Nicholas Pooran has once again been appointed captain, this time in another league. Having previously captained multiple franchises in major T20 leagues such as the CPL and MLC, this dynamic wicketkeeper-batter has now been named captain of a new squad for the upcoming 2026 Abu Dhabi T10 tournament. According to the latest update, the cricketer will captain the Royal Desert Champions, the newest team joining the Abu Dhabi T10 league.
Royal Desert Champions was founded by Amit Narang, a serial entrepreneur and former banker. The franchise has also signed England international Phil Salt and West Indies all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford directly, establishing a solid foundation for the team before the player draft.
Narang said, “Royal Desert Champions is built on the belief that champions are revealed when conditions are toughest. 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. With Nicholas leading us, supported by outstanding players such as Phil and Sherfane, we have an exciting core around which to build. We are here to compete, to win and to create something that endures.”
Nicholas Pooran has been named captain of the Royal Desert Champions for the upcoming Abu Dhabi T10 2026 season in the UAE. In addition, the former West Indies cricketer is also referred to as the ‘ icon’ of the team. Alongside Pooran’s appointment, the franchise has also appointed former India cricketer Robin Singh as team director. It’s worth noting that Pooran is among the most experienced overseas players in Abu Dhabi T10, having previously represented teams such as the Deccan Gladiators.
In addition to appointing Nicholas Pooran as captain, the Royal Desert Champions also signed England cricketer Phil Salt and powerful West Indies batsman Sherfane Rutherford. Both Salt and Rutherford have become Platinum Direct Signings with the Royal Desert Champions. Former Indian cricketer Robin Singh is set to join the team as its director. With the Abu Dhabi T10 2026 season approaching in the UAE, the Desert Champions are gearing up for thrilling times ahead as they continue to strengthen their squad through additional signings.
