Abu Dhabi T10 is growing as CEO Matt Boucher expects records to fall

Dubai: The Abu Dhabi T10 is preparing for a new chapter as it looks to strengthen its position on the international cricket calendar, with greater fan engagement, stronger franchises and an improved viewing experience among its priorities.

The 2026 edition of the tournament will take place from November 7 to 20 at Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The competition is entering a new phase under the management of Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub, which has assumed majority ownership and commercial control of the league.

In an exclusive interview with Gulf News, Matt Boucher, CEO of Abu Dhabi T10, discusses his plans for the upcoming season, addresses criticism of the shortest format of cricket and explains why Abu Dhabi will remain central to the tournament’s long-term ambitions.

Q: Each season, Abu Dhabi T10 continues to grow. What goals or plans do you have for the upcoming season to make it even bigger?

This season is about improving every part of the tournament: the cricket, the new teams, our global reach and the fan experience. We have six ambitious ownership groups, a strong mix of international and UAE players, and new broadcast and digital partners. These are the foundations of a longer-term vision - to build something with real lasting value, strengthen the quality and competitiveness of the cricket, help grow the Abu Dhabi T10 in global reach, accelerate interest and engagement in the sport and reinforce the emirate’s standing as a major sporting events destination.

Q: Some people criticize the shorter format. Abu Dhabi T10 is perhaps one of the most successful short-format leagues in the world. What message would you like to send to them to defend the league?

Every format has its place in cricket, and T10 isn’t trying to replace any of them. It offers fast, highly competitive cricket that can bring in new and younger audiences, with world-class skill still on show. The quality of players who choose to play in Abu Dhabi T10 says a lot about the format. Our aim is for this to be recognised as a tournament that brings together some of the world’s best players and as a major international sports property with strong teams, high standards and a clear identity.

Q: The cricket in the league is without a doubt top quality. However, the stands have often been empty in the past few seasons. For the upcoming season, what steps have you taken to make the league more engaging for fans?

Fan engagement is one of our biggest priorities this season. We want matchdays to offer more than the cricket, and we want each of the teams to build a clearer identity so that the community have more reasons to back their team. That applies inside Zayed Cricket Stadium and across our digital platforms. The changes people are seeing this season are fundamental to that approach - building an event that fans can genuinely connect with and delivering an experience that keeps supporters engaged well beyond the matches themselves.

Q: Abu Dhabi T10 is well known for its insane targets and scores within 10 overs. What’s your prediction for the highest score that could be made in the tournament?

That’s the beauty of T10: you never quite know where the limit is. With the batting firepower in these six squads, I wouldn’t rule out a few records falling this season. I’ll leave the exact number to the players!

Q: Obviously, it is “Abu Dhabi” T10. But are there any plans to expand the league beyond Abu Dhabi and host a few matches in Dubai and Sharjah, or even internationally?

Abu Dhabi is our home and an integral part of the tournament’s identity. Our focus is on growing Abu Dhabi T10 here and building the emirate’s standing as a global destination for cricket and international sport. There is a bigger ambition behind what we are doing - Abu Dhabi T10 can play an important role in attracting players, fans, partners, and audiences from around the world. We will always look at future opportunities, but for now the priority is to build something that lasts in Abu Dhabi.

Q: The tournament runs for roughly two weeks. With such a short window, do you intend to make it longer, or perhaps host it twice a year?

The compact format is part of what makes T10 distinctive. For now, our priority is to keep improving the quality and value of the edition we have, rather than making it longer or adding a second one. The measure of success will not be one season. It will be whether, five or ten years from now, Abu Dhabi T10 has grown in credibility and global reach and is an annual, and credible, part of the international cricket calendar. As the tournament grows, we’ll look at what makes sense for its long-term development.