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ILT20 Season 4: Discussion Thread

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DP World International League T20 Season 4 to begin with blockbuster clash between defending champions Dubai Capitals and Desert Vipers​


Dubai, 3 September 2025: The Gulf’s premier cricket spectacle makes its return on Tuesday, December 2, as defending champions Dubai Capitals face the Desert Vipers in the opening clash of the DP World International League T20 Season 4. The fixture is a highly anticipated rematch of last season’s thrilling final.

The first ball will be bowled at 6:30pm local time, with fans expecting another gripping contest between two sides that delivered one of the tournament’s most memorable encounters in Season 3. On that occasion, the Capitals held their nerve to claim victory with just four deliveries remaining, lifting the trophy in front of a raucous 25,000-strong crowd.

Season 4 promises to build on that excitement, with the curtain-raiser once again pitting two of the league’s heavyweight franchises against each other in what is sure to set the tone for another blockbuster campaign.

The Season 4 opener will be played at the Dubai International Stadium – the venue for Season 3’s grand finish. The six-team tournament will once again feature a total of 34 matches. Dubai International Stadium will host 15 matches, Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Cricket Stadium will stage 11, and the Sharjah Cricket Stadium will be the venue for eight matches.

Following the tournament-opener, Sharjah Warriorz who qualified for the playoffs for the first time in the tournament’s history in Season 3 will take on Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the second match of the tournament – the first of the season at the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

The first-ever winners of the glittering DP World ILT20 trophy Gulf Giants will open their Season 4 campaign against Season 2 champions MI Emirates. The contest between the two former champions will take place at the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday, 4 December.

After the completion of the 30-match double-league round-robin stage, the top four teams on the points table will enter the DP World ILT20 Season 4 playoffs.

The top two teams on the table will compete in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday, 30 December at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Cricket Stadium. The Eliminator (Team 3 vs Team 4 on the points table) will be played on Thursday, 1 January at the Dubai International Stadium. Qualifier 2 (Loser of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Eliminator) will be played at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Season 4 will conclude with the title clash – the tournament finale – which will be played at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday 4 January from 6:30 pm local time.

DP World ILT20 Season 4 – Tournament schedule – all timings are local timings – Gulf Standard Time:

  • Tuesday, 2 December – Dubai Capitals vs Desert Vipers – 6:30pm, Dubai
  • Wednesday, 3 December – Sharjah Warriorz vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – 6:30pm, Sharjah
  • Thursday, 4 December – Gulf Giants vs MI Emirates – 6:30pm, Dubai
  • Friday, 5 December – Desert Vipers vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – 6:30pm, Sharjah
  • Saturday, 6 December – Dubai Capitals vs Gulf Giants – 6:30pm, Dubai
  • Sunday, 7 December – Sharjah Warriorz vs MI Emirates – 2:00pm, Sharjah
  • Sunday, 7 December – Dubai Capitals vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – 6:30pm, Dubai
  • Monday, 8 December – Desert Vipers vs Gulf Giants – 6:30pm, Dubai
  • Tuesday, 9 December – MI Emirates vs Desert Vipers – 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi
  • Wednesday, 10 December – Gulf Giants vs Sharjah Warriorz – 6:30pm, Dubai
  • Thursday, 11 December – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs MI Emirates – 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi
  • Friday, 12 December – Gulf Giants vs Desert Vipers – 6:30pm, Dubai
  • Saturday, 13 December – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Dubai Capitals – 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi
  • Sunday, 14 December – MI Emirates vs Sharjah Warriorz – 2:00pm, Abu Dhabi
  • Sunday, 14 December – Desert Vipers vs Dubai Capitals – 6:30pm, Dubai
  • Monday, 15 December – Sharjah Warriorz vs Gulf Giants – 6:30pm, Sharjah
  • Tuesday, 16 December – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Desert Vipers – 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi
  • Wednesday, 17 December – Dubai Capitals vs MI Emirates – 6:30pm, Dubai
  • Thursday, 18 December – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Gulf Giants – 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi
  • Friday, 19 December – Sharjah Warriorz vs Dubai Capitals – 6:30pm, Sharjah
  • Saturday, 20 December – MI Emirates vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – 2:00pm, Abu Dhabi
  • Saturday, 20 December – Desert Vipers vs Sharjah Warriorz – 6:30pm, Dubai
  • Sunday, 21 December – Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals – 2:00pm, Sharjah
  • Sunday, 21 December – Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates – 6:30pm, Dubai
  • Monday, 22 December – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Sharjah Warriorz – 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi
  • Tuesday, 23 December – MI Emirates vs Gulf Giants – 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi
  • Wednesday, 24 December – Dubai Capitals vs Sharjah Warriorz – 6:30pm, Dubai
  • Thursday, 25 December – Rest Day
  • Friday, 26 December – Sharjah Warriorz vs Desert Vipers – 6:30pm, Sharjah
  • Saturday, 27 December – MI Emirates vs Dubai Capitals – 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi
  • Sunday, 28 December – Gulf Giants vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – 6:30pm, Dubai
  • Monday, 29 December – Rest Day
  • Tuesday, 30 December – Qualifier 1 (Team 1 vs Team 2) – 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi
  • Wednesday, 31 December – Rest Day
  • Thursday, 1 January – Eliminator (Team 3 vs Team 4) – 6:30pm, Dubai
  • Friday, 2 January – Qualifier 2 (Loser of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Eliminator) – 6:30pm, Sharjah
  • Saturday, 3 January – Rest Day
  • Sunday, 4 January – Final (Winner of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Qualifier 2) – 6:30pm, Dubai
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DP World International League T20 Season 4 to begin with blockbuster clash between defending champions Dubai Capitals and Desert Vipers

The Gulf’s premier cricket spectacle makes its return on Tuesday, December 2, as defending champions Dubai Capitals face the Desert Vipers in the opening clash of the DP World International League T20 Season 4. The fixture is a highly anticipated rematch of last season’s thrilling final. The...
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Let's see if unlike SA20, ILT20 upcoming season will have any Pakistanis.
 
Fresh voices join a power-packed commentary team for DP World ILT20 Season 4

As the DP World International League T20 enters its fourth season, the competition is all set to deliver another exhilarating chapter of the region’s premier T20 league. In the lead-up, the league and broadcast partners 'Z' Network have announced a standout commentary panel, poised to elevate the viewer experience.

Joining the team as the newest voices are former Pakistani captain and all-rounder Shoaib Malik, Zimbabwe's Andy Flower, who coached the Gulf Giants to the inaugural title in the first season of the DP World ILT20, and former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif.

They join an acclaimed panel featuring Simon Doull, Wasim Akram, Harbhajan Singh, Rohan Gavaskar, Ian Bishop, Alan Wilkins, Waqar Younis, Daren Ganga, Owais Shah, Mike Haysman, Urooj Mumtaz, Nikhil Chopra, Vivek Razdan, Saba Karim, Ajay Mehra, and Reema Malhotra.

With their sharp cricketing acumen and rich storytelling offered in English and Hindi, the elite group who have called some of the game’s most iconic moments, will bring fans closer to the action.

Adding to the broadcast experience will be presenters Laura McGoldrick, Grace Hayden, Arjun Pandit and Ridhima Pathak.

Wasim Akram: “I’ve enjoyed many special moments here in the UAE as a player, and now I’m thrilled to return for my fourth season as a commentator with the DP World ILT20. The league continues to grow in quality and excitement, and I’m looking forward to another brilliant season of cricket.”

Shoaib Malik: “It’s my first year behind the mic in the DP World ILT20, though I’ve always followed the league closely. Joining my fellow cricketers on the commentary team with whom I share so many memories is something I’m really looking forward to. The UAE is perfect for cricket in December, great weather, great crowds, and I am sure the action will live up to it.”

Andy Flower: “I really enjoyed my experiences coaching in the DP World ILT20 and it’s great to see the league expanding with players from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The UAE players are improving and contributing more with each season and it’s going to be very interesting to watch this year following the league’s first auction."

Ian Bishop: “I am thrilled to be back here for my fourth season of the DP World ILT20. The tournament has been a real catalyst for cricket development in the region. The UAE loves its cricket, and it truly needed a league like this to showcase and grow the game.”

The DP World International League T20 Season 4 will begin on Tuesday, 2 December – UAE National Day (Eid-Al-Etihad) with a blockbuster opening, the six-team, 34-match tournament will conclude with the final on Sunday, 4 January 2026.

Some of the cricketing world’s biggest names are set to light up the field this season, including Phil Salt (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Sunil Narine (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Andre Russell (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Sam Curran (Desert Vipers), Noor Ahmad (Desert Vipers), Naseem Shah (Desert Vipers), Shimron Hetmyer (Desert Vipers), Rovman Powell (Dubai Capitals), Mustafizur Rahman (Dubai Capitals), Jordan Cox (Dubai Capitals), Moeen Ali (Gulf Giants), Pathum Nissanka (Gulf Giants) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Gulf Giants).

Adding more star power are Kieron Pollard (MI Emirates), Nicholas Pooran (MI Emirates), Andre Fletcher (MI Emirates), Fazalhaq Farooqi (MI Emirates), Tim David (Sharjah Warriorz), Dinesh Karthik (Sharjah Warriorz), Sikandar Raza (Sharjah Warriorz), Johnson Charles (Sharjah Warriorz), and Adil Rashid (Sharjah Warriorz).

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Fresh voices join a power-packed commentary team for DP World ILT20 Season 4

Dubai, 26 November 2025: As the DP World International League T20 enters its fourth season, the competition is all set to deliver another exhilarating chapter of the region’s premier T20 league. In the lead-up, the league and broadcast partners ZEE Network have announced a standout commentary...
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Desert Vipers cruise past Dubai Capitals by four wickets in DP World ILT20 Season 4 opener

Dubai, 02 December 2025 : It was redemption for the Desert Vipers, who defeated defending champions Dubai Capitals by four wickets in the opening fixture of DP World ILT20 Season 4 at the Dubai International Stadium. The Vipers brought an end to a six-match losing streak against the Capitals in a rematch of last season’s final. The triumph was powered by a half-century from Andries Gous and a comprehensive performance with the ball. The result also marked the Vipers' 21st victory across all seasons of the competition – the most by any team.

After electing to bowl first, Noor Ahmad (2/25), David Payne (2/26), and Khuzaima Tanveer (2/35) each registered two-wicket hauls to hold the Capitals at 150/8.

In the run chase, Desert Vipers were comfortably ahead of the equation with openers Fakhar Zaman (26 off 15) and Andries Gous (58 off 36) putting on a quickfire 50-run stand. Zaman smashed two sixes and a four before he was dismissed by Mohammad Nabi in the fifth over - the first time Zaman has fallen to a spinner in the DP World ILT20. Gous was equally aggressive, carving three fours off Scott Currie as the Vipers finished the powerplay at 64/1.

Max Holden joined Gous as the duo put on a 35-run alliance in the span of 30 deliveries. The Vipers were cruising when Gulbadin Naib scalped Holden in the 10th over to leave the score at 85/2.

Gous eventually brought up his half-century in 32 balls, studded with six fours and two sixes, before he was dismissed by Waqar Salamkheil. Salamkheil followed up with the wicket of Sam Curran (7 off 10) to emerge as the pick of the Capitals attack.

Scot Currie chipped in with crucial late wickets, removing Shimron Hetmyer (7 off 6) and Hassan Nawaz (3 off 7), but the damage was done. Dan Lawrence (19* off 16) and Khuzaima Tanveer (12* off 8) took the Vipers home in 19 overs.

Batting first, Dubai Capitals faced early pressure as the Vipers’ pacers made immediate inroads. Sediqullah Atal (16 off 13) fell to Naseem Shah, Gulbadin Naib (0 off 1) was undone by a stellar return catch from Sam Curran, and Jordan Cox (2 off 7) became Dan Lawrence’s first scalp, leaving the Capitals struggling at 32/3.

Opener Shayan Jahangir (19 off 12) and David Willey (10 off 22) made small contributions. Jahangir took Khuzaima Tanveer for two boundaries he was sent back in the same over. Rovman Powell (39 off 22) and Wiley had put on 25 runs in 26 balls, before Willey was castled by Noor Ahmad in the 12th over.

Powell’s cautious start quickly changed to a counterattack as he joined Gulbadin Naib for a 34-run stand in only 22 balls. The West Indian did the heavy lifting as he took down Khuzaima Tanveer for 18 runs before falling to the UAE pacer, in the 15th over with the score at 101/5.

Mohammad Nabi (29 off 23) struck two fours and two sixes, combining with skipper Dasun Shanaka (12 off 11) for 30 runs in 20 balls. Though both batters fell in the final two overs to Noor Ahmad and David Payne respectively, the Capitals clawed their way to a competitive total of 150/8.

Player of the Match, Andries Gous said:
“It was a bit slow up front, but it started to get better when we were batting. I’ve come in with confidence, so it is something I want to keep going. It’s good to get that first fifty behind as we go into the rest of the tournament, they are some very good teams.”

Reflecting on the loss, Dasun Shanaka, captain of the Dubai Capitals, said:
“I think with the ball and the bat we were not up to the mark today. We need to hold our line and length; 150-160 is the par score here. Hopefully we can come up with better plans next time.”

Brief Scores:

Desert Vipers beat Dubai Capitals by four wickets

Dubai Capitals 150/8 in 20 overs (Rovman Powell 39, Mohammad Nabi 29, Shayan Jahangir 19, Noor Ahmad 2 for 25, David Payne 2 for 26, Khuzaima Tanveer 2 for 35)

Desert Vipers 151/6 in 19 overs (Andries Gous 58, Fakhar Zaman 26, Dan Lawrence 19 not out, Waqar Salamkheil 2 for 18, Scott Currie 2 for 36)

Player of the Match: Andries Gous
 
Confident that we will respond strongly in the next game: Dubai Capitals skipper Dasun Shanaka

Dubai, December 3, 2025: The DP World ILT20 kicked off on Tuesday, December 2, with a clash between the defending champions Dubai Capitals and the Desert Vipers at the Dubai International Stadium. It was a replay of season 3’s final, with the Vipers eventually winning by four wickets.

Speaking post the loss, skipper Dasun Shanaka shared his thoughts on how the match panned out, “We always knew the first game would tell us a lot about the conditions, but we ended up 10–15 runs short of what this wicket demanded. If we had kept a few more wickets in hand, the finish could have been much stronger and the scoreboard very different.”

He added that the team faced early pressure in the powerplay, which hurt their chances, “Cricket is a momentum-driven sport. We couldn’t set the tone either with the bat or the ball, especially in the powerplay, and that’s where they took the game away. Their batters made the most of the loose deliveries we bowled, and that early pressure made a big difference despite our later recovery.”

Batting first, the top order faced early pressure after the wickets of Sediqullah Atal (16 off 13) and Shayan Jahangir (19 off 15). Gulbadin Naib (0 off 1) and Jordan Cox (2 off 7) started off a collapse in the opening overs, but then Rovman Powell (29 off 22) and Mohammad Nabi (29 off 23) helped the side to 150 runs in their stipulated 20 overs. For the Vipers, opening Andries Gous scored a half century and helped his team to the win.

The Sri Lankan all-rounder took responsibility for the loss but was confident, saying, “As captain, I know I have to take more responsibility and bat higher up the order. Today’s collapse pushed me down a bit because we needed the innings to settle, but we’ll reassess our plans. We’re a much better side than what we showed, and I’m confident we’ll respond strongly in the next game.”

The defending champions will now face off against the Gulf Giants on Saturday, December 6, for their second match of the tournament
 
*Livingstone’s fireworks sink Sharjah Warriorz by 39 runs*

* Livingstone’s 82* included a record-breaking 33-run final over as the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders piled up 233/4, the second-highest total in the competition’s history.

* Tim David’s 60 runs off 24 balls went in vain for the Warriorz in a match that saw the second highest aggregate across four seasons of the DP World ILT20.

* Tickets for DP World ILT20 Season 4 can be purchased from the ticketing platform Virgin Megastore – link: tickets.ilt20.ae
* For photos from DP World ILT20 Season 4, click here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1CnOrcUGtm9ZWCsD8zSN9kdl914E5_tVr

*Sharjah, 03 December 2025* : Liam Livingstone lit up the Sharjah Cricket Stadium with a rampant 82* run blitz off 38 deliveries as the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders claimed a 39-run win over the Sharjah Warriorz in their opening fixture of the DP World ILT20 Season 4. His explosive finish propelled the Knight Riders to 233/4, the second-highest total in DP World ILT20 history.

Livingstone found support from Sherfane Rutherford (45 off 27) through the middle overs, while Alex Hales (32 off 19) and Alishan Sharafu (34 off 23) provided a brisk start at the top of the innings. Livingstone reserved his fiercest hitting for the final over, where he hammered five sixes, including four in a row for a record of 33 runs against Dwayne Pretorius. Adil Rashid was the lone bright spot for the Warriorz, returning figures of 2/31.

Chasing a formidable target, the Warriorz could not find the start they needed. They lost Johnson Charles (10 off 9), Tom Abell (6 off 6) and Tom Kohler-Cadmore (14 off 18) inside the first seven overs with only 56 runs on board.

Tim David (60 off 24) scripted the fightback. David hit Piyush Chawla for three consecutive sixes in the ninth over to keep the home side in the fray. While the wickets of Sikandar Raza (8 off 11) and Dinesh Karthik (5 off 4) tumbled around him, David surged to a rapid fifty in 21 balls, striking six sixes on his way there.

Ajay Kumar put an end to the onslaught, dismissing David in the 13th over to bring the score to 120/6. Kumar also returned the best figures of the day in the process with 1/22 in his four overs.

With the required run-rate surging to almost 20 runs in the final five overs, the equation proved too steep. Pretorius (39 off 20) shepherded the tail with a gutsy knock comprising four fours and two sixes while Adil Rashid (25 off 11) played a consolatory cameo with three sixes to take down Andre Russell for 25 runs in the penultimate over, however, the Warriorz finished considerably short at 194/9.

Earlier in the evening, Michael Pepper (15 off 9) set the tone for the Knight Riders’ innings with three boundaries in the first over before he was cleaned up by Dwayne Pretorius in the third over. Alex Hales and Alishan Sharafu cracked multiple boundaries as Knight Riders finished the powerplay at 58/1.

The partnership was worth 51 runs when Adil Rashid broke through. Rashid first castled Hales in the eighth over and then removed Sharafu to leave the Knight Riders at 88/3 in ten overs.

Liam Livingstone and Sherfane Rutherford seized control of the innings with a 95-run stand. Their assault included 19-run overs off both Sikandar Raza and Dwayne Pretorius, ensuring the Knight Riders were scoring briskly throughout the innings.

Sherfane Rutherford had plundered three fours and three sixes until he was scalped by Saurabh Netravalkar in the 18th over. Andre Russell (11* off 4) joined Livingstone as they finished with a 50-run stand in just 13 balls courtesy of the massive final over.

Player of the Match, Liam Livingstone said:
“The boys up top played well and set a strong foundation. It took me a while to get going as the pitch was a little slow in the middle, but thankfully I found rhythm towards the end.”

Captain of the Sharjah Warriorz, Tim Southee said:
“That was a dangerous batting lineup and the only way to slow them down was by taking wickets. We weren’t able to do that through the middle overs or at the back end. We were a little off with the ball and probably in the field as well, and credit to the Knight Riders because they played well.”

Brief Scores
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders beat Sharjah Warriorz by 39 runs

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders 233/4 in 20 overs (Liam Livingstone 82 not out, Sherfane Rutherford 45, Alishan Sharafu 34, Adil Rashid 2 for 31, Saurabh Netravalkar 1 for 33)

Sharjah Warriorz 194/9 in 20 overs (Tim David 60, Dwayne Pretorius 39, Adil Rashid 25, George Garton 2 for 24, Olly Stone 2 for 37, Andre Russell 2 for 48)

Player of the Match: Liam Livingstone
 
The Gulf Giants began their campaign with a clinical six-wicket victory against the MI Emirates at DP World ILT20 Season 4. A swashbuckling knock of 81 runs in 42 balls from Pathum Nissanka and an all-round performance from Azmatullah Omarzai proved decisive for the Giants who broke a six-match losing streak at the Dubai International Stadium

Apart from a 78-run partnership between Nicholas Pooran (46 off 39) and half-centurion Kieron Pollard (50 off 33), the Giants were potent with the ball. Omarzai and Nuwan Thushara led with two-wicket hauls each. In contrast four out of five bowlers for the MI Emirates conceded at more than 10-runs an over.

In the second innings, Chris Woakes gave the Giants an early jolt with the wickets of Rahmanullah Gurbaz (6 off 3) and Gerhard Erasmus (1 off 5). Pathum Nissanka and Moeen Ali (26 off 21) steadied the ship, taking the Giants to 67 until Moeen Ali was run-out.

Opening the innings, Nissanka scored briskly after a watchful start. He crossed the 50-run mark in 30 balls on the back of three fours and two sixes.

Soon after, Omarzai (39* off 16) tore into Rashid Khan, hammering four and three sixes in a devastating 23-run over that seized control for the Giants. Nissanka extended the damage with three boundaries and a six off Chris Woakes before his dismissal in the 15th over.

Omarzai remained unbeaten as the Giants reached their target in 14.4 overs

Asked to bat first, MI Emirates limped to 36/3 inside the powerplay courtesy of the Giants’ pace attack. Nuwan Thushara snapped up Mohammed Waseem (1 off 2) and Jonny Bairstow (11 off 13) with both batters caught and bowled. Meanwhile, Azmatullah Omarzai cleaned up Tom Banton (6 off 8) in the third over.

Runs were hard to come by as Nicholas Pooran and Tajinder Singh (15 off 19) looked to rebuild. The pair put up a stand of 27 runs before Moeen Ali outfoxed Tajinder to leave the MI Emirates at 58/4 in 10 overs.

The innings needed impetus, and Pollard provided it in the 13th over, launching three consecutive sixes off Tabraiz Shamsi. Pooran joined the assault with a 14-run plunder off Haider Razzaq, as the duo raced to a 50-run partnership in just 36 balls. In a bid to hit his third six of the night, Pooran fell to Razzaq in the 18th over to make it 141/5.

Kieron Pollard was dismissed in the final over by Omarzai. But Romario Shepherd (18* off 6) and Rashid Khan (6* off 1) did well to help the MI Emirates post 163/6.

On the Gulf Giants’ victory, stand-in captain, Moeen Ali said: “It’s a great performance. The toss was huge. We bowled very well in the first 10 overs. They have three players who can take it away, and we held them back nicely, and then Nissanka and Omarzai were incredible. Nissanka is a brilliant player. He is one of the best in the world. He is very calm, doesn’t say much, but packs a punch. Omarzai gave us the momentum to finish the game by taking on Rashid Khan”

MI Emirates captain Kieron Pollard said: "Losing three wickets in the powerplay, and having to rebuild, we were short in the first innings. The ball was moving around quite a bit in the first 10 overs, and we couldn’t finish it off as well as we wanted. We just need to be better in terms of execution.”
 
The Desert Vipers (DV) beat the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ADKR) in today's match (Match 4 of the International League T20, 2025-26).


* Result: Desert Vipers won by 2 wickets (with 3 balls remaining).
* ADKR Score (1st Innings): 171/6 (20 overs)
* DV Score (2nd Innings): 175/8 (19.3 overs)
* Key Performers (from the winning side): Khuzaima Tanveer contributed a crucial 31 runs off just 12 balls towards the end of the chase
* Pakistan players failed to make impact as Fakhar Zaman 12(9) and Hassan Nawaz 0(2) got out cheaply

Sharjah, 05 December, 2025: The Desert Vipers made it two wins in two matches after securing a hard-fought two-wicket win over the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday. Shimron Hetmyer brought his team back into the game with an impressive 25-ball 48 after a tough start, while Khuzaima Tanveer smashed 31 off just 12 in the death overs to secure the win.

Despite the early power-hitting of the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, the Vipers kept their cool. Alex Hales anchored the batting innings with a brilliant 53 off 37, including three sixes and four fours, as ADKR scored 87 runs in the first 10 overs. The Vipers bounced back in the second 10 overs, bagging five wickets and setting a target of 171.

With the bat, after a slow start that saw three wickets fall in the powerplay, Hetmyer combined with Dan Lawrence (35 off 31) in the middle overs to give their side a chance. In the final three overs, despite being eight wickets down, Tanveer’s batting took his team over the line.

Sent in to bat first, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders made a confident start as Phil Salt (18 off 15) and Hales kept the scoreboard moving in the powerplay. Salt survived a drop in the fifth over but was soon dismissed by Qais Ahmad, caught by Naseem Shah. Hales continued to attack, reaching a brisk half-century in 31 balls, while UAE’s Alishan Sharafu (25 off 19) added quick runs before a sharp boundary catch by Dan Lawrence handed Noor Ahmad his first wicket.

After Sharafu’s dismissal, the momentum shifted sharply in favour of the Desert Vipers as their spinners took control. Hales was removed by Noor, and the middle order began to crumble. Sherfane Rutherford (3 off 6) fell cheaply to Lawrence, and Liam Livingstone (4 off 6) – the hero of ADKR’s previous game – became Qais Ahmad’s second wicket, leaving the Knight Riders struggling to rebuild.

Andre Russell (36* off 23) and Unmukt Chand (18 off 13) tried to keep the run-rate going, but the damage had been done. Apart from one expensive over from Khuzaima Tanveer, the Vipers’ bowlers kept things tight throughout. Unable to fully capitalise on their strong start,
ADKR were eventually restricted to a competitive but gettable total of 171.

In response, the Vipers began their chase in explosive fashion as Andries Gous (17 off 9) and Fakhar Zaman (12 off 9) hammered 19 runs off the opening over from Olly Stone — the highest ever in the first over of a DP World ILT20 innings. But stand-in skipper Sunil Narine pulled things back immediately, removing Gous in the third over. Zaman departed soon after off Ajay Kumar’s bowling, and with two new batters at the crease, Narine struck again to dismiss impact player Max Holden (1 off 6). The early breakthroughs left the Vipers reeling at 44/3 at the end of the powerplay.

Sam Curran (19 off 15) and Lawrence steadied the innings with a valuable 32-run stand before Piyush Chawla removed Curran. Lawrence then found strong support from Hetmyer as the pair added 68 off just 38 balls, putting the pressure back on ADKR.

However, Ajay Kumar swung the momentum again in the 16th over, dismissing Lawrence and Hasan Nawaz in the same over. Russell added a massive moment by removing the dangerous Hetmyer with help from a sharp catch by Alishan Sharafu — a wicket that also marked Russell’s 500th in T20 cricket.

Even with the late wickets, Khuzaima Tanveer held his nerve. He struck two sixes and two fours in a composed, match-defining cameo. With eight runs needed in the final over, Tanveer sealed the chase in style, finishing with a six and a boundary to secure a dramatic win for the Vipers.

On the close win for the Desert Vipers, stand-in skipper Sam Curran said, “It was, in many ways, a fortunate escape, but an outstanding result for us. ADKR possess a very powerful batting lineup, and I believe our bowlers performed exceptionally well throughout the innings. The dismissals of Hetmyer and Dan introduced an unexpected twist, but the team showed commendable composure in the crucial moments.”

ADKR stand-in skipper Sunil Narine said, “We were 15–20 runs short. We began well in the powerplay, and that phase was crucial for us. The conditions eventually worked in their favour, and the dew made it challenging for our spinners. But at the end of the day, that’s part of the game.”

Brief Scores
Desert Vipers beat Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by 2 wickets

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders 171/6 in 20 overs (Alex Hales 53, Andre Russell 36, Qais Ahmad 2 for 29, Noor Ahmad 2 for 35)

Desert Vipers 175/8 (Shimron Hetmyer 48, Dan Lawrence 35, Ajay Kumar 3 for 21, Sunil Narine 2 for 35)

Player of the match: Shimron Hetmyer
 
The MI Emirates suffered a late scare but eventually pulled through courtesy an impressive final over from Romario Shepherd as they secured a four-run win over the Sharjah Warriorz at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

UAE star Muhammad Waseem was the highest run-getter for MI Emirates, scoring 39 runs in 29 balls, including two fours and as many sixes. However, it was Tom Banton (32 off 21) and Romario Shepherd, who smashed an unbeaten 31 off 10 balls, including one four and four sixes. This took the score to 185, ensuring that Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Sikander Raza’s half-centuries went in vain. With the ball, Adil Rashid took 3 for 32 for the Warriorz.

Batting first, MI Emirates started on a cautious note, with Jonny Bairstow (37 off 24) hitting their first six of the innings only in the third over. That shot sparked a brief surge as they reached 49 without loss at the end of the powerplay, before Junaid Siddique made the breakthrough with the wicket of Bairstow in the next over.

Waseem then took charge of the batting, rotating the strike and finding the odd boundary, but Adil Rashid turned the game on its head by dismissing Nicholas Pooran (5 off 12) and removing Waseem two balls later.

At 119/3 after 15 overs, MI Emirates needed a strong finish. Banton joined the attack with a crucial 32 off 21 balls, including two fours and one six, anchoring the innings. Shakib Al Hasan (16 off 12) was retired out for skipper Kieron Pollard (4 off 2), while Banton fell soon after to give Rashid his third wicket of the night.

Late fireworks came from USA’s Tajinder Singh (17 off 8), who struck Rashid for two sixes in his final over, before Maheesh Theekshana removed Pollard. Shepherd then powered the closing stages, smashing two sixes in the final over to lift MI Emirates to a competitive 185.

The Warriorz started the second innings with a spring in their step. Johnson Charles (15 off 13) hit three fours, but Naveen-ul-Haq got the early breakthrough, and Shubham Ranjane (6 off 7) followed soon after, shifting momentum in MI Emirates’ favour. Tim David (13 off 7) hit Fazalhaq Farooqi for three consecutive fours but the Afghan bowler had the last laugh, rattling his stumps to reduce the Warriorz to 48/3 at the end of the powerplay.

Kohler-Cadmore then found support from the experienced Raza. The Zimbabwean played the role of the aggressor, finding the regular boundary but also rotating the strike in an able fashion. He backed up his batting with a well-earned half century off just 26 balls, completing the achievement with a six off Shepherd’s bowling.

The duo shared a 103-run stand in just 59 balls before Allah Ghazanfar provided the much-needed breakthrough by dismissing Raza. He then struck again with the very next delivery to bowl Dwaine Pretorius, sealing a two-wicket maiden and giving the MI Emirates a crucial lifeline.

Kohler-Cadmore also reached his half-century in 40 balls, but the pressure was on the Warriorz, who needed 21 runs in in final two overs. Kohler-Cadmore followed in the next over off Zahoor Khan’s bowling, putting the onus on MI Emirates. Shepherd then closed out the game in the final over with some brilliant death bowling, securing their first win of the season.

Speaking after the win, MI Emirates skipper Kieron Pollard said, “I’m very pleased, but cricket is a game of uncertainties—if you fight till the end, anything can happen. Full credit to the players for staying in the contest. Losing wickets close together slowed us down, and although we tried to rebuild, they bowled well. Romario Shepherd’s late surge gave us crucial momentum heading into the second half. Before the final ball, I told him not to change anything from what he had done in the first five deliveries. The two wickets in Ghazanfar’s over proved to be the turning point for us.”

Tim Southee, skipper of the Sharjah Warriorz said, “Both sides were in the game throughout, and the partnership between Kohler-Cadmore and Raza was outstanding, but we fell short in the end. Our bowling was an improvement from the other night, though as a unit we know we can be better; the day game was always going to be different and while we handled it better, there is still room to improve. Ideally, you want someone set at the end of a chase, but as a bowling side, if you keep taking wickets, you stay in the contest until the last over—credit to them. As for Karthik’s injury, I’m not sure yet; I haven’t seen him.”

Brief Scores

MI Emirates beat Sharjah Warriorz by 4 runs

MI Emirates 185/8 in 20 overs (Muhammad Waseem 39, Jonny Bairstow 37, Adil Rashid 3 for 32, Tim Southee 1 for 26)

Sharjah Warriorz 181/7 (Sikander Raza 64, Tom Kohler-Cadmore 51, Allah Ghazanfar 2 for 21, Naveen-ul-Haq 2 for 29)

Player of the match: Romario Shepherd
 
Rovman Powell’s stunning unbeaten half-century set up the Dubai Capitals’ first win of the DP World ILT20 Season 4 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Batting first, the Dubai Capitals recovered from a shaky start courtesy of Powell’s unbeaten 96 runs off 52 balls and Jordan Cox’s 52 runs off 32 balls to set the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders a target of 187 runs. In response, the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders were bundled out for 103 runs in 15.3 overs as the Dubai Capitals secured a NRR-boosting 83-run win.

Sunday’s win is the Dubai Capitals’ second-biggest win in terms of runs in the DP World ILT20. Incidentally, four of the Dubai Capitals’ biggest wins in the tournament have come against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.

Chasing 187 to win, the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders were off to a horrible start as David Willey got rid of Alex Hales (0 off 1) and Alishan Sharafu (4 off 4) in the very first over. Mustafizur Rahman reduced the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders to 10 for three by dismissing Unmukt Chand (0 off 1) for a golden duck.

Phil Salt (27 off 21) tried to keep the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the game with a fighting innings but fell to Rahman with his side struggling at 44 for 4 at the end of the powerplay. Mohammed Nabi trapped Liam Livingstone (16 off 15) plumb in front of the wicket to bring Andre Russell (12 off 6) out in the middle.

Russell, out in the middle much sooner than he would have appreciated, whacked Waqar Salamkheil for two massive sixes over cow-corner. However, the Afghan spinner had the last laugh as Russell failed to connect for a third six and gave an easy catch to wicket-keeper Shayan Jahangir.

Nabi and Salamkheil kept a tight leash on the scoring which increased the pressure on the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders batters. Skipper Jason Holder (0 off 4), Sunil Narine (3 off 5) and Sherfane Rutherford (19 off 25) perished as they tried to mount a late fightback.

Salamkheil dismissed Olly Stone (6 off 6) to secure a convincing win for the Dubai Capitals.

Having been put to bat first, the Dubai Capitals did not have the best of starts. Openers Toby Albert (8 off 8) and Sediqullah Atal (8 off 11) were helped along by some poor catching from the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders fielders. Atal was dropped twice while Albert was dropped once inside the opening four overs.

However, the duo could not make the most of their extended stays and were dismissed for eight runs apiece as the Dubai Capitals ended the powerplay with 43 runs for the loss of two wickets. Piyush Chawla, playing in his 300th T20 match, struck with his first ball to get rid of the USA batter Shayan Jahangir (14 off 13) to leave the Dubai Capitals reeling at 43 for three.

Cox and Powell took control of the match as they stitched a 119-run stand off 76 balls. While Powell smashed eight fours and four sixes in his innings, Cox (52 off 36) hit four fours and one six in his stay. On a slow surface, Powell and Cox kept the scoreboard ticking with some excellent running between the wickets.

Cox perished soon after bringing up his half-century in the 19th over as he tried to hit Holder over long on only to find Olly Stone in the deep. Powell let loose in the final over as he slammed two sixes and two fours of Andre Russell’s first four balls in the final over. Russell got the consolation prize of denying Powell a fabulous hundred by nailing the final two balls of the innings.

Player of the Match Rovman Powell said: “They have two high quality spinners in Narine and Chawla. It was important when I went to bat that I fought them off and just not bat a lot of dot balls. Once I did that, batting against the fast bowlers came naturally. Cox was very, very helpful. We just didn't want to get stagnant in the middle. We didn't want Narine or Chawla to keep bowling at one player and that was the best way to bat against two world-class spinners like them.”

Speaking after the defeat, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders captain Jason Holder said: “We've got a bit to learn from this game. We didn't play our best cricket today. We were probably just a few runs short in all three departments. We were a little bit untidy in our bowling phases, conceded too many big overs, and in batting, we never really got the partnerships going. I thought Rovman Powell and Jordan Cox put together a really good partnership, which took the game away from us.”

Brief Scores

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders beat Dubai Capitals by 83 runs

Dubai Capitals 186/4 in 20 overs (Rovman Powell 96 not out, Jordan Cox 52, Jason Holder 2 for 30, Piyush Chawla 1 for 23)

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders 103/10 in 15.3 overs (Phil Salt 27, Waqar Salamkheil 4 for 29, David Willey 2 for 13, Mohammed Nabi 2 for 12)

Player of the match: Rovman Powell
 
Naseem Shah defends 13 in the super over to win the game for his side.

He has been defending a lot of super overs and last over finishes off late. Perhaps something to keep an eye on for Pakistan's death bowling options.
 
The Desert Vipers held their nerves to prevail in the first-ever Super Over of the DP World ILT20, beating the Gulf Giants at the Dubai International Stadium on Monday. Sam Curran (44 off 36) and Dan Lawrence’s (56 off 31) partnership ensured the Vipers tied the scores, despite a challenging target of 180. The Vipers have overcome the Giants in each of their previous five encounters.

Azmatullah Omarzai bagged four wickets for the Giants, but it was not enough to down the Vipers and stop them from their third straight win off the season. The lower-order batters of the Vipers also scored crucial runs in a comprehensive effort.

In the first innings, the Gulf Giants started on the front foot, with Pathum Nissanka (56 off 29) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (41 off 31) taking 14 runs off Naseem Shah in the opening exchanges. The aggressive opening pair raced to a 50-run stand inside five overs and powered the Giants to 58 in the powerplay.

Nissanka continued his rich vein of form, bringing up his third half-century in as many games, off just 27 balls. He struck Noor Ahmad for his fourth six of the innings, but the Afghan spinner had the final say, dismissing him off the very next delivery to end the 73-run opening stand.

Gurbaz then took charge, with James Vince providing solid support through a key 25 runs off 22 balls. Their 54-run partnership was broken by Khuzaima Tanveer, who removed Vince before sending Gurbaz back two balls later. The Giants were 129/3 at the end of the 14th over.

The Giants’ bowlers fought their way back into the contest thereafter. Noor picked up his second wicket by dismissing Azmatullah Omarzai (20 off 13), while David Payne removed Moeen Ali (11 off 11). With only 38 runs coming from the final five overs, the Giants finished on 179/5.

Omarzai made early inroads for the Giants by dismissing Fakhar Zaman (1 off 9). Mark Adair struck soon after, removing Andries Gous (11 off 9), leaving the Vipers struggling at 14/2 early in the chase.

Sam Curran and Impact Player Max Holden (15 off 15) attempted to steady the innings, but Haider Razzaq provided the third breakthrough by sending Holden back. At the halfway mark, the Vipers were 65/3, still needing 115 runs for victory.

Curran then joined forces with Dan Lawrence as the pair began to find regular boundaries. Curran played a pivotal knock of 44 off 36 balls, including one four and three sixes, before falling to Nuwan Thushara. The 60-run partnership with Lawrence brought the Vipers back into contention.

Lawrence reached his half-century in just 28 balls, but Omarzai turned the game again in the 18th over, dismissing Shimron Hetmyer (16 off 8) before removing Lawrence. Hasan Nawaz chipped in with a quick 11 off 4, but Thushara claimed his second wicket of the innings.

With 13 needed off the final over, Tanveer struck Omarzai for a six, but a brilliant catch by Gurbaz ended the UAE batter’s stay. Vriitya Aravind then found the gaps to level the scores and force a Super Over.

In the Super Over, the Vipers went on to score 13, with Lawrence finding the boundary once, before Thushara got his wicket. Meanwhile, Naseem Shah kept his cool and closed out the win for the Vipers after restricting the Giants to just nine runs.

Sam Curran, Desert Vipers’ stand-in captain, said: “It has been the trend recently, but I am not complaining — three wins from three.” Speaking about Tanveer, he said, “Tanveer has been working extremely hard on his batting in the nets. To hit a six under pressure and then bowl really well are very positive signs.”

Moeen Ali, Gulf Giants’ stand-in skipper said: “We made a couple of mistakes at the wrong time and allowed them back into the game. When we needed a few good balls, we gave them something to hit. In this format, the game is never over, and it was one we could easily have won.”

Brief Scores

Desert Vipers beat Gulf Giants in the Super Over

Gulf Giants 179/5 in 20 overs (Pathum Nissanka 56, Rahmanullah Gurbaz 41, Khuzaima Tanveer 2 for 23, Noor Ahmad 2 for 47)

Desert Vipers 179/9 in 20 overs (Dan Lawrence 56, Sam Curran 44, Azmatullah Omarzai 4 for 32, Nuwan Thushara 2 for 33)

Super Over

Desert Vipers 13/1 in 1 over (Dan Lawrence 10, Shimron Hetmyer 3*, Nuwan Thushara 1 for 13)

Gulf Giants 9/0 in 1 over (Moeen Ali 5*, Tom Moores 1*, Naseem Shah 0 for 9)

Player of the match: Dan Lawrence
 
Fakhar looks so cooked, especially as an opener. Outside of PSL, his entire T20 career has been quite mediocre. Hardly any notable innings at the international level in T20's and he has been consistently poor in leagues outside of PSL. He is just not a T20 opener anymore. He struggles against the moving ball and often gets exposed as an opener.

He could still make it work as a middle order bat who can go after spinners in those middle overs but I am not sure he has ability to do much beyond that in T20's these days.
 
The Desert Vipers were the victors in yet another thrilling clash, beating MI Emirates by one run at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. The win, which went down to the last ball, was the Vipers’ fourth-straight triumph of the DP World ILT20 Season 4. The Vipers consolidated their position as the table-toppers with eight points to their name.

Defending 159, the Vipers initially struggled to take wickets. The game turned in the 19th over, when David Payne — who finished with 4 for 29 — claimed three crucial scalps. UAE’s Khuzaima Tanveer was also impressive with 2 for 34, as the Vipers showed their composure once again.

In the second innings, MI Emirates lost an early wicket when Tanveer dismissed Jonny Bairstow (8 off 7) in the second over. It was Muhammad Waseem (24 0ff 21) and Tom Banton (34 off 29) who steered the MI Emirates through the powerplay with the score at 49/1.

They erected a 42-run stand in 31 balls before Tanveer struck again in his second spell of the night to remove Waseem. Banton looked in complete control when Nicholas Pooran (31 off 29) joined him in the middle. The duo looked settled, completing another 42-run partnership, this time in 40 balls. However, Sam Curran sent Pooran back in the 14th over with 62 needed off 36 balls.

Banton followed in the next over as Payne bagged his first wicket of the night, bringing the score to 105/4. Tajinder Singh (17 off 7) hit Sam Curran for a couple of sixes that brought MI Emirates ahead of the equation with a 20-run over. Lockie Ferguson then ended Tajinder’s stay at the crease with his first wicket of the match in the 18th over.

Another twist in the penultimate over saw Payne turn the match on its head. First, he got Romario Shepherd (1 off 4), followed by the wicket of skipper Kieron Pollard (23 off 13), who looked in good nick. Chris Woakes (0 off 2) followed in the final ball, meaning that MI Emirates needed 16 runs in six balls to secure the victory.

Rashid Khan (13* off 8) could have been the match-winner, hitting a six and a four in the final over, but the MI Emirates couldn’t find the two runs needed on the last ball.

Batting first, the Vipers started on a promising note, led by Fakhar Zaman (35 off 31). By the end of the powerplay, the Vipers were 51/0, threatening to make their way to a big score.

After Andries Gous (21 off 15) retired-hurt, Zaman combined with Max Holden (42 off 37) for a 51-run stand in 37 balls. Allah Ghazanfar then got the breakthrough when Zaman holed out to Tom Banton. Following his wicket, the bowlers kept the pressure on the Vipers, ensuring that boundaries were scarce.

Shimron Hetmyer (15 off 9) entered the fray after Holden retired-out and hit the first six of the innings in the 18th over. Soon after, Sam Curran (19 off 19) hit the ball straight into Tom Banton’s hands to give Ghazanfar his second wicket of the night.

Dan Lawrence (15* off 8) also provided a key contribution towards the end while Hetmyer was scalped by Fazalhaq Farooqi in the final over of the innings as the Vipers finished at 159/4.

Player of the Match David Payne said: “It felt as though we were hanging on towards the end, waiting for the moment to break through. When that happened, we managed to take a few crucial wickets, and Rashid Khan ensured it went right down to the wire — probably an entertaining contest for the neutral. We kept the plans simple, hitting the pitch with good line and length. Overall, simplicity worked well today.”

MI Emirates captain Kieron Pollard said: "In our last game, we snuck over the line when we probably shouldn’t have won, and this time it turned around on us. The Vipers bowled brilliantly. We didn’t finish the innings well, especially in the last couple of overs. It shows again that if you stay in the fight long enough in cricket, momentum can shift and you can lose from a winning position and that’s what happened to us tonight."

Brief Scores

Desert Vipers beat MI Emirates by one run

Desert Vipers 159/4 in 20 overs (Max Holden 42, Fakhar Zaman 35, Allah Ghazanfar 2 for 32, Fazalhaq Farooqi 1 for 27)

MI Emirates 158/9 in 20 overs (Tom Banton 34, Nicholas Pooran 31, Kieron Pollard 23, David Payne 4 for 29, Khuzaima Tanveer 2 for 34)

Player of the Match: David Payne
 
DP World ILT20’s signature belts spark fresh competition among players

Dubai, 10 December 2025: The race for the four iconic belts — the Green (Best Batter), White (Best Bowler), Red (Most Valuable Player), and Blue (Best UAE Player) — is officially underway at the DP World International League T20 Season 4. With the competition in full swing, players across all six teams are eyeing these prestigious honours, adding an extra layer of intensity to every outing. The tournament has already thrilled fans, delivering a series of nail-biting encounters, including the first Super Over in the league’s history.

Pathum Nissanka has surged to the front of the Green Belt race, compiling 204 runs from three innings, including three successive half-centuries. The Gulf Giants opener is also out in front for the Red Belt with 281 points, underlining his early dominance in the tournament. Azmatullah Omarzai sits atop the White Belt standings with nine wickets from three outings, while Desert Vipers’ Khuzaima Tanveer leads the Blue Belt tally, having contributed 50 runs and six wickets for 154 points.

Over the last three seasons, the league’s signature belts have become a symbol of excellence, honouring the standout performers of each edition. Additionally, the winner of each belt is recognised with a cash prize of USD 15,000 apart from the USD 700,000 and 300,000 reserved for the DP World ILT20 winners (Black Belt) and runners-up respectively.

Last season saw Sam Curran secure the Red Belt as the Most Valuable Player after scoring 387 runs and taking 7 wickets for the Desert Vipers, narrowly edging out Dubai Capitals’ Gulbadin Naib.

Capitals’ Shai Hope claimed the Green Belt with 527 runs while MI Emirates’ Fazalhaq Farooqi earned the White Belt with 21 wickets. MI Emirates’ opener Mohammad Waseem won the Blue Belt as the Best UAE Player with 183 runs, 13 sixes and six catches.

Points Scoring System

Green Belt (Best Batter)

Batters will receive 1 point for every run scored. Additional bonus points are awarded for boundary-hitting and milestones: 1 point for every four, 2 points for every six, 5 points for a fifty, and 15 points for a hundred. The winner will also get USD 15000 prize money.

Base Points

1 point per run

Bonus Points

1 point for every four
2 points for every six
5 points for a half-century
15 points for a century

White Belt (Best Bowler)

Bowlers accumulate points based on wickets and economical bowling. They receive 10 points for every wicket taken. Bonus points include 1 point for every dot ball, 15 points for a three-wicket haul, and 25 points for a five-wicket haul.

Base Points

10 points per wicket

Bonus Points

1 point per dot ball
15 points for a three-wicket haul
25 points for a five-wicket haul

Red Belt (Most Valuable Player) & Blue Belt (Best UAE Player)
These categories include batting and bowling points along with fielding contributions. Players earn 5 points for a catch, 5 points for a direct-hit run-out, 5 points for a stumping, and 10 points for a Player of the Match award.

Base Points

Fielding Points

5 points per catch
5 points for a direct-hit run-out
5 points per stumping
10 points for Player of the Match

Composite Bonus Rule

Composite bonuses will not be applied. This means a player scoring a century will receive 15 points only, not an additional five points for crossing fifty. Similarly, a five-wicket haul earns 25 points only, without adding the 15 points given for a three-wicket haul.

Super Over performances will not count towards the belts
 
An incisive spell from Aayan Khan set up the Gulf Giants for a six-wicket victory against the Sharjah Warriorz at the Dubai International Stadium. The UAE spinner’s three-wicket haul held the Warriorz at 157/6 in the first innings before Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s half-century and Azmatullah Omarzai’s cameo sealed the win.

The Warriorz slipped to their third straight defeat of DP World ILT20 Season 4, while the Giants notched their third win in four games to remain firmly in second place on the points table.

In the second innings, the Giants launched an explosive assault through Gurbaz (50 off 36) and Vince (35 off 28). The pair set the tone immediately, plundering 21 runs off Wasim Akram in the second over. Their aggressive intent was clear as they smoked five sixes during the powerplay, racing to 73/0 and effectively putting the Giants miles ahead in the chase.

It looked like the Giants were cruising when Vince departed off Sikandar Raza in the eighth over. But the Warriorz bowling unit led by Raza and Rashid did a remarkable job of curbing the Giants, with only 48 runs coming between the sixth and 16th over.

Moeen Ali partnered Gurbaz through a tougher middle phase, but his innings was cut short when Rashid castled him in the 13th. Gurbaz was forced to tone down the aggression as he crossed the fifty mark in 34 balls. He had thumped four sixes on his way there but fell to Sikandar Raza in search of the fifth.

The Giants needed 47 runs in 39 balls when Gerhard Erasmus (15 off 18) and Azmatullah Omarzai (28 off 21) came together. The pair could not find the boundaries as often as they liked, with the equation coming down to eight runs required in six balls.

Omarzai launched Southee for a six in the final over, before he perished on the next ball, but he had done enough for the Giants to win with two balls to spare.

The Warriorz had a steady powerplay even after Tom Kohler-Cadmore (7 off 8) was removed by Mark Adair in the third over. Johnson Charles (36 off 32) and Kusal Mendis (23 off 15) steered the Warriorz to 48/1 by the end of the fielding restrictions.

Charles led the way with four fours and a six, while Mendis also struck a four and a six as the pair combined for 32 runs in 28 balls.

The Giants spinners dominated the middle phase of the innings as Aayan Khan sliced through with an exceptional spell of 3/17 in four overs. Aayan removed the well-settled pair of Charles and Mendis, followed by Tim David (19 off 14) to leave the Warriorz reeling at 94/4 in 13.3 overs.

Liam Dawson complemented Aayan’s brilliance with a miserly spell of 1/21, claiming Sikandar Raza (3 off 7) in his four economical overs. The innings slipped further when Mark Adair returned to end Shubham Ranjane’s (17 off 21) contribution at 119/6 in the 18th over.

However, Dwayne Pretorius (36 off 17) lifted the innings. He launched a ferocious counter-attack alongside Adil Rashid (12 off 6), plundering 36 runs in just 16 balls. Pretorius carved two fours and two sixes as the duo took Omarzai for 20 runs in the penultimate over. The Warriorz finished at 157/6.

Player of the Match Aayan Khan said: "It was a spinning wicket, and I’m happy to take a few wickets. Bowling four overs felt really good. I hadn't bowled for a few games, so it was nice to get the ball again. This match was good for me, and it feels great to be here receiving this award."

Captain of the Sharjah Warriorz, Tim Southee said: "The last two matches, we’ve been in it till the end. Tonight was a good effort to take it that deep after the powerplay. Going 0–3 is not where we want to be, but we have a chance in a couple of days to put that right. There was a bit of dew, but on that wicket you needed quality spinners who could take the game deep. The spinners bowled really well and gave us a chance at the end.”

Brief Scores

Gulf Giants beat Sharjah Warriorz by six wickets

Sharjah Warriorz 157/6 in 20 overs (Dwayne Pretorius 36, Johnson Charles 36, Tim David 19, Aayan Khan 3 for 17, Mark Adair 2 for 22, Liam Dawson 1 for 22)

Gulf Giants 158/4 in 19.4 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 50, James Vince 35, Azmatullah Omarzai 28, Sikandar 2 for 20, Adil Rashid 1 for 21)

Player of the Match: Aayan Khan
 
MI Emirates returned to winning ways after securing a seven-wicket win over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Thursday. The win took the side to third on the points table with four points to their name, having won two of their four matches in the DP World ILT20 Season 4.

It was a comprehensive performance with both bat and ball by the MI Emirates, who rode of Fazalhaq Farooqi’s 4 for 14 and Kamindu Mendis’ three wickets in the first innings to bowl them out for 122. Chasing a meagre total, Muhammad Waseem’s quickfire 27 runs off 12 balls, and then Jonny Bairstow’s unbeaten 49 off 38 balls, including seven fours, was enough to take MI Emirates over the line.

Batting second, Waseem opened the chase in style, smashing three sixes off Khary Pierre in the third over. He looked dangerous, but Ajay Kumar removed him with an edge to the wicketkeeper in the fourth over.

Nicholas Pooran (3 off 6) fell soon after, nicking to Brandon McMullen off Jason Holder, but Bairstow took control. He blasted Kumar for four fours in a 17-run over, and Tom Banton (29 off 20) added a 16-run surge off Olly Stone, including two fours and a six. Their onslaught reduced the target to just 34 runs needed from 66 balls by the ninth over.

Banton and Bairstow’s 64-run stand off 43 balls ended when Pierre had Banton caught by George Garton, but it was only a brief pause. Kamindu Mendis (10* off 7) finished the job with a six off Stone, sealing the win in 13.3 overs.

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders started aggressively through Alex Hales (6 off 8) and Phil Salt (17 off 9), but the momentum faded quickly. Romario Shepherd removed Salt, Farooqi dismissed Hales, and ADKR slipped to 37/2 by the end of the Powerplay. McMullen (15 off 19) managed a lone six before being stumped, while Alishan Sharafu (38 off 34) tried to keep the innings steady amid the fall of wickets.

Mendis tightened the grip further, removing Liam Livingstone (2 off 6). Sherfane Rutherford (7 off 8) showed brief intent with a six and a four off Mendis but edged behind to Pooran in the same over, piling on the pressure.

Sunil Narine (26 off 20) then provided a spark, adding a brisk 36-run stand off 22 balls with Sharafu to revive ADKR’s hopes. But just as momentum returned, Sharafu fell to Rashid Khan, and skipper Jason Holder (2 off 5) soon departed to Farooqi as well.

Narine kept fighting, but another attempted big shot off Zahoor Khan went straight to Mendis. Farooqi then delivered the final blows in the 20th over, removing Khary Pierre and Ajay Kumar, as MI Emirates bowled out ADKR for 122 in 19.3 overs.

MI Emirates skipper Kieron Pollard said, “We needed those points. Of course, we didn't expect 122, but restricting them to as little as possible was the aim. I thought the guys rebounded pretty well. Last game, we bowled well, too, but we didn't bat well. Today was a professional effort from everyone. All these things count for nothing if you don't play good cricket on the day. For us, it is about reminding the guys of what's important, which is to play cricket consistently and play well.

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders skipper Jason Holder said, “We're still trying to figure things out. 122 was never going to be enough, especially once the dew made batting easier. Many of our guys players got starts but didn’t carry on, and we never built a partnership. Execution has been our biggest issue — we’ve lacked consistency. We began the tournament well with a big score, but since then we haven’t adapted to conditions.”

Brief Scores

MI Emirates beat Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by seven wickets

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders 122 in 19.3 overs (Alishan Sharafu 38, Sunil Narine 26, Fazalhaq Farooqi 4 for 14, Kamindu Mendis 3 for 21)

MI Emirates 123/3 in 13.5 overs (Jonny Bairstow 49*, Tom Banton 29, Muhammad Waseem 27, Jason Holder 1 for 11, Ajay Kumar 1 for 30)

Player of the match: Kamindu Mendis
 
Liam Livingstone and Sherfane Rutherford fined for code of conduct breaches in DP World ILT20 Season 4

Two Abu Dhabi Knight Riders players have been fined 10 per cent of their respective match fees after breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during DP World ILT20 Season 4 matches on Sunday and Thursday respectively.

All-rounder Liam Livingstone was sanctioned following the Knight Riders' match against Dubai Capitals in Dubai on Sunday, December 7. He violated Article 2.20 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to "conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game." Match Referee Simon Taufel levelled the charge and imposed the sanction.

Separately, Sherfane Rutherford was fined following the Knight Riders' match against MI Emirates in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, December 11. He was found guilty of breaching Article 2.20 for abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during the match. Match Referee Roshan Mahanama imposed the sanction.

Both players admitted their respective offences and accepted the proposed sanctions, avoiding the need for formal hearings.

Level 1 breaches carry penalties ranging from an official reprimand to a maximum of 50 per cent of a player's match fee.


www.ilt20.ae

Liam Livingstone and Sherfane Rutherford fined for code of conduct breaches in DP World ILT20 Season 4

The two Abu Dhabi Knight Riders players have been fined 10 per cent of their respective match fees after breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during DP World ILT20 Season 4 matches on Sunday and Thursday respectively.
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A brilliant performance by the Desert Vipers earned them a fifth straight win in the DP World ILT20 Season 4 as they beat the Gulf Giants by eight wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday. Led by an incredible powerplay by Khuzaima Tanveer, where he grabbed four wickets, Sam Curran and Max Holden’s unbeaten 123-run partnership made light work of the Gulf Giants’ target.

Tanveer finished with 4/10 in the first innings, the best by a UAE bowler in DP World ILT20 history, and also became the first to claim four wickets in the powerplay. His early attack kept the Giants on the backfoot throughout, restricting them to 157/7 in 20 overs. Then, Curran’s unbeaten 67 off 43 balls with five fours and three sixes complemented Max Holden’s 64 runs off 41 balls, as they chased down the target with ease. It was the Vipers’ sixth straight win in a row over the Giants.

Fakhar Zaman (14 off 8) was the first Vipers batter to fall in the second over, courtesy a beautiful ball by Chris Wood. Holden kept the runs flowing, and other than a run out of Hasan Nawaz (7 off 9) in the fourth over, the Vipers looked in control of the run-chase. They finished the powerplay at 53/2.

Curran joined the attack in the 11th over, smashing 19 runs off Liam Dawson’s bowling, including three sixes, considerably reducing the required run-rate. His power-hitting continued off Kyle Mayers’ bowling, completing his half-century in just 32 balls with a lovely four, scoring 18 runs in the 14th over.

This gave the Vipers momentum as Holden joined Curran on the half-century list, in just 31 balls, also with a four. The two batters kept the scoreboard ticking as they found the regular boundaries while also rotating the strike. The likes of Chris Wood and Mark Adair were unable to keep them in check and they smashed an unbeaten 123-run partnership in just 77 balls to chase down the target in 16.5 overs.

Bowling first, Tanveer made early inroads into the Giants’ top order, striking twice in the second over — first removing Rahmanullah Gurbaz (2 off 4) with a superb delivery, then James Vince (0 off 2) edging behind. He picked up another in the fourth, removing the dangerous Pathum Nissanka for 19 off 12. In the sixth over, he struck again as Gerhard Erasmus (4 off 9) nicked to slip. A dominant powerplay left the Giants reeling at 30/4.

Mayers (30 off 24) briefly lifted the innings, taking 18 off David Payne in the ninth over, but Noor Ahmad trapped him LBW to halt the momentum at 67/5 midway through. Asif Khan (36* off 38) held one end, but the Vipers kept control — Tom Curran removed Azmatullah Omarzai (20 off 15), and Noor dismissed Mark Adair (1 off 2) soon after.

Dawson’s late assault rescued the Giants, smashing Lockie Ferguson for 16 in the 19th and following it with a 21-run final over. He finished unbeaten on a blazing 38 off 14 (3 fours, 3 sixes), lifting the total to a competitive 157/7.

Desert Vipers captain Lockie Ferguson said: "Tanveer has been outstanding for us all season. He was brilliant last year too — winning games with the bat — and tonight he was exceptional with the ball. He’s played a lot of cricket recently, his rhythm is spot on, and the ball is coming out beautifully. He’s in a really good space. It was also great to see Max and Sam put together a big partnership.”

Gulf Giants captain James Vince said: “Tanveer bowled exceptionally well, full credit to him. We’ll probably look back and think about what we could have done differently, but we were on the back foot early. We did well to recover to 157... This was the first match of the tournament where we were outplayed from the start. We were simply outplayed today, though the dew was a factor.”

Brief Scores

Desert Vipers beat Gulf Giants by eight wickets

Gulf Giants 157/7 in 20 overs (Liam Dawson 38 not out, Asif Khan 36 not out, Kyle Mayers 30, Khuzaima Tanveer 4 for 10, Noor Ahmad 2 for 22)

Desert Vipers 158/2 in 16.5 overs (Sam Curran 67 not out, Max Holden 64 not out, Chris Wood 1 for 27)

Player of the match: Khuzaima Tanveer
 
*Jahangir’s 99 steers Dubai Capitals to a thrilling nine-run victory over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders*

*Abu Dhabi, 13 December, 2025:* The Dubai Capitals fended off the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders to secure a nine-run victory at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Saturday. The Capitals produced a composed performance to register a deserved win, riding on a dominant middle-overs effort led by batter Shayan Jahangir. They then held their nerve with the ball to withstand a late onslaught from Andre Russell that ultimately fell short to seal their second win of the season.

Batting first, the Capitals recovered from early setbacks through a defining 115-run partnership between Jordan Cox (29 off 30) and Jahangir. He anchored the innings before falling agonisingly short of a century on 99, hitting 10 fours and five sixes and propelling the Capitals to a formidable 196/5. This was the highest score by an associate player in the DP World ILT20.

In response, ADKR never quite recovered from regular wickets. Although Russell’s (53* off 33) explosive late cameo injected hope, it ultimately proved insufficient as the Capitals held their nerve to seal a deserved win.

Chasing a stiff target, ADKR came under early pressure despite a brisk start from Phil Salt (33 off 29). Alex Hales (11 off 7) added impetus with two fours off David Willey before edging behind, and the innings soon stalled as Willey removed Sherfane Rutherford (7 off 6) and Liam Livingstone (7 off 5) was run out, leaving ADKR 49/3 at the end of the powerplay.

Salt and Brandon McMullen (18 off 15) steadied the chase, but Waqar Salamkheil broke through in the 10th over as Salt holed out to Willey. Alishan Sharafu (26 off 14) counter-attacked with a pair of sixes, yet Salamkheil struck again to dismiss McMullen, before Mohammad Nabi removed Sunil Narine (1 off 2). Sharafu hit one more six before becoming Salamkheil’s 10th wicket of the season.

Jason Holder (22 off 9) and Russell revived hopes with a rapid 46-run stand off 20 balls, taking 18 off Mustafizur Rahman and 12 off Salamkheil. Rahman, however, broke the stand at a key moment. Despite Russell’s late blows, Muhammad Jawadullah defended 26 in the final over to seal a deserved win for the Capitals.

Earlier, the Capitals were rocked early, reduced to 4/2 inside the powerplay. Ajay Kumar dismissed Leus du Plooy (2 off 6), before Holder drew a loose shot from Toby Albert (2 off 3), brilliantly caught by Andre Russell. Cox and Jahangir then rebuilt, guiding the Capitals to 32/2 at the end of the powerplay.

Jahangir took control through the middle overs, putting the ADKR bowlers under pressure. He brought up his half-century with his fourth six of the innings, off George Garton in the ninth over, as the momentum firmly shifted in the Capitals’ favour.

Alongside Cox, Jahangir added a crucial 115 runs in 68 balls to rescue the innings. Holder finally broke the partnership in the 14th over, trapping Cox LBW, but the Capitals’ momentum remained intact.

Jahangir continued the assault with Rovman Powell (38* off 24), the pair adding 66 off 36 balls. Powell struck 20 runs off Ibrar Ahmad in the 18th over and followed it with two sixes off Holder in the 19th. Jahangir fell agonisingly short of a century, bowled by Russell on 99, before late boundaries ensured the Capitals closed on 196/5.

*Player of the match Shayan Jahangir, said,* “I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the win. Back-to-back victories are important for team morale. I’m proud to now be part of the ILT20, representing the USA, where cricket is making strong progress. Performances like these will bring greater recognition to US cricket. Being entrusted with this responsibility means a lot, and I’m glad I could repay that trust.”

*Dasun Shanaka, skipper of the Dubai Capitals, said,* “We had runs on the board, but with the dew around, you never know against such power-hitters. Having Nabi there made my job easier. Jahangir was under pressure early and didn’t have the best powerplay, but he showed character to go on and make 99. Hopefully, he will build on this in the matches to come.”

*Dubai Capitals beat Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by nine runs*

Dubai Capitals 196/5 in 20 overs (Shayan Jahangir 99, Rovman Powell 38 not out, Jordan Cox 29, Jason Holder 2 for 22, Andre Russell 2 for 32)
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders 187/8 in 20 overs (Andre Russell 53 not out, Phil Salt 33, Alishan Sharafu 26, Waqar Salamkheil 3 for 34, David Willey 2 for 37)

*Player of the match:* Shayan Jahangir
 
The Desert Vipers booked their place in the DP World ILT20 Season 4 playoffs with a five-wicket win over the Dubai Capitals at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday night. It was also a moment of history for the Vipers, who became the first team has to win six consecutive matches in the DP World ILT20.

After the Capitals posted a challenging 166/4, the Vipers rode on the all-round performance of Sam Curran to seal the win. He took two crucial wickets with the balls, and followed it up with an unbeaten 52 off 33 balls, smashing two fours and three sixes.

Max Holden (34 off 22) set the tempo early, with Fakhar Zaman (14 off 12) providing brief support before Mustafizur Rahman struck in the fifth over to take his wicket. Despite the breakthrough, Holden kept his cool, allowing the Vipers to reach 50/1 at the end of the powerplay.

Haider Ali then struck in the seventh over to stem the flow of the runs, but Hassan Nawaz (31 off 17) went on the offensive, hitting two sixes in the ninth over. He looked dangerous but Waqar Salamkheil struck to end his stay at the crease. Following this wicket, the Vipers needed 79 runs in 60 balls by the end of the 10th over.

Curran and Dan Lawrence (20 off 15) took control in the middle overs, keeping the Desert Vipers ahead of the required rate. The duo stitched a partnership of 32 runs in just 24 balls, before Lawrence fell in the 14th over off Dasun Shanaka’s bowling.

Then, Shimron Hetmyer (18 off 17) wasted little time in making his impact, launching Shanaka for a six and following it up with a boundary in the 14th over. With Curran anchoring one end and Hetmyer joining the assault, the Vipers surged to the victory with five wickets to spare.

Earlier, the Capitals suffered an early setback when Naseem Shah removed Shayan Jahangir (7 off 7) in the third over, but Leus du Plooy (54 off 44) kept the innings steady with well-timed boundaries. Gulbadin Naib (21 off 20) began cautiously at the other end before benefiting from a boundary off Lockie Ferguson, as the Capitals negotiated a testing powerplay to reach 35/1.

Du Plooy continued to anchor the innings through the middle overs, bringing up his half-century with a six off Naseem, while Naib gradually found rhythm and chipped in with boundaries. Just as the partnership threatened to accelerate, Noor Ahmad broke through with a clever googly to dismiss Naib and apply the brakes once again.

The turning point came in the 14th over, when Curran removed du Plooy in the deep and then dismissed Rovman Powell for a golden duck off the very next ball. Those back-to-back wickets stalled the Capitals at 94/4 and swung momentum firmly back towards the bowling side.

However, Jordan Cox (49* off 30) and Dasun Shanaka (29* off 18) revived the innings with a brisk, unbroken stand of 72 off 40 balls. Their late assault, including 30 runs from the final two overs and 14 off the last, lifted the Capitals to a competitive 166/4.

Player of the match Sam Curran said, “We’re in a good space after putting together a couple of strong performances, and for me, the real satisfaction comes from finishing the job for the team. It went a bit deeper than we would have liked, but my focus is always on reading the situation and seeing the game through. When you’re winning, it simplifies decision-making, but we know we still need to keep improving and carry this momentum into the business end.”

Dubai Capitals’ skipper Dasun Shanaka said, “At 166, we had a competitive total, especially considering the quality of their bowling. However, our spinners didn’t hit the lengths we were looking for, and that made a difference. The Desert Vipers are a very strong side with five genuine bowling options, which makes them hard to contain. We had the firepower, but the key question is how we build our innings, and in hindsight, another 10 to 15 runs would have put us in a much stronger position.”

The Vipers also used the game to spread a clear message about caring for the environment. Players wore a special jersey with ‘Biodiversity Stripes’ that showed how wildlife around the world has declined over the last 50 years, reminding fans that nature is essential for sport. Made in the UAE from 100 percent recycled materials, the kit reflects the team’s efforts to reduce its environmental impact, while simple, engaging green activities at the stadium will encourage fans to learn how they can help protect nature in everyday life.

Brief Scores
Desert Vipers beat Dubai Capitals by five wickets

Dubai Capitals 166/4 in 20 overs (Leus du Plooy 54, Jordan Cox 49 not out, Dasun Shanaka 29 not out, Sam Curran 2 for 17)

Desert Vipers 171/5 in 19.4 overs (Sam Curran 52 not out, Max Holden 34, Hassan Nawaz 31, Dasun Shanaka 2 for 19, Haider Ali 1 for 20)

Player of the match: Sam Curran
 
The Sharjah Warriorz produced a well-rounded performance to edge past MI Emirates by six runs at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Sunday. It was their first win of the DP World ILT20 Season 4, led by the batting prowess of Johnson Charles, with a lot of credit also going to the bowlers.

Charles set the tone for the match with a composed 77 off 53 balls, including seven fours and four sixes as the Warriorz set a target of 175. In reply, MI Emirates were given early impetus by their openers, but the momentum shifted decisively in the middle overs. Sikander Raza and Junaid Siddique’s two wickets each proved crucial for the Warriorz, ensuring that Nicholas Pooran’s late assault of 48 in 35 balls went in vain.

Jonny Bairstow (31 off 23) and Muhammad Waseem (44 off 29) set the tone early, with Waseem striking a six off Taskin Ahmed and both batters finding regular boundaries off Maheesh Theekshana. Despite disciplined spells from Taskin, Junaid Siddique and Matheesha Pathirana, the openers brought up a brisk fifty stand inside six overs, powering MI Emirates to 54/0 at the end of the powerplay.

The Warriorz hit back through stand-in skipper Raza, who turned the game in the middle overs. He first removed Bairstow in the eighth over, with Pathirana taking a sharp catch, and then dismissed Waseem in the 10th, bringing MI Emirates’ strong start to a halt.

The pressure soon told as the collapse gathered pace. Pathirana accounted for Tom Banton (11 off 14) in the 13th over, before Siddique struck twice in the 15th, dismissing Kieron Pollard (1 off 4) and Romario Shepherd (2 off 3) in quick succession to leave MI Emirates reeling.

Needing 25 off the final over, Pooran threatened to steal the game with three sixes, but Siddique held his nerve, conceding only 18 runs to seal a tense six-run victory for the Warriorz.

Earlier in the match, Farooqi initially kept things tight, but Charles soon broke free, cracking a six and two fours in a 17-run third over to lift the tempo. Allah Ghazanfar then came under pressure as Charles struck a pair of boundaries, while Tom Kohler-Cadmore (30 off 32) played a steady supporting role. The Warriorz made a measured powerplay start, reaching 48 without loss.

Charles continued to anchor the innings, bringing up a half-century off Rashid Khan in the tenth over. Kohler-Cadmore rotated strike efficiently at the other end as the pair took the Warriorz to 109/0 after 13 overs, laying a strong platform for a big total.

The 112-run stand off 82 balls was finally broken in the 14th over when Ghazanfar removed Charles. Kohler-Cadmore followed soon after, and the Warriorz briefly faced pressure for the first time in the innings.

Raza (29 off 22) ensured the momentum was maintained in the death overs, striking cleanly off Farooqi and punishing full tosses and wides, while James Rew (24 off 14) added a brisk cameo. Zahoor Khan then finished strongly, dismissing Raza with a well-directed slower bouncer and conceding no boundaries in the final over as the Warriorz closed on 174 for 3.

MI Emirates skipper Kieron Pollard said, “It was a good wicket and 175 was a fair total, so I have no complaints about the score they posted. It was a game we should have finished. We’ve been the slowest side in overs 7 to 15, and while this loss is disappointing, it’s not all negative. We lost by six runs, the result didn’t go our way, but we did fight back.”

Sharjah Warriorz’s stand-in skipper Sikander Raza said, “We knew we were always in the contest and just needed a bit more clarity and courage. The feedback was that it was a slow surface, so trying to push for 195 and ending up with 160 could have hurt us. When the team wins, everything feels better, and in a crunch game like this, I’m glad we crossed the line.”

Brief Scores

Sharjah Warriorz beat MI Emirates by six runs

Sharjah Warriorz 174/3 in 20 overs (Johnson Charles 77, Tom Kohler-Cadmore 30, Sikander Raza 29, Rashid Khan 1 for 22)

MI Emirates 168/5 in 20 overs (Nicholas Pooran 48 not out, Muhammad Waseem 44, Jonny Bairstow 31, Sikander Raza 2 for 15, Junaid Siddique 2 for 35)

Player of the match: Sikander Raza
 
Leagues take years to mature but DP World ILT20 has grown tremendously” says Pakistan bowling legend Waqar Younis

The legendary fast bowler and seasoned commentator highlights the league’s rapid expansion and inclusion of players from the Gulf countries

*Dubai, 15 December, 2025:* Legendary fast bowler and DP World ILT20 commentator Waqar Younis has applauded the league’s extraordinary growth and its key role in nurturing cricket across the Gulf countries.

The Pakistan cricket great, who has closely followed the league since its inception in 2023, reflected on its rapid progress during a recent media interaction organised in Dubai. He said, “Leagues usually take years to mature but in just three years and now the fourth season, the DP World ILT20 has grown tremendously.

“We have already seen players from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait joining in and I am confident more countries will come on board. This is how cricket will grow here by embracing wider participation,” he added.

Discussing emerging fast bowlers, the 54-year-old singled out UAE international and Desert Vipers all-rounder Khuzaima Tanveer. On Friday night, he bagged a 4/10 against the Gulf Giants – the best by a UAE bowler in DP World ILT20 history.

Lauding Tanveer, he said, “Tanveer has really impressed me because he understands the art of bowling. Honestly, I was not expecting him to bowl so well but when I see the ball coming out of his hand and how it moves, I realize he has something special. He can bat too, making him a valuable all-rounder who can change games.”

Waqar also highlighted other young talents including Abu Dabhi Knight Riders pacer Ajay Kumar and batter Alishan Sharafu, “While they need time to develop and play in the T20 format longer, the talent is definitely there.”

On international stars, Waqar spoke about the Desert Vipers’ Naseem Shah, “Naseem is a great player but his form can fluctuate. DP World ILT20 gives him a chance to prove himself again and performances here are closely watched.”
 
The Sharjah Warriorz produced a composed all-round performance to outclass the Gulf Giants by 11 runs at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Monday. Led by an outstanding batting performance by Tom Abell in the middle overs, and Matheesha Pathirana’s key strikes with the ball, the Warriorz sealed their second straight win of the DP World ILT20 Season 4.

Abell’s 68 off 41 balls included five fours and three sixes, helping the Warriorz post a competitive 174/6. With the ball, Wasim Akram and Pathirana’s three wickets each helped provide the key breakthroughs and seal a much-needed victory.

Akram and Taskin Ahmed struck early to remove Pathum Nissanka (3 off 4) and James Vince (0 off 6) respectively, putting the Giants under immediate pressure. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (30 off 15) counter-attacked well, but his charge was cut short by Pathirana, who bowled a wicket-maiden with a well-disguised slower ball. With Kyle Mayers (0 off 2) also falling cheaply, the Giants limped to 44/4 in the powerplay.

Azmatullah Omarzai (41 off 26) provided the Giants with momentum after the early collapse, counter-attacking through the middle overs. He found the boundary on a regular basis and also rotated the strike, stitching a vital partnership with Moeen Ali (45 off 41). But the 79-run partnership was broken by Akram, forcing Omarzai to hole out to long-off.

Ali then shouldered the responsibility, anchoring the innings with composure while picking his moments to accelerate. Despite Ali’s batting, the Giants entered the final five overs at 124/5, still needing 51 from 30 balls.

The Warriorz kept their composure through the death overs, striking at key moments to shut the door on the chase. Pathirana removed Matthew Forde (7 off 5) and Ali, while Dwaine Pretorius chipped in with vital wickets of Asif Khan (5 off 4) and Liam Dawson (6 off 9) in the final overs. The steady fall of wickets helped the Warriorz close out the match and restrict the Giants to 163/9.

With the bat, Tom Kohler-Cadmore (6 off 7) showed early intent before falling to Fred Klaassen, but the Warriorz quickly regained momentum through Abell. The right-hander turned the tide in the fourth over, smashing 19 runs off Klaassen to lift the scoring rate. Johnson Charles (12 off 12) struggled to find timing during the powerplay and was dismissed by Forde in the final over, leaving the Warriorz at 54/2.

Abell then settled into the role of anchor, guiding the innings calmly through the middle overs. He rotated strike effectively and ensured the scoreboard kept moving despite the early wickets. James Rew (39 off 33) provided solid support at the other end, settling in quickly and matching Abell’s tempo. Abell brought up his half-century off 32 balls, underlining his control of the innings, before holing out to Asif Khan to end a 71-run stand.

Although Rew fell soon after, the Warriorz finished strongly through Dwaine Pretorius (28 off 13), who provided late fireworks. Ethan D’Souza (8* off 5) chipped in with a quick cameo, and despite Pretorius being run out late, the Warriorz surged to a competitive 174/6.

Player of the match Matheesha Pathirana said, “The last few months were challenging, but I’ve worked hard and I’m gradually finding my rhythm. I’m not at my best yet, but I’m improving, and this performance gives me a lot of confidence. It’s also encouraging to see Sri Lankan players doing well in T20 cricket with a World Cup coming up at home. For now, I’m just focusing on my process and staying calm.”

Sharjah Warriorz’s stand-in skipper Sikander Raza said, “We’ve been coming very close in recent games, and winning those small, decisive moments makes all the difference. We’re getting things right, though there’s still room to improve, especially in the powerplay, which had been a concern for us. Full credit to Pathirana, Taskin, and all our seamers.”

Brief Scores

Sharjah Warriorz beat Gulf Giants by 11 runs

Sharjah Warriorz 174/6 off 20 overs (Tom Abell 68, James Rew 39, Dwaine Pretorius 28, Chris Wood 2 for 26)

Gulf Giants 163/9 off 20 0vers (Moeen Ali 45, Azmatullah Omarzai 41, Matheesha Pathirana 3 for 19, Wasim Akram 3 for 34)

Player of the match: Matheesha Pathirana
 
“Leagues take years to mature but DP World ILT20 has grown tremendously” says Pakistan bowling legend Waqar Younis

Legendary fast bowler and DP World ILT20 commentator Waqar Younis has applauded the league’s extraordinary growth and its key role in nurturing cricket across the Gulf countries.

The Pakistan cricket great, who has closely followed the league since its inception in 2023, reflected on its rapid progress during a recent media interaction organised in Dubai. He said, “Leagues usually take years to mature but in just three years and now the fourth season, the DP World ILT20 has grown tremendously.

“We have already seen players from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait joining in and I am confident more countries will come on board. This is how cricket will grow here by embracing wider participation,” he added.

Discussing emerging fast bowlers, the 54-year-old singled out UAE international and Desert Vipers all-rounder Khuzaima Tanveer. On Friday night, he bagged a 4/10 against the Gulf Giants – the best by a UAE bowler in DP World ILT20 history.

Lauding Tanveer, he said, “Tanveer has really impressed me because he understands the art of bowling. Honestly, I was not expecting him to bowl so well but when I see the ball coming out of his hand and how it moves, I realize he has something special. He can bat too, making him a valuable all-rounder who can change games.”

Waqar also highlighted other young talents including Abu Dabhi Knight Riders pacer Ajay Kumar and batter Alishan Sharafu, “While they need time to develop and play in the T20 format longer, the talent is definitely there.”

On international stars, Waqar spoke about the Desert Vipers’ Naseem Shah, “Naseem is a great player but his form can fluctuate. DP World ILT20 gives him a chance to prove himself again and performances here are closely watched.”


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“Leagues take years to mature but DP World ILT20 has grown tremendously” says Pakistan bowling legend Waqar Younis

Legendary fast bowler and DP World ILT20 commentator Waqar Younis has applauded the league’s extraordinary growth and its key role in nurturing cricket across the Gulf countries.
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The Desert Vipers finally met their match on Tuesday night as the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders handed the table-toppers their first loss of the season, at the Zayed Cricket Stadium. The thrilling one-run victory was set up by Liam Livingstone’s knock of 76 runs before the Knight Riders’ bowling attack held their nerve to defend their total of 181/5.

A crucial opening stand between Fakhar Zaman (44 off 32) and Max Holden (52 off 43) kept the Vipers in the fray for a long time, but potent spells from Andre Russell (2/16), Ajay Kumar (2/47) and Jason Holder (1/28) ensured a narrow victory.

In response to a daunting target, Fakhar Zaman and Max Holden (52 off 43) steered the Vipers through an impactful powerplay of 53/0.

The pair rotated the strike with ease and found timely boundaries even after the fielding restrictions as Max Holden brought up a 40-ball half-century. Holden struck six boundaries on his way there.

The Vipers were at a canter until Andre Russell got the vital breakthrough, removing Holden in the 12th over. With only one boundary since the 11th over, the mounting pressure saw Andre Russell strike again to remove Zaman at 114/2 in 14 overs. Sunil Narine was also instrumental in turning up the pressure, conceding only 23 runs in his four overs.

Hasan Nawaz broke the drought with two consecutive sixes off Ajay Kumar in the 16th over but holed out on the next delivery. Sam Curran (11 off 10) and Shimron Hetmyer (7 off 4) also perished in quick succession to leave the equation at 19 runs needed in 12 balls.

A cameo from Khuzaima Tanveer (16 off 9) almost brought the Vipers home, but his knock came to an end in the final over as Ajay Kumar defended the 12 runs needed.

Batting first, the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders stumbled out of the blocks, slumping to 9/2 inside two overs. Khuzaima Tanveer struck on the opening delivery, claiming Phil Salt as his 11th victim of the season, before Lockie Ferguson trapped Michael Pepper (4 off 3) LBW to leave the Knight Riders reeling. Alex Hales (25 off 18) counterattacked inside the powerplay with two fours and two sixes but fell to Ferguson in the fifth over as the Knight Riders finished the powerplay at 48/3.

Liam Livingstone (76 off 48) and UAE’s Alishan Sharafu (39 off 35) endured a difficult phase, steadying the ship with a 50-run stand in 46 balls. Just as the pair looked to step on the accelerator, Sharafu fell to Sam Curran in search of his fourth six of the night.

The Knight Riders recovered well to pass the 15-over mark at 112/4, and Livingstone and Sherfane Rutherford (24* off 14) ensured the side plundered another 69 runs in the final five overs. Livingstone launched Qais Ahmad for two successive sixes to bring up a 36-ball fifty and finished the night with six fours and three sixes to his name.

Rutherford took down Noor Ahmad in a 19-run over before Livingstone became Ferguson’s third scalp of the night in the final over. The partnership of 68 runs in 30 balls propelled the Knight Riders to 181/5.

Player of the match, Liam Livingstone said: "It was very much needed for us tonight. Today was a very important game for us so I am glad we could get the win. Pretty happy with the way I paced the innings, getting 25 off 25 and then pressing on the gas accelerator. Most pleasing thing is being able to get a score and contribute.”

Reflecting on the loss, captain of the Desert Vipers, Lockie Ferguson said: “It is not a great result, obviously, but it was a great game of cricket. The boys will obviously be hurting, but we'll take the dividends from tonight.”

Brief Scores

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders beat Desert Vipers by one run

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders 181/5 in 20 overs (Liam Livingstone 76, Alishan Sharafu 39, Sherfane Rutherford 24 not out, Lockie Ferguson 3 for 34)

Desert Vipers 180/6 in 20 overs (Max Holden 52, Fakhar Zaman 44, Hasan Nawaz 23, Andre Russell 2 for 16, Ajay Kumar 2 for 47, Jason Holder 1 for 28)
 
MI Emirates stunned the Dubai Capitals with a seven-run victory at the Dubai International Stadium on Wednesday, defending a modest total of 137/8. Jonny Bairstow’s half-century provided the backbone of the innings amidst impressive performances from Mustafizur Rahman and Muhammad Jawadullah. In response, the Capitals were comfortably placed in the chase before Rashid Khan’s two-wicket haul led the heist for the MI Emirates.

The result took MI Emirates to six points and saw them replace the Capitals in third place on the DP World ILT20 Season 4 points table.

Muhammad Rohid made an early dent on the Capitals with the wicket of Leus De Plooy (4 of 11) but Shayan Jahangir (34 off 27) and Jordan Cox (46 off 41) batted with intent. Jahangir thumped three sixes while Cox also worked three boundaries to post 51 runs inside the powerplay.

The pair put the Capitals in control, but a scoring lull following the powerplay forced the wicket of Shayan Jahangir, outfoxed by Rashid Khan. Rovman Powell (11 off 10) joined Cox as the run-rate declined. The pair had put on a near run-a-ball 25-run stand until Rashid Khan had Powell stumped in the 13th over.

Dasun Shanaka (3 off 5) was the next to depart, castled by Kamindu Mendis to leave the Capitals at 94/4 in 14 overs. The Capitals lost a third wicket in the span of six runs when Jimmy Neesham (0 off 3) was run-out.

Though the well settled Cox was still in the middle, the run-rate was on the climb, and eventually Capitals needed as many as 30 runs off the final three overs.

In the penultimate over Naveen-ul-Haq, dismissed Cox and Mohammad Nabi (12 off 13) in the span of three balls to deliver a fatal blow to the Capitals’ run chase.

The Capitals lost three more wickets, including a run-out in Romario Shepherd’s final over as they were skittled for 130.

In the first innings, MI Emirates kept wickets intact in the powerplay, but tight new-ball spells from the Dubai Capitals limited Muhammad Waseem (17 off 19) and Jonny Bairstow (67 off 40) to 40 runs in the opening six overs.

After David Willey scalped Waseem in the seventh over, Bairstow and Nicholas Pooran (8 off 16) combined for a 48-run partnership. Bairstow provided the impetus smashing Mohammad Nabi for a four and two consecutive sixes on his way to a 30-ball half century, studded with eight fours and three sixes.

Capitals’ Jawadullah was instrumental in shifting momentum, accounting for Pooran and Bairstow in his first two overs, giving away only seven runs and leaving the MI Emirates at 99/3.

Kieron Pollard (6 off 8) and Kamindu Mendis (10 off 7) fell in quick succession to Haider Ali and Waqar Salamkheil, before Mustafizur Rahman ripped through the middle and lower order, dismissing Tom Banton (5 off 11), Rashid Khan (1 off 3) and AM Ghazanfar (0).

Romario Shepherd (18 off 10) remained unbeaten with a six and a four as the MI Emirates posted 137/8.

Player of the Match, Rashid Khan said: “Happy with the win today. The last game we were close too but happy to finish it today. It’s always good to be in a team that has experience. Today was a proper team effort and bowling effort. I think the way we fielded gave us energy today.”


Captain of the Dubai Capitals, Dasun Shanaka said: “We really bowled well, but a few drop catches gave them extra runs. The game was totally with us, I think I gave my wicket away, mine and Jimmy Neesham’s were crucial at a point where they needed wickets.”

Brief scores

The MI Emirates defeated the Dubai Capitals by seven runs

MI Emirates 137/8 in 20 overs (Jonny Bairstow 67, Romario Shepherd 18 not out, Muhammad Waseem 17, Mustafizur Rahman 3 for 34, Jawadullah 2 for 7)

Dubai Capitals 130/10 in 20 overs (Jordan Cox 46, Shayan Jahangir 34, Rashid Khan 2 for 14, Romario Shepherd 2 for 25, Naveen-ul-Haq 2 for 27)
 
The Abu Dhabi Knight Riders held their nerve to secure a well-earned four-wicket win over the Gulf Giants at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Thursday. Openers Alex Hales (46 off 39) and Phil Salt (35 off 24) made light work of the run-chase, blazing to the target with four balls to spare and move up the points table to fourth place from sixth.

Needing 166 runs for the win, Salt and Hales set up a partnership of 61 runs in 44 balls. They were helped by a late flurry of runs from Sherfane Rutherford (30 off 22) and Andre Russell (21* off 13), who negated Tabraiz Shamsi’s three for 23. With the ball, Piyush Chawla took four wickets for 27 runs, which ensured Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s 72 off 45 balls for the Giants, including four fours and five sixes, went in vain.

Salt set the tone early with back-to-back boundaries in the opening over and went on to hit Fred Klaassen for 17 runs in the third over, bringing up 8,000 runs for the English batter in T20 cricket. However, the Giants gained control in the second half of the powerplay. Despite this, Salt and Hales led the charge as ADKR scored 53/0.

The Giants pulled things back after the powerplay through Shamsi, who broke the opening stand by removing Salt and then Liam Livingstone to leave ADKR two down. Hales held the chase together, while Livingstone added a quick 12 off 8 before falling. The Knight Riders reached the halfway mark at 82/2, needing 84 from the final 10 overs.

Hales and Sherfane Rutherford kept ADKR on course, with Rutherford reducing the deficit by smashing a four and back-to-back sixes off Moeen Ali in the 14th over. Just as the Knight Riders looked comfortable at 123/2, Chris Wood struck with a key breakthrough, removing Hales. With Alishan Sharafu joining Rutherford in the 15th over, ADKR reached 127/3, needing 39 from the final five overs.

Shamsi then removed Sharafu (1 off 2) to put pressure on the Knight Riders, but Russell kept his cool before breaking free with a crucial six off Matthew Forde in the 18th over. Fred Klaassen removed Jason Holder (9 off 7) to set up a tense final over, but Russell had the last word, launching Chris Wood over the ropes to seal a four-wicket win with four balls to spare.

Earlier in the game, Gurbaz set the tempo early, taking 13 off Jason Holder in the third over with a six and a four. Olly Stone provided the breakthrough in the fifth over by removing Pathum Nissanka (17 off 12), but James Vince (16 off 11) kept the momentum going with three quick boundaries. The Gulf Giants closed the powerplay at 59/1.

The Afghan batter continued to anchor the innings through the middle overs. Piyush Chawla dismissed Vince to slow things briefly, but Moeen Ali (16 off 14) settled in well, while Gurbaz brought up his half-century in the 11th over off 32 balls.

After attacking Stone for a six and a four in the 14th over, the Giants lost momentum quickly. Chawla outfoxed Ali with a googly, before Ajay Kumar removed Gurbaz following a stunning Sharafu dive at deep midwicket. With five overs remaining, the Giants were 132/4.

Chawla tightened the screws further in the 16th over, dismissing Azmatullah Omarzai (6 off 8) and bowling Matthew Forde for a golden duck, leaving the Giants at 135/6. Asif Khan (14* off 13) added late runs, but Holder and Ajay Kumar kept things tight as the Giants finished on 165/7.

Player of the match Piyush Chawla said, “When I started out, I never imagined cricket would become my profession — I played purely for the joy of it, and that passion is still there. The googly has always come naturally to me, so right now I’m spending more time working on my leg-breaks, experimenting with angles and a slightly more side-on action to get extra turn and put doubt in the batter’s mind.”

Gulf Giants skipper James Vince said, “At one stage, we were looking at 190 or even 200, so in the end we were probably 20–30 runs short. Without those extra runs, the pressure on them early in the chase was minimal and the required rate stayed under control. I was proud of how we fought back after a tough start — it’s easy to drop off when a team scores quickly in the powerplay, but Tabraiz Shamsi’s wickets brought us back into the game and gave us belief.”

Brief Scores

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders beat Gulf Giants by four wickets

Gulf Giants 165/7 in 20 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 72, Pathum Nissanka 17, Piyush Chawla 4 for 27, Ajay Kumar 1 for 30)

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders 167/6 in 19.2 overs (Alex Hales 46, Phil Salt 35, Andre Russell 21 not out, Tabraiz Shamsi 3 for 23, Fred Klaassen 2 for 37)

Player of the match: Piyush Chawla
 
December 19 2025: The Dubai Capitals defeated the Sharjah Warriorz for the first time in DP World ILT20 history, with a resounding 63-run victory at the Dubai International Stadium. A measured half-century from Sediqullah Atal (66 off 44) was complimented by a fiery finish from Mohammad Nabi (38* off 19) as the Capitals set up an unbreachable target of 181.

The Warriorz were then halted by a clinical performance from the Capitals’ bowling attack, including three-wicket hauls from Nabi and Waqar Salamkheil. James Rew waged a lone battle, top scoring with 47 runs for the Warriorz.

The race for the three remaining playoff berths remains wide open as Dubai Capitals moved to second place with six points. Four teams are level with six points, while the Desert Vipers and the Sharjah Warriorz sit at opposite ends of the points table with 12 and four points respectively.

The run chase was rocked early as Mustafizur Rahman made the first incision with the wicket of Johnson Charles before Haider Ali claimed Tom Kohler-Cadmore (15 off 12) and Tom Abell (15 off 13) to leave the Warriorz at 45/3 in six overs.

Sikandar Raza (21 off 14) and James Rew (47 off 38) looked to find momentum with a 39-run partnership in 27 balls before Raza fell to Waqar Salamkheil in the 11th over. While Rew managed the odd boundary, the asking rate ballooned to almost 12 an over for the final seven overs.

The equation proved too steep, and wickets fell in clusters as Nabi made his presence felt with the ball as well, picking up Ethan D’Souza (5 off 10), Wasim Akram (0 off 2) and Rew, to cap off a miserly spell that only conceded 23 runs. Salamkheil broke through again to snap up the dangerous Dwaine Pretorius (1 off 4) and Harmeet Singh (2 off 2) to finish with 3/22. The Warriorz eventually bundled up for 117 runs in 17 overs.

In the first innings, Raza had pushed the Capitals on the back foot with the wicket of the in-form Shayan Jahangir (1 off 3) in the first over. Jordan Cox (28 off 19) departed to Taskin Ahmed but only after he worked five fluent boundaries to power the Capitals to 60/2 by the end of the powerplay.

Opener Sediqullah Atal played a vital knock with minimal risk. In the middle overs, he joined Leus du Plooy (18 off 14) for a 33-run stand in 21 balls before Plooy was accounted for by Adil Rashid in the 10th over. Rovman Powell (12 off 11) was the next batter to go, off the bowling of Matheesha Pathirana.

Atal led a 14-run assault against Wasim Akram in the 15th, bringing up a 35-ball half-century in the process. At the 15-over mark, the Capitals were set up for a big finish at 129/4.

Mohammad Nabi opened fire immediately, clubbing three boundaries and three sixes to provide the flourish the Capitals needed. Meanwhile, Taskin Ahmed gave Atal a reprieve in the outfield, when the batter was on 60, but the pacer quickly redeemed himself to remove the opener in the 17th over.

Taskin struck again to remove Dasun Shanaka (5 off 9) in the final over, but the Capitals squeezed 12 runs to post a daunting target on a challenging surface.

Player of the Match, Mohammad Nabi said:
“The top order set a great platform for the middle order. I always try to practice my power hitting since I bat at number six or seven a lot. Sediqullah Atal has been on the bench for a few games, but he came back to bat really well today and Salamkheil is always picking up wickets.”

Captain of the Sharjah Warriorz, Sikandar Raza said:
“We didn't really field well to start with. We bowled well in patches. On that wicket, the score was chasable; we needed partnerships. After winning two in a row, this loss is a setback, but we need to start peaking now to stay in the competition. Facing the table-topping Desert Vipers tomorrow will be a true test of where this team stands."

*Brief Scores*
*Dubai Capitals beat Sharjah Warriorz by 63 runs*

Dubai Capitals 180/6 in 20 overs (Sediqullah Atal 66, Mohammad Nabi 38 not out, Jordan Cox 28, Taskin Ahmed 3 for 40)

Sharjah Warriorz 117/10 in 17 overs (James Rew 47, Sikandar Raza 21, Mohammad Nabi 3 for 23, Waqar Salamkheil 3 for 22, Haider Ali 2 for 19, Mustafizur Rahman 2 for 13)
 
Abu Dhabi, 20 December, 2025: MI Emirates displayed their all-round abilities to secure a commanding 35-run win over the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Saturday’s first match. The side successfully defended a target of 187/4, moving to second on the points table in the process.

Nicholas Pooran’s quickfire and unbeaten 40 off just 24 balls included two fours and two sixes. He complemented the MI Emirates’ top order led by Jonny Bairstow (38 off 16), Muhammad Waseem (37 off 36) and Tom Banton (38 off 28). With the ball, key overs in the middle from Zahoor Khan, who finished with three for 16, and Arab Gul, ensured that the Knight Riders could not settle in the second innings.

For the Knight Riders, McMullen’s unbeaten 64 off 49 balls and Hales’ 40 off 27 were the only bright spots.

The Knight Riders made a strong start to the chase, with McMullen and Hales firmly in control after Phil Salt (6 off 4) was bowled by Allah Ghazanfar in the second over. The pair found boundaries regularly, kept the required rate in check and guided ADKR to 59/1 at the end of the powerplay.

McMullen continued to anchor the innings, but Arab struck at a crucial moment to remove Hales in the 10th over, just as the 82-run partnership off 54 balls threatened to take the game away. Although ADKR reached the halfway mark well placed, needing 92 from the final 10 overs, the momentum began to swing.

The chase unravelled between overs 11 and 15 as MI Emirates tightened the screws through Zahoor and Arab. Zahoor’s decisive 13th over saw Sherfane Rutherford (5 off 9) and Liam Livingstone (1 off 3) dismissed, while Andre Russell (0 off 3) fell cheaply to Arab. With boundaries drying up, McMullen fought on to a gritty fifty, but the asking rate ballooned to 73 off the final five overs.

Any hopes of a late revival were extinguished when Zahoor claimed his third wicket, dismissing Sunil Narine (6 off 12). McMullen continued his lone resistance, while Alishan Sharafu’s unbeaten 15 off 10 offered only brief consolation as ADKR closed on 152/7.

Earlier, MI Emirates set the platform through a blistering start from Jonny Bairstow, who smashed 38 off 16 balls with five fours and two sixes. Muhammad Waseem provided stability, rotating strike effectively before Bairstow was trapped LBW by Ajay Kumar in the fifth over, leaving MI at 53/1 after the powerplay.

The innings was consolidated by Waseem and Tom Banton (38 off 28), who added 50 runs through the middle overs while maintaining a steady scoring rate. Piyush Chawla broke the stand in the 12th over, but Banton briefly upped the tempo before falling in the 15th.

MI Emirates then accelerated at the death, with Pooran and Kieron Pollard (28 off 16) powering a decisive 62-run partnership off 32 balls. Their assault yielded 44 runs in the final three overs, lifting MI Emirates to an imposing 187/4.

*Player of the match Zahoor Khan said,* “I’m extremely pleased with my performance. The support from the MI Emirates management has been outstanding and has played a big role in our success. Having spent a lot of time playing cricket in the UAE, I understand these conditions well, and it was satisfying to see that experience contribute to a match-winning performance.”

*Abu Dhabi Knight Riders skipper Jason Holder said,* “187 was a competitive but chaseable total on this surface, and at the halfway stage we felt we were in a strong position. However, losing wickets in clusters during the middle overs completely stalled our momentum. We came into this game with confidence after two wins and were cruising at one point, but a few errors cost us dearly.”

*Brief Scores*

*MI Emirates beat Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by 35 runs*

MI Emirates 187/4 in 20 overs (Nicholas Pooran 40 not out, Jonny Bairstow 38, Tom Banton 38, Ajay Kumar 2 for 42)

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders 152/7 in 20 overs (Brandon McMullen 64 not out, Alex Hales 40, Zahoor Khan 3 for 16, Arab Gul 2 for 19)

*Player of the match:* Zahoor Khan
 
*Desert Vipers cruise past Sharjah Warriorz with four-wicket win to strengthen table-top push*

* _A clinical bowling effort led by David Payne set up a calm chase as the Vipers sealed their seventh win in eight matches

*Dubai, 20 December, 2025:* Desert Vipers continued their strong run in the DP World ILT20 season 4 with a comprehensive victory over Sharjah Warriorz, beating them by four wickets at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday. The win consolidated their position at the top of the standings, with 14 points in eight matches and are guaranteed a spot in the top two.

David Payne’s disciplined bowling performance bundled the hosts for a modest total of 90 runs. Barring Tom Abell’s unbeaten 35 runs in 36 balls, the Warriorz did not hurt the Vipers’ bowling. With the bat, Sam Curran’s 37 off 31 with five fours, ensured a comfortable run chase with 37 balls to spare.

Chasing a meagre target, the Vipers made a steady start despite losing early wickets. Taskin Ahmed did the early damage for the Warriorz, removing Fakhar Zaman (6 off 6) and Hasan Nawaz (10 off 11), but Sam Curran countered with a couple of boundaries to keep the run rate in check. Max Holden (8 off 9) fell to Dwaine Pretorius, leaving the Vipers at 38/3 after six overs.

Curran anchored the innings in the middle overs, rotating the strike efficiently with Dan Lawrence (14 off 14). Despite tidy spells from Taskin Ahmed, Adil Rashid and Dwaine Pretorius, the Warriorz were unable to apply sustained pressure as the Vipers calmly knocked off singles and kept the chase firmly on track.

Barring a few late wickets for the Warriorz – Harmeet Singh removed Lawrence and Sikandar Raza dismissed Curran – Tom Bruce’s (10* off 4) six and four off Harmeet in the 13th over took the game beyond the Warriorz. Vriitya Aravind (3* off 3) clipped Rashid for the winning run, consigning Sharjah to another defeat at the foot of the table.

Earlier in the match, David Payne struck twice in the powerplay to remove Johnson Charles (3 off 9) and Tom Kohler-Cadmore (9 off 11), conceding just nine runs in three overs. Khuzaima Tanveer and Naseem Shah maintained pressure from the other end to keep the Warriorz in check as they crawling to 28/2 after six overs.

Payne struck again just after the powerplay to remove James Rew for a duck, completing a super spell of three for 14. Lawrence and Naseem Shah then conceded just 11 runs across overs 8 and 9, as boundaries dried up completely.

The Warriorz never found momentum through the middle overs as regular wickets kept falling. Noor Ahmad and Curran applied the pressure, with Noor removing Ethan D’Souza (18 off 21) via a sharp stumping and later trapping Harmeet Singh (4 off 6) LBW, while Curran got Sikandar Raza (1 off 3). Despite Tom Abell batting with composure, support around him was minimal.

The innings then unravelled rapidly at the death. Khuzaima Tanveer struck twice in the 15th over, removing Dinesh Karthik (3 off 5) and Dwaine Pretorius (1 off 3), before Naseem Shah finished things off with a decisive burst in the 18th, dismissing Adil Rashid (1 off 6) and Taskin Ahmed (2 off 4). The Warriorz slid from 76/7 to 90 all out in quick time, setting a meagre target for their opponents.

*Player of the match David Payne said,* “My plans were slightly different to usual tonight. It was more about bowling across the bat and matching up against their strengths. We know where Johnson Charles likes to score, so the idea was to stay out of his arc, and thankfully it worked. Having such a strong bowling attack around me takes a lot of pressure off. There are so many world-class bowlers in this side, and our real strength lies in how well we communicate and work together.”

*Sharjah Warriorz skipper Sikandar Raza said,* “We’ve won our games when batting first, and while chasing we haven’t quite found the right combinations. The thought at the toss was to give our batters the freedom to set a total, because on this surface 140–145 can be very tough to chase. When your back is against the wall, character is revealed. For us, every game now is like a final, and if we can win three in a row, no team will be better prepared for the playoffs than us.”

*Brief Scores*

*Desert Vipers beat Sharjah Warriorz by four wickets*

Sharjah Warriorz 90 in 17.5 overs (Tom Abell 35 not out, Ethan D’Souza 18, David Payne 3 for 14, Naseem Shah 2 for 12, Noor Ahmad 2 for 18)

Desert Vipers 91/6 in 13.5 overs (Sam Curran 37, Dan Lawrence 14, Tom Bruce 10 not out, Taskin Ahmed 2 for 20)

*Player of the match:* David Payne
 
Dubai Capitals clinch important six-wicket victory over Gulf Giants

Abu Dhabi, 21 December, 2025: The Dubai Capitals sealed an important six-wicket win over the Gulf Giants courtesy of an impressive all-round display at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Sunday. With this win, the Capitals have moved to second on the points table, while the Giants slid to a fourth consecutive defeat.

Mustafizur Rahman took his three wickets in the 14th over but it was enough to turn the tide after James Vince (36 off 34) and Azmatullah Omarzai (43 off 26) looked dangerous in the middle overs. His bowling helped the Capitals bundle out the Giants for 156. Shayan Jahangir’s controlled innings of 48 from 44 balls, set up the Capitals before Rovman Powell’s unbeaten 47 off 31, including a four and three sixes, sealed the win.

The Capitals made a calculated start to the chase with Jahangir providing early impetus, with a six and four boundaries to lift them to 33/0 after four overs. The momentum shifted in the fifth over as Omarzai struck twice to remove Sediqullah Atal (9 off 10) and Jordan Cox (0 off 2). At the end of the powerplay they were 42/2, needing 115 more for the win.

Despite the sub-par total, the Giants’ spinners applied the pressure, with runs coming mostly in singles. Jahangir held the innings together, ably supported by Leus du Plooy (22 off 15), before Fred Klaassen shattered his stumps just as the partnership of 31 runs in 27 balls was building was building. With Powell initially quiet on arrival, the Capitals reached the halfway stage at 68/3, leaving them needing 89 from the final 10 overs.

The key wicket of Jahangir fell in the 15th over just as he looked set to accelerate. His dismissal briefly checked the chase, but Powell ensured momentum did not slip away, providing the late surge. Mohammad Nabi (25* off 14) then ensured that the contest was settled in emphatic fashion in the final over as he first brought scores level with a four before sealing the chase with a six.

Earlier in the game, the Giants raced out of the blocks thanks to Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s explosive start, smashing 25 off just 11 balls to power the side to 39/0 after three overs. Haider Ali then struck in the fourth over to remove Gurbaz and added a second scalp to get Lorcan Tucker (1 off 4) in the sixth. Between these two wickets, Nabi chipped in by dismissing Moeen Ali (7 off 6), as the Giants closed the powerplay at 53/3.

Vince and Omarzai then stitched together a crucial partnership to stabilise the Giants’ innings. Together, they put up 66 runs in 46 balls in the middle overs as the duo carried the Giants past the halfway mark and kept the scoring rate ticking.

The momentum shifted decisively when Mustafizur Rahman returned for a devastating spell in the 14th over. The left-arm pacer removed Vince, Omarzai and Sean Dickson (0 off 1) in quick succession, reducing the Giants from 110/3 to 116/6 and exposing the lower order.

Kyle Mayers (24 off 20) and Mark Adair (12 off 12) attempted a late push, adding some urgency with boundaries in the 18th over, but chaos ensued at the death. The final over saw a remarkable hat-trick of run-outs, as panic between the wickets undid the Giants’ late resistance. From 152/7, they were bowled out for 156.

*Dubai Capitals stand-in skipper Mohammad Nabi said,* “It was a complete team effort. They got off to a strong start, but the turning point was Mustafizur’s over where we picked up three wickets and shifted the momentum. Haider was excellent in the powerplay and Fizz really changed the game. Rovman played superbly as well—he paced the chase smartly and made sure he capitalised on every ball.”

*Gulf Giants skipper James Vince said,* “It’s been a similar pattern to our last few games. We get ourselves into a position where we should be adding another 20 or 30 runs, but when one wicket falls, we tend to lose two or three in quick succession. That puts pressure on the batters who come in, as they have to lower the risk just to make sure we don’t collapse completely.”

*Brief Scores*

*Dubai Capitals beat Gulf Giants by six wickets*

Gulf Giants 156 all out in 19.5 overs (Azmatullah Omarzai 43, James Vince 36, Mustafizur Rahman 3 for 34, Haider Ali 2 for 24)

Dubai Capitals 162/4 in 19.2 overs (Shayan Jahangir 48, Rovman Powell 47 not out, Mohammad Nabi 25 not out, Azmatullah Omarzai 2 for 27)

*Player of the match:* Mustafizur Rahman
 
ILT20 is a meaningless tournament with no home support.The only plus point of this tournament is that it gives a chance to players to earn some money especially those who will not be picked by bigger leagues.
 
Ball Blazer said:
Dubai Capitals clinch important six-wicket victory over Gulf Giants

Abu Dhabi, 21 December, 2025: The Dubai Capitals sealed an important six-wicket win over the Gulf Giants courtesy of an impressive all-round display at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Sunday. With this win, the Capitals have moved to second on the points table, while the Giants slid to a fourth consecutive defeat.

Mustafizur Rahman took his three wickets in the 14th over but it was enough to turn the tide after James Vince (36 off 34) and Azmatullah Omarzai (43 off 26) looked dangerous in the middle overs. His bowling helped the Capitals bundle out the Giants for 156. Shayan Jahangir’s controlled innings of 48 from 44 balls, set up the Capitals before Rovman Powell’s unbeaten 47 off 31, including a four and three sixes, sealed the win.

The Capitals made a calculated start to the chase with Jahangir providing early impetus, with a six and four boundaries to lift them to 33/0 after four overs. The momentum shifted in the fifth over as Omarzai struck twice to remove Sediqullah Atal (9 off 10) and Jordan Cox (0 off 2). At the end of the powerplay they were 42/2, needing 115 more for the win.

Despite the sub-par total, the Giants’ spinners applied the pressure, with runs coming mostly in singles. Jahangir held the innings together, ably supported by Leus du Plooy (22 off 15), before Fred Klaassen shattered his stumps just as the partnership of 31 runs in 27 balls was building was building. With Powell initially quiet on arrival, the Capitals reached the halfway stage at 68/3, leaving them needing 89 from the final 10 overs.

The key wicket of Jahangir fell in the 15th over just as he looked set to accelerate. His dismissal briefly checked the chase, but Powell ensured momentum did not slip away, providing the late surge. Mohammad Nabi (25* off 14) then ensured that the contest was settled in emphatic fashion in the final over as he first brought scores level with a four before sealing the chase with a six.

Earlier in the game, the Giants raced out of the blocks thanks to Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s explosive start, smashing 25 off just 11 balls to power the side to 39/0 after three overs. Haider Ali then struck in the fourth over to remove Gurbaz and added a second scalp to get Lorcan Tucker (1 off 4) in the sixth. Between these two wickets, Nabi chipped in by dismissing Moeen Ali (7 off 6), as the Giants closed the powerplay at 53/3.

Vince and Omarzai then stitched together a crucial partnership to stabilise the Giants’ innings. Together, they put up 66 runs in 46 balls in the middle overs as the duo carried the Giants past the halfway mark and kept the scoring rate ticking.

The momentum shifted decisively when Mustafizur Rahman returned for a devastating spell in the 14th over. The left-arm pacer removed Vince, Omarzai and Sean Dickson (0 off 1) in quick succession, reducing the Giants from 110/3 to 116/6 and exposing the lower order.

Kyle Mayers (24 off 20) and Mark Adair (12 off 12) attempted a late push, adding some urgency with boundaries in the 18th over, but chaos ensued at the death. The final over saw a remarkable hat-trick of run-outs, as panic between the wickets undid the Giants’ late resistance. From 152/7, they were bowled out for 156.

*Dubai Capitals stand-in skipper Mohammad Nabi said,* “It was a complete team effort. They got off to a strong start, but the turning point was Mustafizur’s over where we picked up three wickets and shifted the momentum. Haider was excellent in the powerplay and Fizz really changed the game. Rovman played superbly as well—he paced the chase smartly and made sure he capitalised on every ball.”

*Gulf Giants skipper James Vince said,* “It’s been a similar pattern to our last few games. We get ourselves into a position where we should be adding another 20 or 30 runs, but when one wicket falls, we tend to lose two or three in quick succession. That puts pressure on the batters who come in, as they have to lower the risk just to make sure we don’t collapse completely.”

*Brief Scores*

*Dubai Capitals beat Gulf Giants by six wickets*

Gulf Giants 156 all out in 19.5 overs (Azmatullah Omarzai 43, James Vince 36, Mustafizur Rahman 3 for 34, Haider Ali 2 for 24)

Dubai Capitals 162/4 in 19.2 overs (Shayan Jahangir 48, Rovman Powell 47 not out, Mohammad Nabi 25 not out, Azmatullah Omarzai 2 for 27)

*Player of the match:* Mustafizur Rahman
Click to expand...
 
MI Emirates registered a composed four-wicket victory over the table toppers Desert Vipers to seal their third straight win in the DP World ILT20 Season 4 at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. After a disciplined bowling performance in the first innings, MI Emirates overcame early pressure, before Kieron Pollard and Shakib Al Hasan guided the team to victory.

The Desert Vipers managed to score 124 courtesy Dan Lawrence’s gritty 35 off 34 balls, but MI Emirates navigated a tricky chase with relative ease. With the ball, spinner Shakib Al Hasan’s two wickets for 14 runs led the charge and kept the Vipers in check, before Zahoor Khan’s death bowling ensured the total remained below par.

In reply, MI Emirates stumbled in the powerplay and lost momentum in the middle overs, but Pollard’s 26 off 15 balls flipped the contest decisively. Even after his dismissal, Shakib held firm to see the chase through, striking the winning boundary to complete a controlled four-wicket win with 15 balls to spare.

MI Emirates endured a slow powerplay, as the Vipers applied sustained pressure. David Payne set the tone early, removing Jonny Bairstow (5 off 5), while Lockie Ferguson struck to dismiss the in-form Muhammad Waseem (18 off 13). They finished the powerplay with 35/2 on the board.

The batting side lost momentum through the middle overs as the Vipers bowlers tightened the screws. Nicholas Pooran (17 off 17) mounted a brief counterattack with two sixes, but was trapped LBW by Dan Lawrence. Wickets fell at regular intervals, including Tom Banton (10 off 10) being bowled by a sharp Qais Ahmad delivery.

Then, skipper Kieron Pollard swung the momentum decisively, taking Qais apart with a pair of sixes in the 15th over that swung the chase in MI Emirates’ favour. He was eventually dismissed by Matiullah Khan but Shakib Al Hasan (17* off 25) held his nerve, anchoring the finish before striking the winning boundary off Matiullah to close the chase at 124/6 in 17.3 overs.

In the first innings, the Vipers made a subdued start in the powerplay, as Chris Woakes was excellent up front, conceding just 15 runs from his three overs. Allah Ghazanfar struck the key blow by removing Max Holden (20 off 18). Fakhar Zaman (13 off 13) tried to build momentum, but the lack of boundaries and regular dots ensured the Vipers were restricted to 35/1 after six overs.

MI Emirates tightened their grip through the middle overs as Shakib Al Hasan struck twice in a miserly spell to remove Zaman and Sam Curran (4 off 4), conceding just eight runs in two overs. Arab Gul added to the pressure by dismissing Hasan Nawaz (13 off 19), leaving the Vipers reeling after losing three wickets in as many overs and the score at 54/4 at the halfway mark of their innings.

Lawrence and Jason Roy (14 off 18) showed intent in patches, adding a cautious stand of 42 runs in 40 balls, but boundaries were scarce. Shakib capped an outstanding spell of 2 for 14, leaving the Vipers with little impetus. Zahoor Khan delivered a decisive final over, finishing with 2 for 17, as regular wickets in the death overs ensured the Vipers were kept in check, leaving MI Emirates a manageable target of 125 to seal the chase.

Player of the match Shakib Al Hasan said, “It was a surface that suited the spinners, and the focus was on hitting the right areas consistently. I was able to do that today, which was pleasing. I’m glad it helped the team. Batting wasn’t easy on this pitch either. With so many powerful hitters in our lineup, someone needed to play the anchoring role, and I was happy to take on that responsibility to make sure we finished the chase."

Desert Vipers stand-in skipper Sam Curran said, “It was another low-scoring game on a tricky surface. The pitch was slow, and facing a side like MI Emirates, who have high-quality spinners with a lot of variation, made it even tougher. Despite that, I thought our bowlers put in a strong effort. With qualification already secured, we chose to rotate the squad, and what happened to Lockie reinforces the importance of managing workloads."

Brief Scores

MI Emirates beat Desert Vipers by four wickets

Desert Vipers 124/7 in 20 overs (Dan Lawrence 35 not out, Max Holden 20, Shakib Al Hasan 2 for 14, Zahoor Khan 2 for 17)

MI Emirates 128/6 in 17.3 overs (Kieron Pollard 26, Sanjay Krishnamurthi 21, Matiullah Khan 2 for 18, Dan Lawrence 1 for 13)

Player of the match: Shakib Al Hasan
 
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