Nicholas Pooran, the former West Indies power-hitting batter, has been named the captain and Icon player of the newly established franchise, Royal Desert Champions. This appointment comes ahead of the upcoming Abu Dhabi T10 tournament, marking a significant step for the franchise as it prepares for its inaugural season.
Upcoming Tournament Details Announced
The tournament, now under the management of Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub (ADCSH), is scheduled to take place from November 7 to November 20. Matches will be held at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, marking a new era for the event.
“The new team ownership has set out a clear direction for the team, and they are already assembling an impressive combination of leadership, experience, and international talent. With Robin guiding the sporting operation and Nicholas, Phil and Sherfane providing such a solid early foundation on the field, it will be exciting to see how the Royal Desert Champions take shape ahead of November,” he added.
Alongside Pooran, the new franchise has secured England opener Phil Salt and West Indies all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford as direct platinum picks ahead of the official player draft on September 30. Detailing the vision behind the new team, team owner and UAE-based fintech entrepreneur Amit Narang said, “Royal Desert Champions is built on the belief that champions are revealed when conditions are toughest.
I look forward to building around our strong core a quality and competitive team capable of making an immediate impact in the Abu Dhabi T10,” he said. Former India cricketer Robin Singh has been appointed as the Team Director. He comes into the franchise with extensive coaching experience, including a long stint with IPL franchise Mumbai Indians and past title-winning runs in T10 and ILT20 competitions, and will oversee the team’s sporting operations. “Having been closely associated with the Abu Dhabi tournament format over the years, I am delighted to continue my journey with the Royal Desert Champions. The desert embodies the qualities we want this team to stand for – resilience, courage, adaptability, and ambition. “As the first new founding team of this new Abu Dhabi T10 era, we have the opportunity to create something distinctive from the ground up – a team that the emirate can be proud of, a brand that connects with fans locally and globally, and a franchise with the ambition to build a lasting legacy.
