Ben Stokes, Kushal Malla and other cricket stars who could make Abu Dhabi T10 debuts this season - in pictures

England captain Eoin Morgan, a T10 regular, expects November's tournament to attract plenty of star names

Jos Buttler (England). Buttler has mixed memories of the UAE. He lost his place in England’s Test side for over a year after a poor series here in 2015 – but scored the fastest ever ODI hundred by an Englishman in the same tour. His suitability to T10 is obvious. AFP

Ben Stokes (England). The haste with which Morgan plumped for Buttler when asked which of his teammates he would most like to see in T10 was maybe a surprise. What about Stokes? He can play a bit, too. AFP

David Warner (Australia). Australia are due to play Afghanistan after the T20 World Cup finishes. Whether that goes ahead remains to be seen. If available, Warner would be box office in T10. AFP

Steve Smith (Australia). Smith was in the draft for the aborted UAE T20x when he was banned from the international game. Given his importance to Australia for their series against India this winter, it feels unlikely he would be released for a quick jaunt to the T10. AFP

Glenn Maxwell (Australia). One of the biggest short-format stars, and he lit up the stadiums of the UAE when the IPL was briefly exiled here in 2014. AFP

Naseem Shah (Pakistan). Became the youngest player to take a Test hat-trick earlier this year, then was outstanding in the PSL. One of the most exciting young talents going around. AFP

Kushal Malla (Nepal). Talking of teenage record-breakers, Malla became the youngest to score an ODI 50 earlier this year when he did so aged 15. A free-hitting left-hander, he could join Sandeep Lamichhane and Paras Khadka on the flight from Kathmandu. Subas Humagain for The National

Babar Azam (Pakistan). The thought of having such a stylist playing cricket’s most crash, bang, wallop format feels a little vulgar. But he is so adept at everything else, so why not? AFP

Kagiso Rabada (South Africa). South African fast bowlers are no strangers to the T10. Morne Morkel has played. Hardus Viljoen was player of the tournament two years ago. Rabada could return to the country where he was an U19 World Cup winner in 2014. AFP

Kevin O’Brien (Ireland). An Irish batsman - Paul Stirling, was the best player in the first T10, back in 2017. His opening partner in the Ireland T20 side, Kevin O’Brien, could be equally explosive. AFP

Quinton de Kock (South Arica). The Proteas do not have cricket scheduled immediately after the T20 World Cup, meaning Rabada and De Kock could both be available. Getty Images

Could Jos Buttler really play at the Aldar Properties Abu Dhabi T10?

To borrow a phrase that seems in vogue when talking about cricket’s future, anything is possible.

The dates for the fourth season of the 10-over competition were announced this week. If all goes to plan, it will start on November 19, four days after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup in Australia.

What competitions it will be vying with remain to be seen – as does the simple question of whether it will be safe to proceed at all.

The Pakistan Super League has been looking at the same window to rearrange its finals series, which was postponed in March.

The behemoth that is the Indian Premier League is suspended indefinitely. It seems unlikely that will just be allowed to pass without being rescheduled in some sizeable form.

In terms of international cricket, there could be openings. England’s players should be free – and presumably keen for some cricket at generous rates.

If the organisers can mend bridges with Pakistan, whose players were ordered en masse not to play last season, that could be a rich source of talent, too – although the national team are due to play Zimbabwe at that time.

"The tournament has been going for long enough now that every international cricketer knows about it," Eoin Morgan, England's limited-overs captain and a T10 regular, said on Monday.

“It is a part of the calendar that guys, if they are available to play – providing they are not playing all three formats of the game internationally – they will try and get there.”

Morgan also said, when asked which of his colleagues he would most like to see in T10, that he would have Buttler.

The T10 already has seen plenty of stardust in its short history so far. Andre Russell, Jofra Archer, Chris Lynn, Rashid Khan, Yuvraj Singh, Chris Gayle, Mohammed Amir, Shahid Afridi and many other celebrated names have been involved in the three seasons to date.

So who else could be in line for a 10-over debut this season?

Along with Buttler, there are another 10 players in the photo gallery above who would bring plenty of magic to the competition. To move on to the next slide, click on the arrows or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.