Match: 1st Match (Day/Night), Abu Dhabi T10 2025
Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Time: 6:45 PM Local Time (2:45 PM GMT)
Venue: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Toss: Yet to be announced
Tournament Overview
The 2025 Abu Dhabi T10 kicks off on November 18 and runs until November 30, bringing nearly two weeks of fast-paced cricket action. The tournament features eight teams competing in a Round-Robin format, with the top four advancing to playoffs starting November 29.
Northern Warriors face debut team Quetta Qavalry in the tournament’s opening match, setting the stage for an exciting season at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.
Team Squads
Northern Warriors – Full Squad
Source: The Tribune, ESPNcricinfo (as of November 17, 2025)
Northern Warriors squad includes Shimron Hetmyer (Icon Player), Trent Boult, Thisara Perera, Johnson Charles, Colin Munro, Azmatullah Omarzai, Tabraiz Shamsi, Odean Smith, Shahnawaz Dahani, Dinesh Chandimal, Hazratullah Zazai, Asitha Fernando, Sagar Kalyan, Yakin Kiran Rai, Shahid Iqbal Bhutta, Bilal Sami, Faridoon Dawoodzai, Prabath Jayasuriya, and Kadeem Alleyne.
Likely Playing XI: Confirmed playing XIs are not yet announced. The team is expected to field a combination of these key players.
- Hazratullah Zazai
- Johnson Charles
- Shimron Hetmyer
- Colin Munro
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Thisara Perera
- Odean Smith
- Dinesh Chandimal
- Trent Boult
- Tabraiz Shamsi
- Asitha Fernando
Quetta Qavalry – Full Squad
Quetta Qavalry’s updated squad includes Liam Livingstone, Mohammad Amir (Captain), Jason Holder, Azam Khan, Andries Gous, Muhammad Waseem, Imran Tahir, Evin Lewis, Fabian Allen, Ali Majid, Ali Naseer, Khuzaima Bin Tanvir, Abdul Ghaffar, Abbas Afridi, Irfan Khan Niazi, Khawaja Nafay, Arafat Minhas, Umer Zeeshan Lohya, and George Scrimshaw.
Note: Azam Khan replaced Sikandar Raza due to Raza’s national commitments with Zimbabwe, and Ali Majid replaced Gudakesh Motie in the squad.
Likely Playing XI: Confirmed playing XIs are not yet announced. The team is expected to field these key players.
- Evin Lewis
- Muhammad Waseem
- Liam Livingstone
- Andries Gous
- Jason Holder
- Azam Khan
- Fabian Allen
- Abbas Afridi
- Mohammad Amir (Captain)
- Imran Tahir
- George Scrimshaw
Players to Watch
Batters
| Player | Team | Role | Recent Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shimron Hetmyer | Northern Warriors | Explosive middle-order batter | Known for power-hitting in T10 format |
| Liam Livingstone | Quetta Qavalry | All-rounder, big-hitter | Icon player with global T20 experience |
| Evin Lewis | Quetta Qavalry | Opening batter | Aggressive West Indies opener |
| Colin Munro | Northern Warriors | Opening batter | Experienced T10 campaigner |
| Azam Khan | Quetta Qavalry | Wicketkeeper-batter | Strike rate of 143.40 in PSL (Source: Geo Super) |
Bowlers
| Player | Team | Type | Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trent Boult | Northern Warriors | Left-arm fast | World-class new-ball bowler |
| Mohammad Amir | Quetta Qavalry | Left-arm fast, Captain | Death-over specialist |
| Imran Tahir | Quetta Qavalry | Leg-spinner | Veteran T20 wicket-taker |
| Tabraiz Shamsi | Northern Warriors | Left-arm wrist-spin | Top-ranked T20I spinner |
| Jason Holder | Quetta Qavalry | Right-arm fast-medium | Experienced all-rounder |
Venue and Conditions
Zayed Cricket Stadium hosts all Abu Dhabi T10 2025 matches. The venue features balanced conditions with drop-in pitches that provide fair contests between bat and ball.
Weather in Abu Dhabi during November features temperatures around 28-30°C with minimal rainfall expected. Clear skies and warm evening conditions are expected for the match.
The pitch typically offers pace and bounce early on, with spinners coming into play as the match progresses. Teams winning the toss often choose to bowl first in T10 cricket due to the dew factor in evening matches.
What to Expect
This opening match promises fireworks as experienced campaigners Northern Warriors face ambitious newcomers Quetta Qavalry.
Northern Warriors bring a balanced squad led by destructive batter Shimron Hetmyer and quality bowling from Trent Boult and Tabraiz Shamsi. Their experience in previous T10 seasons gives them an edge in understanding the format’s demands.
Quetta Qavalry, making their tournament debut, have assembled a star-studded lineup. Mohammad Amir leads the team with former Pakistan all-rounder Yasir Arafat as head coach and Javeria Khan as team director. With explosive batters like Liam Livingstone and Evin Lewis, plus veteran spinner Imran Tahir, they’re built for T10 success.
The key battle will be between Quetta’s power hitters and Northern Warriors’ experienced bowling attack. In the 10-over format, momentum swings quickly, making every ball crucial.
Prediction
Both teams have quality players capable of match-winning performances. Northern Warriors’ tournament experience gives them a slight advantage, but Quetta Qavalry’s fresh energy and star power make them dangerous opponents.
Predicted Winner: Northern Warriors (55-45 edge) – Their familiarity with the venue and format could prove decisive in a close contest.
However, in T10 cricket, one explosive over can change everything. Expect a thrilling encounter to kick off the Abu Dhabi T10 2025 season!