.
Here are all the Icon Players of The Abu Dhabi T10.
Team Abu Dhabi – Chris Gayle
There are very few players in the world that can match the cricketing abilities of Chris Gayle and all those skills will be on full display when the Universe Boss dons Team Abu Dhabi’s jersey as their Icon Player this season.
Cricket’s first global superstar, Chris Gayle is undoubtedly the greatest when it comes to short format cricket, having scored a world record-breaking 13,584 runs in 411 T20s across the world. The West Indian has also smashed the most number of sixes in T20s (1,001), which is almost 400 more than the second-best.
Chris Gayle is an absolute favourite in any country he goes and any league he plays, and The Abu Dhabi T10 will be no exception.
Delhi Bulls – Dwayne Bravo
Dwayne Bravo’s all-round heroics make him an exceptional talent and any team that procures his services will be at an advantage, which, for this season, will be the Delhi Bulls.
Equally adept with both the bat and ball, the two-time T20 World Cup-winning cricketer can contribute from both ends of the pitch and has already picked 512 wickets and scored 6,331 runs in the twenty-over format.
Representing Delhi Bulls this season, Dwayne Bravo is a veteran of this tournament, having been a part of all three previous editions. In the last one, he led the Maratha Arabians to The Abu Dhabi T10 title and will be aiming to replicate the success with Delhi Bulls.
Maratha Arabians – Shoaib Malik
A great captain and a better cricketer, Shoaib Malik is the Icon Player for the defending champions Maratha Arabians in 2020 ADT10. The former Pakistan cricketer has impressive numbers in both departments, with over 10,000 runs with the willow and 151 wickets with the leather in T20s. Most recently, the right-hander guided the Jaffna Stallions to their maiden Lanka Premier League title with a decisive inning in the finals.
At Maratha Arabians, Shoaib Malik will be leading a young squad with the aim of continuing their stellar run in the tournament.
Qalandars – Shahid Afridi
Shahid Afridi is most notably remembered for his blazingly-fast run-scoring for the Pakistan cricket team, having scored fifties in less than 20 balls on several occasions. On his day, there can’t be anyone better on a cricket field, which was proven in the 2018 edition of the T10 League when Shahid Afridi hammered a 14-ball half-century. This season of the Abu Dhabi T10, the Pakistan great will step on the field as an Icon Player for the Qalandars team.
Deccan Gladiators – Sunil Narine
Starting as primarily an off-spinner, Sunil Narine showed the world his worth with the blade during the 2017 Indian Premier League (IPL) with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Then from a pinch-hitter to a proper all-rounder, the West Indian has amassed 2,506 runs in 205 T20 innings, while scalping 390 wickets at an envious economy of just over six.
In 2020 ADT10, Sunil Narine is the Icon Player of the star-studded Deccan Gladiators.
Northern Warriors – Nicholas Pooran
The Icon Player and captain of former champions Northern Warriors, Nicholas Pooran packs a punch with his superior batting skills and expertise behind the stumps. In the previous season, the wicket-keeper batsman scored at an incredible strike-rate of 233 for his team. The West Indian is a hot property in cricket leagues across the globe, having plied his trade in Australia, Bangladesh, England, India and Pakistan. With the experience of playing short format cricket around the globe, Nicholas Pooran will be an insightful captain for the Northern Warriors.
Bangla Tigers – Afif Hossain
The 21-year-old allrounder from Bangladesh, Afif Hossain is the youngest of all Icon Players but possesses skills that can match the best in the business. The ambidextrous allrounder, who is a left-handed batsman and a right-arm bowler, has been grabbing headlines since a young age. As a 17-year-old teenager, Afif Hossain scalped a five-wicket haul on debut in the 2016 Bangladesh Premier League. He has since then represented Bangladesh in both ODIs and T20Is, and is a regular performer in Bangladesh’s domestic circuit.
Afif Hossain is the Icon Player for the young Bangla Tigers squad this season.
