Fakhar Zaman Joins United Tigers as Abu Dhabi T10 Icon Player

Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman will play for a brand new team in the Abu Dhabi T10 this year. United Tigers, one of the fresh franchises in the league, named the 36 year old left handed batter as its icon player on Sunday, September 27. The league and the team shared the news together on social media. Fakhar will lead the batting of United Tigers when the tournament begins at Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on November 7.

An icon player is the biggest name in a franchise squad. It is the one star a team builds its image around. United Tigers are playing their first ever season, and they chose a man who has opened the batting for Pakistan for almost ten years. The signing gives the new team instant attention from fans in Pakistan and across the Gulf.

A Long Career for Pakistan and Around the World

Fakhar was born in Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in April 1990. Before cricket became his full time job, he served in the Pakistan Navy. He made his T20 international debut against West Indies in March 2017. A few months later he played his first ODI against South Africa.

Most fans still remember the 2017 Champions Trophy final at The Oval in London. In only his fourth ODI, Fakhar scored a century against India. Pakistan won the match and lifted the trophy. That one innings made him a household name overnight.

Since then he has played three Tests, 92 ODIs and 120 T20Is for Pakistan. In all T20 cricket, including leagues, he has played 340 matches. He has scored 8,978 runs in those games, with four centuries and 61 half centuries.

Fakhar is also a well known face in leagues outside Pakistan. Apart from the Pakistan Super League, he has played in the ILT20 in the UAE, the Caribbean Premier League, Australia's Big Bash League, the Lanka Premier League, the Bangladesh Premier League and England's Vitality Blast. Very few Pakistani batters have played in so many different countries.

Still Scoring Runs in 2026

This has been a busy year for Fakhar. He was part of Pakistan's 15 member squad for the T20 World Cup, held in India and Sri Lanka in February and March. His most recent T20 international was on February 28 against Sri Lanka in the Super Eights stage at Pallekele, where he scored a half century.

In the PSL, he was the top scorer for Lahore Qalandars with 401 runs. Qalandars finished fifth in the league stage, but Fakhar stayed one of their most reliable batters. He has played for the Lahore team since 2017.

What Is the Abu Dhabi T10?

T10 is the shortest form of professional cricket. Each team bats for only 10 overs, so a full match ends in about 90 minutes. Batters are expected to hit from the first ball, which suits an attacking opener like Fakhar.

The league was started in 2017 by UAE businessman Shaji ul Mulk. It was the first T10 tournament in the world. Over the years it has brought famous names to the UAE, including Chris Gayle, Shahid Afridi, Andre Russell and Kieron Pollard. UAE Bulls won the title last year.

The 2026 season will be the 10th edition of the event. It will run from November 7 to November 20, and all matches will be played at Zayed Cricket Stadium. Eight teams will take part.

A New Owner and a Fresh Start

This will also be the first season under new owners. In May 2026, the Abu Dhabi Cricket and Sports Hub took majority ownership of the league, along with control of its commercial rights. The move has the backing of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the support of the Emirates Cricket Board. The tournament is now owned and managed by the Abu Dhabi government, which says it wants to run it as a long term national sporting asset.

The change came after years of trouble. The number of teams has moved between six and eighteen over different seasons, and team owners often changed from one year to the next. Matt Boucher, who now heads both the sports hub and the T10, has said the league wants regular team owners and long contracts instead of short one or two year deals. New franchise owners were invited to apply through a tender process.

Big Names Join the New Teams

United Tigers are not the only new side. Arabian Aces have named former England all rounder Moeen Ali as their icon and captain, with Andre Russell and Liam Livingstone also in the squad. Royal Desert Champions have picked West Indies batter Nicholas Pooran as icon and captain, along with England opener Phil Salt and Sherfane Rutherford.

Another new team, Emirates Eagles, has signed Rovman Powell as captain, with Trent Boult and Shimron Hetmyer. Their head coach is Mickey Arthur, the former Pakistan coach who first noticed Fakhar at a training camp in Lahore before his national call up. UAE Bulls, the defending champions, have also been confirmed. The official player draft is due in Abu Dhabi on September 30, where the teams will fill the rest of their squads.

United Tigers have not yet made public the names of their owners, their coach or their other players. More details are expected around the draft.

What It Means for Pakistan

For Pakistani fans, the UAE is almost a second home for their cricket team. Pakistan played its home matches there for about ten years after the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore, and the early PSL seasons were also held in the UAE. With a large Pakistani community living in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Fakhar can expect loud support in the stands.

The deal also shows that Pakistani players are still in demand in foreign leagues. Pakistani cricketers normally need a no objection certificate from the Pakistan Cricket Board to play abroad. There has been no public word yet on whether the T10 dates could clash with any Pakistan duty for Fakhar in November.

For now, the story is simple. At 36, one of Pakistan's most exciting openers has been given the top spot in a brand new team. When United Tigers walk out for their first match in November, Fakhar Zaman will be the man they look to for fast runs.