Andre Fletcher on why the city feels like home, dominoes nights with fellow West Indians, his 20-year friendship with Kieron Pollard and what changes at Zayed Cricket Stadium after sunset
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Abu Dhabi, 15 November 2026: Ask Andre Fletcher for a tip on where to go in Abu Dhabi and he does not reach for a list. The answer comes back in a single line: “Habibi, welcome to Abu Dhabi.”
The line was meant for the reporters around him at Zayed Cricket Stadium on Saturday night, several of whom had travelled in for the Abu Dhabi T10. It also said a fair bit about the man. The UAE Bulls opener from Grenada has spent so many winters in the UAE capital that he no longer talks about it like a visitor.
“I’ve always been in Abu Dhabi, thankfully. I play ILT20 as well,” Fletcher said. “So Abu Dhabi, I would say, is actually home away from home.”
He had reason to be in a good mood. The Bulls, the defending champions, had just beaten Yas Lions by 26 runs to end a run of four straight defeats. They made 117 for seven and then held the Lions to 91 for four, with Mohammad Amir named Player of the Match for his two for 17.
Fletcher did not pretend the bad week had not stung. Asked about his toughest moment of the tournament so far, he went straight to the eight-run loss to Arabian Aces the night before. “Trust me, that one hurt,” he said. “But I have to put it behind my back and do what the team needs me to do.”
The Bulls know what is expected of them. “We know our backs are against the wall. We are professionals, we get paid to play, and the owners, everyone, would like this team to win,” Fletcher said. “Thankfully, today we won, and we are not taking anything for granted. We have to come back tomorrow and do even better than what we did today.”
Dominoes, cards and a short walk
What keeps a player going through a losing streak? In Abu Dhabi, Fletcher says, it helps that nobody is far away. The Caribbean players spread across the six teams are staying within walking distance of each other, and they make use of it.
“The good thing about it is the hotels are very close. So we walk to each other’s hotel, we play cards, we play dominoes, we have a chit-chat, order some food and we just enjoy ourselves,” he said.
His closest friend in the game, Johnson Charles, is not here this season, and Fletcher admits he misses him. His captain is the next best thing. Fletcher and Kieron Pollard go back about two decades, and he was quick to correct the idea that Pollard is a hard taskmaster.
“Pollard has been my long-time friend, over 20 years now I think. What you see on the field is a totally different person off the field,” Fletcher said. “Polly is one of the most humble human beings you can ever find. Get to know him and, trust me, you will enjoy his company.”
When the lights come on at Zayed
Saturday was a day of two halves at Zayed Cricket Stadium. United Tigers piled up 165 for two in the afternoon sun, the highest total of the season, and Royal Desert Champions got to 146 in reply. By the time the Bulls walked out under lights, 117 was enough.
Fletcher, who knows this ground as well as anyone, thinks the evening air has something to do with it.
“Under the lights, I believe the ball swings a bit more than in the daytime. I guess the wind tends to blow a bit more as well, so that can play a big factor,” he said. “But it still boils down to the bowlers’ skills. I’m not saying that in the daytime they are not skilful, but the conditions have a part to play.”
The Bulls’ bowlers showed plenty of that skill. Shadab Khan found himself on a hat-trick, and although the third wicket did not come, Fletcher said nobody in the camp was counting personal milestones.
“At the end of the day, our concern is about winning. If there is any individual performance, yes, we take that. But the main focus now is winning each and every game,” he said. “Hats off to Shadab, and Amir with his experience. Rohid [Khan] did not get any wickets but he bowled very well. It was a team performance and we just have to continue to do that.”
“Love the game”
At 38, Fletcher is one of the senior voices in a Bulls side that has leaned on younger batters such as Pakistan’s Khawaja Nafay. “He is a very confident cricketer. We saw what he did in the first few games,” Fletcher said of his batting partner.
His advice to youngsters watching from the stands in Abu Dhabi may surprise those who know him only as a short-format hitter.
“I wouldn’t advise them to focus on T10, because the ultimate goal is to play Test cricket. Everyone would love to play Test cricket,” he said. “But not everyone can. So it is about what you love as a player. It doesn’t matter whether it is Tests, ODIs, T20 or T10. For any young player coming up, the main focus is loving the game, working hard and having confidence.”
And does a man who has opened the batting in this format for nearly a decade still feel the pressure? Not really, he says.
“I always believe the bowlers are the ones under pressure in the T10 format. So it is not that I am under pressure. I always back myself to clear the ropes. On some days it may not happen, but I believe the bowler is more under pressure than the batter.”
The Bulls will need those ropes cleared a few more times this week if they are to stay in the race. Their opener, at least, will not have to look far for directions.ENDS