Abu Dhabi T10 League: Faf du Plessis, Dwayne Bravo, Wahab Riaz outline title ambitions

Over
the
15-day-long
season,
six
teams
–
Northern
Warriors,
The
Chennai
Braves,
Delhi
Bulls,
Team
Abu
Dhabi,
Bangla
Tigers
and
Deccan
Gladiators
–
will
be
vying
for
the
coveted
trophy.
Northern
Warriors,
two-time
champions
and
current
title
holders,
will
be
playing
to
hold
on
to
their
perch,
albeit
with
a
very
new-look
squad.

The
biggest
change
for
the
reigning
champs
will
be
at
the
helm
with
Jamaica’s
Rovman
Powell
taking
over
the
captaincy
duties
from
fellow
West
Indian
cricketer
Nicholas
Pooran.

Absolutely
fantastic
to
have
Sarah
Taylor
as
an
assistant
coach
of
Team
Abu
Dhabi:
Colin
Ingram

Rovman
Powell’s
involvement
with
Northern
Warriors
has
always
produced
outstanding
results
with
the
West
Indian
helping
the
team
win
the
trophy
in
both
the
editions
he
has
been
with
them.

Fulfilling
the
expectations
as
captain
this
season,
however,
will
be
a
different
challenge,
Powell
feels.

“Winning
the
trophy
both
the
times
for
Northern
Warriors
was
a
highlight
as
a
player
in
my
cricketing
career.
But
now
I
have
the
opportunity
to
lift
that
cup
this
year
as
a
captain!
I
am
thankful
for
the
Northern
Warriors
management
for
trusting
in
me
and
providing
me
this
opportunity.
Looking
forward
to
the
tournament
to
begin!
I
want
all
our
fans
to
Keep
supporting
and
keep
cheering
the
Warriors,”
Rovman
Powell
says.

While
the
Northern
Warriors
will
look
to
continue
their
dominance
in
the
league,
The
Chennai
Braves
–
the
latest
Abu
Dhabi
T10
team
on
the
block
–
will
be
out
to
make
a
‘stormy’ first
impression.

The
honour
of
leading
the
Braves
in
their
maiden
Abu
Dhabi
T10
campaign
has
been
entrusted
to
Sri
Lankan
international
Dasun
Shanaka.

The
devastating
pinch-hitter
is
relishing
the
task
at
hand.
“We
have
a
good
combination
of
all-rounders,
fast
bowlers
and
both
left
and
right-handed
batsmen
in
the
team.
Not
just
that,
The
Chennai
Clan
also
strikes
a
perfect
balance
of
experienced
and
young
players.
With
Douglas
Brown
and
Ian
Bell
by
our
side
to
coach,
the
boys
are
ready
to
take
the
field
by
storm!”

Another
highly-anticipated
debut
at
the
Abu
Dhabi
T10
season
5
will
be
South
African
ace
Faf
du
Plessis,
who
has
signed
on
to
captain
the
Bangla
Tigers.

“My
role
as
a
captain
would
be
to
get
the
team
together
and
create
an
environment
wherein
the
players
are
having
fun
and
being
themselves.
We
have
a
good
mix
of
players
and
I
am
confident
of
the
Bangla
Tigers
doing
well
in
the
tournament,”
Faf
says.

On
the
other
hand,
bringing
his
trademark
Caribbean
flamboyance
and
‘champions’
mindset
to
the
Delhi
Bulls
this
season
will
be
Dwayne
Bravo,
one
of
Abu
Dhabi
T10’s
old
guards.
The
West
Indian
dynamo
led
the
Bulls
to
the
final
last
season
and
has
set
his
goals
a
notch
higher
this
time
around.

“We
came
so
close
to
being
champions
last
season,
and
we
have
identified
the
areas
we
needed
to
improve
this
time
around.
So
we
have
a
good
balance
in
the
squad
and
it
will
now
be
about
playing
consistent
cricket,”
Dwayne
Bravo
said.

Dwayne
Bravo,
however,
will
need
to
be
wary
of
Wahab
Riaz,
who
is
leading
the
Deccan
Gladiators
this
season.

“This
season
is
crucial
for
the
Deccan
Gladiators.
We
had
a
great
team
last
season,
but
couldn’t
go
far
in
the
tournament.
But
this
season
we
aim
to
win
it
and
perform
well
right
from
the
first
game.
Our
squad
combination
is
solid.
We
have
some
very
experienced
players
who
are
match-winners
and
some
raw
talent
who
can
change
the
game,”
Wahab
Riaz
stated.

English
cricketer
Liam
Livingstone,
meanwhile,
will
have
the
honours
of
leading
the
home
team,
Team
Abu
Dhabi.

“I
can’t
wait
to
get
started
in
the
Abu
Dhabi
T10
and
I’m
extremely
proud
to
be
captaining
Team
Abu
Dhabi,” Livingstone
said.
“It’s
a
real
pleasure
to
not
only
be
representing
the
home
team
in
the
tournament
but
also
captaining
them,
and
I’m
sure
we’ll
have
superb
support
from
fans
across
the
entire
country.

“Everyone
should
expect
an
exciting
brand
of
cricket
from
Team
Abu
Dhabi
that
reflects
this
wonderful
emirate
and
we
have
both
world-class
coaches
and
world-class
players
in
our
squad
so
our
sights
are
firmly
set
on
lifting
the
trophy
for
the
first
time,”
the
Englishman
added.

With
six
ace
captains,
in
charge
of
equally
talented
squads,
having
set
their
sights
on
the
Abu
Dhabi
T10
trophy
this
season,
not
an
inch
will
be
given
without
a
battle
on
the
road
to
the
final
on
December
4.

Source:
Media
Release