IF you thought T20 matches were short, well...

The Abu Dhabi T10 gets under way today and runs through to February 6, with a couple of Somerset stars involved in the tournament.

So what is it?

The event features eight teams, split into two groups, playing across 10 days at Abu Dhabi's Zayed Cricket Stadium.

The four teams in Group A are Bangla Tigers, Delhi Bulls, Maratha Arabians (the defending champions) and Northern Warriors, while Deccan Gladiators, Pune Devils, Qalandars and Team Abu Dhabi are in Group B.

Each team plays three group games, in which each side bats for 10 overs; bowlers have a maximum of two overs and the powerplay lasts for three overs.

Following the group matches, all eight teams go into the Super League phase.

Four teams advance from that phase into the play-offs, with the top two sides playing for a spot in the final.

The loser of that match gets a second chance to reach the final, as they then face the winner of the match between the third and fourth-placed teams.

Who is playing in it?

Two Somerset players have been drafted for the tournament - Tom Abell and Tom Banton.

Somerset skipper Abell joins the likes of Ravi Bopara, Dwayne Bravo, Fidel Edwards and Adam Lyth in the Delhi Bulls squad.

Banton, meanwhile, is part of a Qalanders squad that also includes Shahid Afridi, Chris Jordan and Samit Patel.

White-ball legend Chris Gayle - a T20 signing for Somerset in 2015 and 2016 - will be playing for Team Abu Dhabi.

Kieron Pollard, who helped Somerset to the Twenty20 Cup final in 2010, lines up for Deccan Gladiators.

And Adam Hose, who departed Somerset for Warwickshire in 2017, takes his place in the Bangla Tigers squad.

Where can I watch it?

UK viewers have a choice of channels to watch the tournament on.

It's being shown live on Sky Sports - Sky Sports Cricket, with some matches on Sky Sports Main Event, too - and also on Free Sports (Freeview channel 64).

Today's matches are: Maratha Arabians v Northern Warriors (noon UK time), Deccan Gladiators v Pune Devils (2.15pm) and Bangla Tigers v Delhi Bulls (4.30pm).

The first match for Banton and his Qalanders team-mates is against Pune Devils tomorrow (noon).