Abu Dhabi T10 announces new franchise

‘Morrisville SAMP Army’ from North Carolina becomes eighth team for new season

Team Abu Dhabi players wear special jerseys to mark UAE's 50th National Day last year. Photo: Abu Dhabi Cricket

Abu Dhabi T10 have announced the addition of another franchise to the roster for the new season.

It was revealed on Wednesday that SAMP Army from the US will acquire a franchise in the T10 league. Named the ‘Morrisville SAMP Army’, the team from North Carolina becomes the eighth franchise in the tournament.

The owner of the Morrisville SAMP Army, Ritesh Patel, is an American-based entrepreneur. He owns several hotels, an indoor cricket and multi-sport complex as well as the SAMP Army Cricket franchise that participates in competitive tournaments across the US.

After joining the Abu Dhabi T10, Patel said: “It is an extremely exciting time for our franchise as the Abu Dhabi T10 is a unique and a highly competitive competition which brings together elite players from across the globe. It gives us the perfect opportunity to compete against the elites of cricket and test ourselves out."

South Africa's star batsman David Miller was announced as the marquee player for the new franchise.

The Abu Dhabi T10 begins on November 23 and will be a two-week long tournament.

It is going to be a bumper season of cricket in the UAE. The 2022 edition of the T10 tournament will take place at the Zayed Cricket Stadium and conclude on December 4.

After that, the UAE will witness the start of a brand new T20 franchise league, which will also attract some of the leading names from the world game.

That event, named the International League T20, will be played in January and February 2023.

2021 Abu Dhabi T10 team of the tournament