T10: Deccan Gladiators owner banking on UAE pacer Zahoor and Windies star Pollard

Deccan Gladiators owner Gaurav Grover with Kieron Pollard. (Supplied photo)

Dubai - Eight teams will vie for glory in the fourth edition of the T10 tournament at the Zayed Cricket Stadium

Rituraj Borkakoty

Published: Mon 18 Jan 2021, 8:16 PM

While winning the Abu Dhabi T10 title remains the biggest ambition of Deccan Gladiators owner Gaurav Grover, the Dubai-based Indian businessman is also championing the cause of UAE cricket.

Impressed with Zahoor Khan’s exploits for his team at the 2019 edition of the Abu Dhabi T10, Grover hopes the UAE pace bowler will rise to the occasion once again in the fourth edition of the tournament (January 28-February 6).

“Of course, our coach Mushtaq Ahmed makes the strategies. The kind of players that we have, the batting depth we have, I am very confident. Then in bowling you must have heard about Zahoor Khan, the UAE talent. We have retained him, so that’s a big thing. He has got a lot of potential. He is a key player in our team,” Grover, whose team lost to Maratha Arabians in the 2019 T10 final, told Khaleej Times.

“Then we have Kieron Pollard, Imran Tahir and Sunil Narine. So having these kind of names in the squad, we are confident of playing well and winning the tournament this season.”

Grover’s longing for the noise fans make at the stadium, but he will respect the decision of the organisers if the star-studded tournament will be held in an empty Zayed Cricket Stadium to stop the spread of the Covid-19 infection.

“Of course, there is a buzz when you have fans at the stadium. Stars are only stars when you have fans behind them. But being in this pandemic situation, we want every fan to be safe. If Abu Dhabi Cricket decides to host it behind closed doors, we should abide by that. It’s only for our players and fans’ safety,” he said.

“Look, having the tournament in these tough situations, was a big challenge. So hats off to the government, Abu Dhabi Cricket and Shaji Ul Mulk, who is behind this T10 programme, for the work they have done to ensure the safety of all the players and individuals.”

Eight teams will vie for glory in the fourth edition of the T10 tournament at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.