Tag: ILT20

DUBAI: Fast bowler Naseem Shah has been fined 10 per cent of match fee during the International League T20 (ILT20) final played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS) on January 4.

According to a press release on the ILT20 website, Shah was found to have breached Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the final between Desert Vipers and MI Emirates.

The article relates to the use of language, actions, or gestures that could disparage or provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter following their dismissal.

“Shah was found to have breached Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which relates to the use of language, actions or gestures that could disparage or provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter following their dismissal,” the press release stated.

 

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The incident happened during the 11th over of the match when Naseem bowled a delivery that Pollard defended.

Naseem picked up the ball and smiled at Pollard, who responded aggressively, prompting a verbal exchange between the two players.

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Pollard appeared visibly angry while exchanging words with the right-handed pacer.

The umpires, along with Vipers batter Jason Roy, intervened to break up the confrontation. Naseem was also seen firing back, leaving both players visibly upset.

However, Naseem got his revenge in the first delivery of the 16th over, dismissing Pollard, who had scored a run-a-ball 28.

The sanction was imposed by Match Referee Simon Taufel.

Nonetheless, Desert Vipers clinched their maiden ILT20 title after skittling MI Emirates for 136 in 18.3 overs.

Naseem Shah starred with the ball as he picked three wickets in his quota of four overs.

Earlier, put into bat first, Desert Vipers managed to score 182-4 in their 20 overs, courtesy of skipper Tom Curran’s 74 from 51 balls that not only lifted them out of trouble but helped them set a winning total.

READ: Wasim Akram names Pakistan’s surprise package for T20 World Cup

DUBAI: Pakistan off-spinner Usman Tariq has hit back at critics over allegations of chucking, urging them to gain knowledge before commenting or sharing opinions about his action.

The tall right-arm spinner came in as a replacement for Desert Vipers in the International League T20 (ILT20) and made an immediate impact with the ball during the qualifier against MI Emirates.

His three-wicket haul, which also included the scalp of Tom Banton, helped Vipers cruise to the ILT20 final.

After he got Banton, the right-handed batter pointed to the umpire about his action, which sparked debate over Tariq’s action.

Speaking during an interview, Tariq shed light on his unorthodox action, noting that he had cleared his action twice before.

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“As you can see from history, whenever spinners faced allegations of chucking, they went to the lab, tried to modify their action, and worked on the correct degree of flexion. That sometimes confuses spectators,” he said.

“I have undergone two official tests in Pakistan, and my action was cleared. Unlike others, I didn’t have to change anything. I was confident because I know I am not throwing,” he continued.

The 28-year-old has faced chucking accusations in the past, which required him to undergo a bowling action test.

He urged people to first gain knowledge before commenting or sharing opinions without a proper understanding of the game.

“If you don’t understand cricket and still comment or share opinions, illiteracy can kill knowledge. It’s better to understand the game first,” he said.

READ: Khushdil, Mustafizur shine in last-over thriller for Rangpur Riders

SHARJAH: West Indies ace spinner Sunil Narine entered the T20 record books by becoming the third bowler to take 600 wickets in the format during the International League T20 (ILT20) second fixture here at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

The mystery spinner achieved the milestone while leading the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders’ opening match against the Sharjah Warriorz on Wednesday.

The 37-year-old removed Tom Abell to take his 600th wicket, after ending his Caribbean Premier League (CPL) on 599 wickets in September.

Sunil Narine has taken 558 innings to reach the feat, the most among the two others. Overall, he bowled an economical spell, giving away only 22 runs in his quota of four overs.

With this, Narine entered an elite list with Rashid Khan and his compatriot Dwayne Bravo, who have more than 600 wickets to their name in T20 cricket.

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Afghanistan spin wizard Rashid Khan tops the chart with 681 wickets to his name, followed by Bravo, whose wicket tally is 631.

Most wickets in T20 cricket

681 – Rashid Khan (495 innings)
631 – Dwayne Bravo (546 innings)
600 – Sunil Narine (558 innings)
570 – Imran Tahir (429 innings)
504 – Shakib Al Hasan (453 innings)

With Rashid joining MI Emirates as a replacement player, the Afghan leg-spinner now has a strong chance to move closer to the 700-wicket milestone, competing in both the ILT20 and SA20 tournaments back-to-back.

Nonetheless, the match began poorly for Warriorz, as their decision to bowl first backfired when Abu Dhabi Knight Riders posted a massive 233-run total.

Liam Livingstone and Sherfane Rutherford delivered explosive innings, with Livingstone blasting 33 runs off a single Dwayne Pretorius over, effectively putting the game out of reach.

Although Tim David, supported by Pretorius and Rashid, showed late resistance, Warriorz ultimately fell short, with the Knight Riders securing an impressive 39-run victory to open their campaign.

READ: WATCH: Hayden delighted as Root ends century jinx in Australia

DUBAI: Andries Gous’ gutsy 58 off 36 balls powered Desert Vipers to a victory over Dubai Capitals in the opening match of the International League T20 (ILT20) here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS) on Tuesday.

Chasing 151, Vipers hit the winning runs on the last ball of the penultimate over, losing six wickets in the process.

Andries Gous and Fakhar Zaman started briskly in the chase, notching up a fifty-run partnership in only 4.4 overs.

Zaman, who remained the core aggressor, made 26 from 15 with the help of two sixes and a four.

The solid foundation helped the Vipers cruise towards the target; however, the Capitals made a comeback with quick wickets in the middle overs, halting their progress.

Max Holden was the second to go after adding 35 for the second wicket with Gous. The right-hander departed after scoring 16 off 15 with the help of two fours.

At this stage, Vipers were 85-2 in 9.4 overs.

Andries Gous held one end firm until Waqar Salamkheil removed him and skipper Sam Curran in the span of two deliveries.

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Dubai Capitals struck again with the prized wickets of Shimron Hetmyer and Hasan Nawaz, left Desert Vipers reeling at 133-6 in 16.5 overs.

Yet, the Vipers cruised to a victory with Dan Lawrence and Khuzaima Tanveer stitching a brief 18* run partnership that took them over the line.

Lawrence made 19* from 16, whereas Tanveer struck a boundary in his 12 from eight balls.

For Dubai Capitals, Waqar Salamkheil and Scott Currie remained the standout bowlers, picking up two wickets each.

Earlier, after being put into the field first, Dubai Capitals managed to post 150-8 on the board in their allotted 20 overs.

Desert Vipers pacers piled a miserable start on Capitals as they lost four wickets in the first six overs.

Opener Sediqullah Atal was for 16 off 13, whereas Gulbadin Naib fell for a duck. Jordan Cox (2) and Shayan Jahangir (19 off 15) also fell in quick succession as the scorecard read 42-4 in 6.5 overs.

They were further pegged back in the 11th over when Noor Ahmed bowled David Willey as they slumped to 67-5.

However, Mohammad Nabi and Rovman Powell paired up down the order with a crucial 34-run stand that helped them reach a respectable total.

Powell top-scored with 39 off 22, striking four boundaries and two sixes, while Nabi hit two sixes and two fours in his 29 from 23 balls.

For Desert Vipers, Noor Ahmad, Khuzaima Tanveer, and David Payne picked up two wickets each.

READ: Pope reacts to England players’ e-scooter incident

Pakistan duo Fakhar Zaman and Naseem Shah have been picked up for a whopping price in the inaugural auction of the International League T20 (ILT20).

The ILT20’s fourth edition is scheduled to take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah will host a total of 34 matches. The six-team tournament will run from December 2 until January 4.

During the first-ever auction of the tournament, the Desert Vipers roped in Fakhar Zaman and Naseem Shah at their base price of $80,000, approximately PKR 23 million.

Both players were picked without competition, as most franchises in the ILT20 are owned by Indian investors.

 

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Fakhar was the first overseas player to be picked up in the auction. The 35-year-old will be playing for the second time with Desert Vipers in the tournament, whereas Naseem Shah will be featuring for the first time in the league.

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Among other players, UAE fast bowler Junaid Siddique attracted a massive  $170,000 from Sharjah Warriors. Afghanistan’s right-arm fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq was sold to MI Emirates for $100,000.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s mystery spinner, Usman Tariq, has been selected as a wildcard by Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.

 

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However, some prominent names remained unpicked at the auction. These include former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir, England’s James Anderson, Jason Roy, and India’s Ravichandran Ashwin. Moreover, Shakib Al Hasan also remained unsold in the auction.

Overall, nearly 300 players from over 20 countries are registered for the auction, including star international players, promising emerging talent, and regional players from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Pakistani Players in ILT20 2025 auction

Fakhar Zaman – $80,000

Saim Ayub – $80,000

Faheem Ashraf – $80,000

Imad Wasim – $80,000

Abdul Samad – $80,000

Naseem Shah – $80,000

Mohammad Nawaz – $80,000

Mohammad Haris – $40,000

Hassan Nawaz – $40,000

Mohammad Wasim – $40,000

Mohammad Hasnain – $40,000

Usama Mir – $40,000

Zaman Khan – $40,000

Hussain Talat – $10,000

Salman Irshad – $10,000

Sufiyan Muqeem – $10,000

READ: Marsh’s sublime knock powers Australia to victory in T20I opener

The International League T20 (ILT20) is all set to return for its fourth season, but this time with a new schedule.

The UAE’s flagship franchise T20 league will now be held from December 2, 2025, to January 4, 2026, moving away from its traditional January-February slot to avoid scheduling clashes and to wrap up well ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, slated for February-March 2026.

This shift means ILT20 Season 4 will open on December 2, which is also the UAE’s National Day (Eid-al-Etihad), something the organisers are proud to celebrate alongside the tournament launch.

In past seasons, ILT20 ran parallel to several major leagues, including South Africa’s SA20, Australia’s BBL, Bangladesh’s BPL, and, until 2024, Pakistan’s PSL.

The new window aims to ease that congestion and allow a broader pool of international players to participate.

ILT20 CEO David White explained the rationale behind the revised schedule.

“Following extensive discussions with all our stakeholders, we believe the 2 December 2025 to 4 January 2026 tournament window is ideal,” he said.

“The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup begins in early February, so it was important for us to start and finish Season 4 well before that, allowing players enough time to prepare for national duty.”

It’s still unclear whether this change is a one-off or the start of a permanent shift in the ILT20 calendar.

Meanwhile, ILT20 chairman and Emirates Cricket Board vice-chairman Khalid Al Zarooni highlighted the emotional significance of aligning the tournament’s start with the UAE National Day.

“The UAE is home to people from around the world, including millions of diehard cricket fans. It’s a real honour for us to kick off the region’s biggest T20 league on the same day as the UAE National Day 2025,” he stated.

READ: Mehidy Hasan Miraz named ICC men’s Player of the Month for April 2025

Former Australian cricketer Tom Moody, who is serving as the Director of Cricket for Desert Vipers in the International League T20 (ILT20), has heaped high praise on explosive Pakistan wicket-keeper Azam Khan.

The young wicket-keeper is part of the Desert Vipers squad, alongside his compatriots Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Amir, for the 2025 season of the ILT20, which will kick off later today.

Moody, during an interview, acknowledged Azam’s batting abilities and expressed hope that he would prove to be a real asset for Desert Vipers this season.

“We all know what he [Azam Khan] is capable of doing. He’s one of those rare players who, from ball one, can hit the ball out of the ground,” Tom Moody stated.

“Having players like that in this format of the game is a real bonus. I’m sure he’ll be looking forward to having a really impactful season for us.”

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Moody also praised Mohammad Amir, highlighting his quality while expressing excitement to work with the Pakistan pacer again.

“Amir is an outstanding bowler. He was with us last year, and we know what he’s capable of. I’ve worked with Amir in other tournaments, and he’s a real asset,” he said.

“There’s no question about his quality and class as a quick bowler. It’s exciting to have him with us again.”

For the unversed, Azam Khan and Mohammad Amir represented Desert Vipers in the last season as well. Amir returned with 12 wickets in nine games at an average of 21.08.

Meanwhile, Azam smashed 159 runs in seven innings at an average of 31.80 and a whopping strike-rate of 176.66.

READ: Tamim Iqbal retires from international cricket again

DUBAI: The International League T20 (ILT20) franchise Desert Vipers have roped in explosive Pakistan batter Fakhar Zaman for the third edition of the cash-rich league.

Fakhar, who has proved his mettle across the world for his belligerent strokeplay, spearheaded the new players’ signings list for the ILT20 Season 3.

The Southpaw will join his fellow countrymen wicket-keeper Azam Khan and left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir, who were retained by Desert Vipers.

However, Shaheen Shah Afridi, who was an integral part of Desert Vipers in the last season, was not named in the retention list of the franchise due to his international commitments.

The third season of the ILT20 will be played from January 11 to February 9 next year in thee cities of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) — Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.

New Signings and Retentions

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders

New signings: Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, Gudakesh Motie, Hassan Khan, Roston Chase and Terrance Hinds

Retentions: Aditya Shetty, Ali Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Andre Russell, Andries Ghous, Charith Asalanka, David Willey, Joe Clarke, Laurie Evans, Michael Pepper and Sunil Narine

Desert Vipers

New signings: Dan Lawrence, David Payne, Fakhar Zaman, Lockie Ferguson and Max Holden

Retentions: Adam Hose, Alex Hales, Ali Naseer, Azam Khan, Bas de Leede, Luke Wood, Michael Jones, Mohammad Amir, Nathan Sowter, Sherfane Rutherford, Tanish Suri and Wanindu Hasaranga

Dubai Capitals

New signings: Adam Rossington, Brandon McMullen, Garuka Sanketh, Gulbadin Naib, Jeffrey Vandersay, Joe Burns, Joe Weatherley, Najibullah Zadran, Obed McCoy, Scott Kuggeleijn, Sharafuddin Ashraf and Shai Hope

Retentions: Dasun Shanaka, David Warner, Dushmantha Chameera, Haider Ali, Raja Akif, Rovman Powell, Sam Billings, Sikandar Raza, Zahir Khan, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Oliver Stone

Gulf Giants

New signings: Adam Lyth, Dominic Drakes, Daniel Worrall, Ibrahim Zadran, Mark Adair, Tom Curran, Tymal Mills and Wahidullah Zadran

Retentions: Aayan Afzal Khan, Blessing Muzarabani, Chris Jordan, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gerhard Erasmus, Jamie Overton, James Vince, Jamie Smith, Jordan Cox, Mohammad Zuhaib Zubair, Rehan Ahmed, and Shimron Hetmyer

MI Emirates

New signings: Romario Shepherd, Tom Banton, Fareed Ahmad, Thomas Jack Draca, Ben Charlesworth

Retentions: Akeal Hosein, Andre Fletcher, Daniel Mousley, Dwayne Bravo, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Jordan Thompson, Kieron Pollard, Kusal Perera, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Muhammad Waseem, Nicholas Pooran, Nosthush Kenjige, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth and Waqar Salamkheil

Sharjah Warriorz

New signings: Adam Milne, Adil Rashid, Ashton Agar, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Daniel Sams, Gus Atkinson, Harmeet Singh, Jason Roy, Karim Janat, Keemo Paul, Matthew Wade, Virandeep Singh and Tim Seifert

Retentions: Dilshan Madushanka, Johnson Charles, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah, Kusal Mendis, Luke Wells, Peter Hatzoglou and Tom Kohler-Cadmore

READ: Ben Stokes to undergo hamstring scan ahead of Pakistan Tests

DUBAI: Nicholas Pooran’s swashbuckling half-century, followed by a combined bowling effort led MI Emirates to win the International League (ILT20) 2024 with a comfortable 45-run victory over Dubai Capitals in the final.

Put into bat first, MI Emirates registered a mammoth total of 208/3 on the board, courtesy of Andre Fletcher and Pooran’s fifties.

Earlier, openers Muhammad Waseem and Kusal Perera scripted a decent start to the innings, putting up a 77-run stand.

Waseem, who was the core aggressor of the partnership, perished in the seventh over after 24-ball 43 which featured three boundaries and as many sixes.

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Perera was then joined by Fletcher in the middle for a brief 25-run partnership which lasted with the former’s departure in the 12th over. He scored 38 off 26 deliveries, hitting six boundaries.

Captain Pooran then joined forces with compatriot Fletcher and bolstered MI Emirates’ total with belligerent hitting.

The duo added 56 runs for the third wicket before Fletcher walked back after a brilliant knock. He smashed three boundaries and four sixes on his way to a 37-ball 53.

But Pooran kept going and carried his bat all the way through and made sure to take MI Emirates to a dominant total.

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He scored an unbeaten 57 off 27 deliveries with the help of two boundaries and six sixes.

In return, Dubai Capitals could amass 163/7 in the allotted 20 overs and thus succumbed to a big defeat in the ILT20 final.

The home side missed big knocks from their batters with their skipper Sam Billings leading the charts with a cautious 40, followed by Tom Banton (35) and Jason Holder (24).

Vijayakanth Viyaskanth and Trent Boult bagged two wickets each for MI Emirates while Waqar Salamkheil, Muhammad Rohid and Akeal Hosein made one scalp each.

READ: Sri Lanka eke out narrow four-run victory over Afghanistan

SHARJAH: A combined bowling performance, followed by Leus du Plooy’s blistering half-century stormed Dubai Capitals into the ILT20 final with a nine-wicket victory over Gulf Giants in the second Qualifier on Thursday.

Giants’ captain James Vince’s decision to bat first did not prove fruitful for his side as their batting lineup struggled against a disciplined Capitals’ bowling unit and could register a modest total of 138/6 in the allotted overs.

Hard-hitting opener Usman Khan provided a flying start to the Giants with his 21-run cameo. But his departure in the third over ignited a top-order collapse which resulted in them slipping to 40/4 in 7.2 overs.

In-form Shimron Hetmyer joined skipper Vince in the middle but, he too, failed to settle and perished in the 11th over after scoring a run-a-ball eight.

Vince, who was waging a lone battle for his side, finally found subtle support at the other end in the form of his compatriot Chris Jordan.

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The pair added an important 55 runs before the captain finally perished in the penultimate over.

Vince remained the top-scorer for the Giants with a gutsy 58. His 53-ball knock featured four boundaries and two sixes.

Meanwhile, Jordan carried his bat all the way through with a crucial 30. He conceded 29 deliveries and struck two boundaries and a six.

For the Capitals, Sikandar Raza, Haider Ali, Jason Holder, Olly Stone and Scott Kuggeleijn made one scalp each.

In return, the Capitals comfortably chased down the 139-run target for the loss of just one wicket and 25 balls to spare, courtesy of a strong start provided by their openers.

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Leus du Plooy and Tom Banton combined to add 98 runs for the first wicket, putting the Capitals in touching distance.

The opening stand remained majorly dominated by du Plooy while Banton was rotating the strike before finally falling victim to Liam Dawson in the 12th over after a run-a-ball 38. His knock featured four boundaries.

Meanwhile, du Plooy stood his ground firm and partnered with Tom Abell (20*) to steer the Capitals over the line with an unbeaten 41-run partnership.

Leus du Plooy top-scored for the Capitals with a 40-ball 63 which featured five boundaries and three sixes.

Dubai Capitals will now take on table-toppers MI Emirates in the ILT20 final, scheduled to take place on Saturday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

READ: MI Emirates reach ILT20 final at Gulf Giants’ disposal