Royal Desert Champions Squad and Schedule Abu Dhabi T10 2026
Published on October 17, 2026
Summary Overview: Royal Desert Champions' full 18-man squad for Abu Dhabi T10 2026, with Nicholas Pooran, Phil Salt, Naseem Shah and Chris Jordan. All 10 fixtures in UAE time, IST, PKT and ET.
Who are Royal Desert Champions? One of five new franchises in the revamped Abu Dhabi T10, which is now owned and run by the Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub.
Who are their big names? Pre-draft signings Nicholas Pooran, Phil Salt and Sherfane Rutherford. The draft added Naseem Shah, Chris Jordan, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera and Brandon King.
When is their first match? Saturday, November 7 against Emirates Eagles at 5:45 PM local time (7:15 PM IST, 6:45 PM PKT).
Where do they play? Every match is at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
The Story: Built to Score Fast
The Abu Dhabi T10 has a new look for 2026, with UAE Bulls the only franchise carried over from last season. Royal Desert Champions are one of five new teams, and on paper they have one of the strongest batting line-ups in the league.
For readers new to the format: in T10 cricket, each team bats for just 10 overs (an over is six legal deliveries), so a game lasts about 90 minutes. The best T10 batters attack from the very first ball.
That is exactly what Nicholas Pooran and Phil Salt do. Both are wicketkeeper-batters who score at a huge rate, and Salt already knows how to win this tournament: he hit 18 off 8 balls for UAE Bulls in last season's final. Sherfane Rutherford and Brandon King add even more power.
The Talking Points
Pooran and Salt at the Top
Few teams in any T10 league can open with two hitters like Nicholas Pooran and Phil Salt. If both fire in the first few overs, a total of 150 or more in 10 overs is possible.
A World-Class Bowling Attack
Naseem Shah brings real pace, Dushmantha Chameera is quick and skiddy, and England's Chris Jordan and Luke Wood add death bowling and left-arm swing. Maheesh Theekshana's mystery spin gives the Champions a wicket-taking option in the middle overs.
All-Round Depth
Gulbadin Naib, Janith Liyanage and Keemo Paul all bat and bowl. Paul arrives in form after his five-wicket haul for West Indies against India in October.
UAE Talent
UAE opener Muhammad Waseem is one of the cleanest hitters in Associate cricket. He is joined by UAE players Aayan Afzal Khan and Dhruv Parashar.
The Full Royal Desert Champions Squad
| Role | Players |
| Batters | Nicholas Pooran (wk), Phil Salt (wk), Brandon King, Sherfane Rutherford, Muhammad Waseem, Raizal Nadir, Tajinder Singh Dhillon |
| All-rounders | Gulbadin Naib, Keemo Paul, Janith Liyanage, Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Dhruv Parashar |
| Bowlers | Naseem Shah, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Luke Wood, Chris Jordan |
18 players. Nicholas Pooran, Phil Salt and Sherfane Rutherford signed before the draft.
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Players to Watch
Nicholas Pooran (wk): One of the most destructive hitters in franchise cricket.
Phil Salt (wk): An explosive opener who helped UAE Bulls win last season's final.
Sherfane Rutherford: A left-handed power hitter for the middle order.
Naseem Shah: Genuine pace and swing with the new ball.
Maheesh Theekshana: Mystery spin that is very hard to attack.
Muhammad Waseem: A big-hitting UAE opener who knows the Zayed Cricket Stadium well.
Royal Desert Champions Fixtures (Local, IST, Pakistan and ET)
All matches are at the Zayed Cricket Stadium (Sheikh Zayed Stadium), Abu Dhabi.
| Date | Match | Opponent | Local (GST) | IST | Pakistan | ET |
| Sat, Nov 7 | 2nd Match | vs Emirates Eagles | 5:45 PM | 7:15 PM | 6:45 PM | 8:45 AM |
| Sun, Nov 8 | 6th Match | vs Arabian Aces | 8:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 11:00 AM |
| Mon, Nov 9 | 8th Match | vs United Tigers | 8:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 11:00 AM |
| Wed, Nov 11 | 11th Match | vs UAE Bulls | 5:45 PM | 7:15 PM | 6:45 PM | 8:45 AM |
| Fri, Nov 13 | 14th Match | vs Yas Lions | 5:45 PM | 7:15 PM | 6:45 PM | 8:45 AM |
| Sat, Nov 14 | 16th Match | vs United Tigers | 3:30 PM | 5:00 PM | 4:30 PM | 6:30 AM |
| Sun, Nov 15 | 19th Match | vs Arabian Aces | 3:30 PM | 5:00 PM | 4:30 PM | 6:30 AM |
| Mon, Nov 16 | 23rd Match | vs Emirates Eagles | 8:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 11:00 AM |
| Tue, Nov 17 | 25th Match | vs UAE Bulls | 8:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 11:00 AM |
| Thu, Nov 19 | 29th Match | vs Yas Lions | 5:45 PM | 7:15 PM | 6:45 PM | 8:45 AM |
Local time is Gulf Standard Time (GST, UTC+4). IST is India Standard Time (UTC+5:30). Pakistan is on PKT (UTC+5). ET is US Eastern Standard Time (UTC-5). Every match starts on the same calendar date in all four zones.
The fixture pattern: the Champions play three games in the first three days (November 7 to 9). Then, like Arabian Aces, they face five games in five days from November 13 to 17. A deep squad will matter, because fresh legs could decide those games.
Playoffs (If They Qualify)
| Stage | Date | Fixture | Local (GST) | IST | Pakistan | ET |
| Qualifier | Fri, Nov 20 | 2nd vs 3rd | 5:30 PM | 7:00 PM | 6:30 PM | 8:30 AM |
| Final | Fri, Nov 20 | 1st vs Qualifier winner | 7:45 PM | 9:15 PM | 8:45 PM | 10:45 AM |
The team that finishes 1st goes straight to the final. Some reports give the playoff times an hour earlier, so check closer to the date.
Stat Corner
| Stat | Figure |
| Squad size | 18 |
| Pre-draft signings | 3 (Nicholas Pooran, Phil Salt, Sherfane Rutherford) |
| Wicketkeepers | 2 |
| League matches | 10 |
| Matches on consecutive days (Nov 13 to 17) | 5 |
| Venue | Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is in the Royal Desert Champions squad for Abu Dhabi T10 2026?
- Headline names include Nicholas Pooran, Phil Salt, Sherfane Rutherford, Naseem Shah, Chris Jordan and Maheesh Theekshana. The full 18-man list is above.
Which Abu Dhabi T10 team has Nicholas Pooran?
- Royal Desert Champions, who signed him before the draft.
When do Royal Desert Champions play their first match?
- Saturday, November 7, 2026, against Emirates Eagles at 5:45 PM local time (7:15 PM IST, 6:45 PM PKT).
How long is a T10 match?
- Each team bats for 10 overs, so a match takes about 90 minutes.
Where are the matches played?
- All Abu Dhabi T10 matches are at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Related Guides and Series Coverage
📋 Abu Dhabi T10 2026 Schedule: Full Fixtures, Teams and Match Times for the New-Look League
📋 UAE Bulls Squad and Schedule for Abu Dhabi T10 2026