Auckland Aces confirmed as final team for inaugural Abu Dhabi T20 tournament

Sport360 staff 15:58 23/09/2018
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  • Colin Munro's Auckland Aces will be in action in Abu Dhabi.

    New Zealand’s much-feared Auckland Aces T20 team is the final squad to be confirmed for the much-anticipated inaugural Abu Dhabi T20 tournament which will be fought out at the iconic Zayed Cricket Stadium this October.

    The aggressive Aces have confirmed they will field the much-anticipated fiery opening partnership of international superstars Colin ‘Southpaw’ Munro and Martin ‘Two Toes’ Guptill as they square up to take on the ambitions of some of the world’s best limited overseas teams all vying to take home the Abu Dhabi T20 Trophy.

    Over three days from October 4-6, six of the world’s most admired T20 squads will field a thrilling festival of cricket which will be contested by Pakistan Super League franchise Lahore Qalandars, Hobart Hurricanes from Australia’s Big Bash League, English T20 side Yorkshire Vikings, Afghanistan’s Boost Defenders and South Africa’s Multiply Titans.

    “The Aces are a team to be reckoned with being the most successful T20 side in New Zealand with four Super Smash wins to their name. They bring an added dimension to a tournament which will see some of the world’s finest T20 cricketers in action,” said Aref Al Awani, General Secretary, Abu Dhabi Sports Council, a mainstay supporter of Abu Dhabi Cricket (ADC), which is presenting the tournament.

    The Sheikh Zayed stadium will play host to the tournament.

    The Sheikh Zayed stadium will play host to the tournament.

    “We anticipate strong support for the Aces from the sports-mad Kiwi community now resident throughout the UAE and the Gulf.”

    The Guptill/Munro opening partnership brings two of the New Zealand national team’s superstars to the UAE capital. International batsman ‘Two Toes’ Guptill is one of the biggest names in cricket being the first Kiwi to score a double century in a one day international and has the second-highest score of 237 for ODIs in a single innings. Monroe too is a record-holder. He became the first player to score three centuries in T20 internationals when New Zealand beat the West Indies at the beginning of this year.

    “Confirmation of the Aces is fantastic news. It is another sporting coup for Abu Dhabi and strengthens the UAE capital’s credentials on the global cricketing stage,” said Matt Boucher, Acting CEO, ADC. “The enthusiasm for the trophy from some of the world’s strongest teams is a huge proof point for our ambitions to make Abu Dhabi a name to be reckoned with in the sport, backed up by world-class standard facilities, strong development will and committed community support.”

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