Abu Dhabi T10 League: Everything you need to know about Abdul Shakoor

The 4th edition of the Abu Dhabi T10 League has commenced in Abu Dhabi from the 28th January 2021, where eight teams will play 29 matches. The tournament, conducted in a round-robin format followed by semifinals and the final, is based on a 10-over-a-side format with a time duration of 90 minutes. A brainchild of billionaire businessman Nawab Shaji Ul Mulk, the ten-over annual franchise tournament has garnered immense support by the public as well as global official bodies ever since its inception in 2017.

Much like last season, the eight participating teams, have been divided into two groups of four teams each. While the defending champions Maratha Arabians are slotted in Group A with Bangla Tigers, Delhi Bulls, and Northern Warriors, last year’s runners-up Deccan Gladiators form Group B with Qalandars, Team Abu Dhabi, and Pune Devils.

The opening encounter of the fourth edition of the slam-bang league witnessed the Maratha Arabians taking on the Northern Warriors, where a certain Abdul Shakoor hogged instant limelight with a whirlwind knock of 73 from just 28 deliveries. Though he was not able to stay till the end to guide his team to a victory, it was on the back of his blitz, which included seven fours and five sixes, that the Maratha Arabians were able to trounce the Warriors by 5 wickets on a last-ball finish.

Given Shakoor’s merciless rampage in the tournament-opener, it was no wonder that the search engines witnessed a sudden spike in the searches of “Abdul Shakoor”.

Who is Abdul Shakoor? 

Born on 21st March 1988, in Sharjah, Shakoor is an Emirati cricketer, who is currently a part of the Maratha Arabians’ setup. He made his Twenty20 International debut on 9 July 2015, against Scotland, in the 2015 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier tournament, whereas his One Day International debut came against Hong Kong in the 2015–17 ICC World Cricket League Championship on 16 November 2015.

Shakoor was named in the United Arab Emirates’ squad for the 2018 Asia Cup Qualifier tournament. The right-handed wicketkeeper-batsman has featured in 3 ODIs, 6 T20Is, and 13 T20s hitherto. There is too little to look into as far as his international statistics are concerned, although, he certainly alighted the T10 League opener and will be an enthralling prospect during the course of the league.