ROBIN UTHAPPA NAMED TEAM DIRECTOR OF JEETU KATARIA OWNED NEW FRANCHISE 

ANDRIES GOUS AND DAVID WILLEY JOIN AS PLATINUM SIGNINGS TO COMPLETE A STAR-STUDDED CORE 

Yas Lions have become the latest franchise confirmed for the new era of the Abu Dhabi T10, entering the tournament with West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder as Icon player, former India international Robin Uthappa as Team Director, and entrepreneur and investor Jeetu Kataria as owner. 

The Lions will make their tournament debut when the Abu Dhabi T10 returns to Zayed Cricket Stadium from November 7-20, joining an expanding 2026 line-up under the ownership of Abu Dhabi Cricket and Sports Hub (ADCSH) that already includes Arabian Aces, Emirates Eagles, UAE Bulls, United Tigers and Royal Desert Champions. 

Yas Lions was created with a simple but ambitious belief: T10 cricket can play a meaningful role in taking the game to the world. The journey begins in Abu Dhabi, but the ambition is global. 

Owner Jeetu Kataria brings close to two decades of experience across institutional capital markets, investment banking, asset management and financial technology. For Kataria, Yas Lions represents the opportunity to build something at the intersection of cricket, the UAE and long-term enterprise - not as a passive franchise owner, but to help create one of the best-run teams in the league, grounded in process, governance, respect for players and partners, and a clear competitive identity. 

Robin Uthappa, a World Cup-winning former India international, takes on the Team Director role, where he will oversee the franchise’s cricketing strategy, player development and squad culture alongside the coaching staff. Uthappa was part of India’s 2007 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup-winning squad. Since closing his playing chapter in 2022, he has built a second career across entrepreneurship, broadcasting and high-performance coaching. His role with Yas Lions will also see him work closely on player recruitment and mentoring. Having long wanted to see cricket move beyond its traditional markets, Uthappa believes T10 offers one of the clearest pathways to new audiences - short, fast, entertaining and easy for first-time fans to understand. 

Together, Kataria and Uthappa aim to combine cricketing credibility with a strong business backbone. The intention is not simply to own a franchise. It is to build one - a team known for integrity, a genuine hunger to win, the pride of unity, and a commitment to the growth of the game. 

Matt Boucher, CEO of the Abu Dhabi T10 and its owner Abu Dhabi Cricket and Sports Hub (ADCSH), said: 

“Welcoming Yas Lions is another important step in our ambition to build the Abu Dhabi T10 into a truly global sporting property. With strong international investment, experienced leadership and world-class playing talent, franchises such as Yas Lions are integral to our strategy of expanding the tournament’s international reach, attracting new audiences and creating long-term value for the sport. Our vision extends well beyond the tournament itself. We want to establish Abu Dhabi as a leading international destination for cricket and major sporting events, bringing together global talent, commercial partnerships and passionate fans. Yas Lions share that ambition, and their arrival adds further momentum to an exciting new era for Abu Dhabi T10.” 

Jeetu Kataria, Owner of Yas Lions, said: “Building Yas Lions is about applying the core principles I stand by — meticulous planning and a long-term vision. The Abu Dhabi T10 gives us an outstanding platform to build a franchise with a real identity, one grounded in process, governance and respect for players and partners. Having Robin lead our cricketing operation gives us a rare combination of championship experience and modern high-performance thinking. Together with Jason, Andries and David, we have the foundations of a squad built to compete from the first season itself. Our ambition is clear: build a contender, build a brand, and help take cricket to new audiences around the world.” 

Robin Uthappa, Team Director of Yas Lions, said: “There is a lot to like about starting a franchise from scratch, because you get to build its identity around clarity, process and performance from the very first conversation. T10 cricket rewards players who can function under pressure rather than avoid it, and that is exactly the mindset we want running through this squad. Our Direct Signings include match winners with plenty of experience, class and versatility. I have long believed T10 can be a gateway for new fans into the sport. I am looking forward to working with this group and building something we can be proud of — a team that competes hard and helps grow the game.”

Jason Holder, former West Indies Captain and a T20 World Cup Winner, was announced as the Yas Lions’ Icon signing. He is an experienced all-rounder who has built his reputation as a lower-middle order batter renowned for his technique, and a swing bowler who hits the deck hard and extracts extra bounce at just over medium pace. 

Andries Gous, one of the franchise’s Platinum signings, is a wicketkeeper-batsman with an average of almost 40 who has scored centuries in all three formats. An aggressive right-hander who favours boundaries over singles and doubles, Gous pairs his destructive batting with an excellent skill set behind the stumps as well. 

David Willey, the second Platinum signing, is an English former international cricketer and left-arm bowler and batsman who was part of the England squad that won the 2022 T20 World Cup, adding further international pedigree to the Yas Lions’ line-up. 

Further squad announcements are expected ahead of the Official Player Draft in Abu Dhabi on September 30, as Yas Lions look to complete their roster for a first Abu Dhabi T10 campaign. Over the next three to five years the franchise’s ambition is to become a consistent contender while developing into one of the most recognisable brands in T10 cricket - competing, developing talent, connecting with fans across the UAE and the wider cricket diaspora, building sustainable partnerships, and exploring a future beyond a single tournament.