Abu Dhabi T10, a high-octane cricket tournament, will begin its 2024 season on November 21, 2024, in order to advance the upsurge in short-form cricket.
This innovative structure, which includes 10-over-a-side contests, provides a fast-paced and exhilarating experience for both players and spectators. Abu Dhabi T10 has earned a position on the world cricket calendar owing to its combination of powerful batting, fast bowling, and strategic approach.
Many international cricketers will compete in the 2024 season, including Dinesh Karthik, Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, Marcus Stoinis, Lockie Ferguson, and more. Over the years, the event has attracted a lot of attention from the business sector, with several sponsors getting onboarded for the event and corporations buying ownership stakes.
To know more on the commercial side of things, SportsMint Media got the opportunity to interview Mr Shaji Ul Mulk, T Ten Global Sports Founder and Chairman.
Mr Ul Mulk discussed a variety of issues, including the 2024 Player Draft, strategies for long-term growth, competition with other leagues, and more.
1. Your comments on the Abu Dhabi T10 Player Draft and how it has shaped the potential outcomes for the upcoming season?
The player draft went well. We have the largest field of players, both in terms of quantity and quality. We extended the teams from eight to ten, with 16 players in each squad, for a total of 160 individuals, and the quality of the foreign players has been the finest ever. We certainly have 20-25 global stars and at least 70-80 outstanding talents, which is quite exciting.
2. Considering the growing reach of the Abu Dhabi T10, how commercially important is the league in terms of revenue generation, and what opportunities do you see for further financial growth?
When we consider the T10 format. The number ’10’ has always been the target, so the target is ten teams. We did it, and it took eight years. From a commercial perspective, more teams equals more revenue, and for spectators and viewers, 160 cricketers create a very unique property. We could have a few days of four games, which means that on one day, there could be over 100 players playing, which is extremely interesting and exciting, from a business standpoint as well.
3. As the Abu Dhabi T10 continues to grow, which key figures or strategies do you think have been most instrumental in its development and success over the years?
It is a combination. It begins with the product itself. Once the product is good, it must be adaptable and acceptable to the important stakeholders, particularly international players, because playing the format is pointless without their interest. When we went to the ICC for approval, they asked if the players wanted to play in this league. So we were asked to provide three formal written endorsements from the full member boards. In 2017, we received five approves: Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, the West Indies, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The broadcasters’ quality, the franchise owners’ investment in the league, the sponsors’ acceptance, and government institutions such as the Sports Council’s Department of Cultural Tourism also help the league. In Zimbabwe, we have support from the regime’s top officials, who all see T10 as having a significant economic impact on the country. It really is a mix of everything.
4. With the league coinciding with the Australia tour’s first Test match and the PKL, how does the T10 League assess this overlap, and what is its strategy for competing with other franchise-based leagues?
T10 is a unique property in and of itself. There is virtually no rivalry in terms of competing with other leagues. If there is another T10 league, we may discuss competition. In terms of being affected by other leagues, like the Australia tour, the fact that we had 1000 confirmed registrations this year to pick 160, demonstrates the players’ enthusiasm in the league. We have made significant progress in terms of inclusion in the cricket calendar, and this is how we intend to continue.
5. Could you elaborate on Star’s partnership with the Abu Dhabi T10 League and what were the pivotal discussions that took place before the deal was finalised?
Star has always been interested in T10 and it was an ongoing discussion for the last two years. We were in a long-term contract with Viacom18, which ended last year. With Abu Dhabi T10 being a major property in the overall picture, the star was eager to acquire Abu Dhabi and the others. What Star did not want to do was start with others and then move on to Abu Dhabi T10; that was the entire discussion. When the package became available, we both grabbed it, and with the Star being Star, it gave a great boost to the entire attraction.