DP World ILT20 season 1 a big hit among cricket fans

DP World ILT20 received a strong response from cricket fans around the world. Credit: @ILT20Official
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Updated 14 June 2023
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DP World ILT20 season 1 a big hit among cricket fans

  • Tournament draws 367m unique viewers, including 255m from India
  • YouGov Sport report says league was 2nd most-watched cricket tournament worldwide

Dubai: The inaugural edition of the UAE’s DP World ILT20 cricket league made great waves around the world as the Gulf Giants lifted the glittering trophy in the Feb. 12 final at the Dubai International Stadium.

The tournament decider was played in front of a packed stadium as the James Vince-led Giants made history by becoming the first-ever champions of the UAE’s T20 league.

DP World ILT20 received a strong response from cricket fans around the world, especially in India, through a quality broadcast that was available on Zee’s platforms with commentary in English, Hindi and Tamil.

According to a research report by the global sports, sponsorship and entertainment research company YouGov Sport, DP World ILT20 Season One was the second most-watched league in India and worldwide.

The league saw a reach of 255.4 million fans in India, with strong TV ratings boosting its profile.

The opening edition of the tournament drew fans through high-quality performances by the biggest assembly of foreign players in any non-international cricket tournament, with 118 players from around the world competing.

A high-quality broadcast of the tournament also included match highlights and clips available for fans not only on Zee’s platforms, but also on the DP World ILT20’s digital platforms.

The DP World ILT20 2023 edition also made a mark globally with an impressive worldwide unique viewership of 367 million people through TV and digital platforms.

“The support that the league got speaks volumes about the quality of cricket that the inaugural DP World ILT20 provided to the fans. We are fully focused on making the second season bigger and better,” said Emirates Cricket Board General Secretary Mubashshir Usmani.

“The DP World ILT20 is here to stay and we have no doubt that with the support of the franchises, our broadcast partner Zee and all our other stakeholders, the league will gain more popularity,” added Usmani.

Meanwhile, Zee’s president of business, Rahul Johri, said that DP World ILT20 season one “has been a phenomenal success in India and across the world. It was watched by over 250 million viewers on linear television and digital platforms.

“We are extremely proud of our relationship with the Emirates Cricket Board and are confident of scaling bigger milestones in the following years,” he added.

YouGov Sport is the official media evaluation supplier to a wide range of cricket leagues globally.

Managing director of YouGov Sport India, Joseph Eapen, said that the company “possesses comprehensive insights into the crucial success parameters of these leagues. In this regard, DP World ILT20 has proven to be an exceptional success story right from its inaugural season, which is truly commendable.

“Notably, DP World ILT20 has achieved a remarkable reach of over 367 million unique viewers globally ... a monumental accomplishment unparalleled by any other T20 league, in its first season,” he added.

There is more to come as DP World ILT20 is set to return with its second tournament on Jan. 13 next year. A series of exciting announcements are set to begin soon as teams prepare for the player retention process while lining up potential recruits from UAE.

Season two will also have a world-class roster of players, while the home-grown UAE talent will once again showcase their cricketing skill and depth.


Johnson Charles’ quick-fire 71 helps Sharjah Warriorz overwhelm Dubai Capitals by 9 wickets

Updated 29 January 2025
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Johnson Charles’ quick-fire 71 helps Sharjah Warriorz overwhelm Dubai Capitals by 9 wickets

  • Adam Zampa shines with the ball with 2 for 28 to help restrict Dubai Capitals

DUBAI: Johnson Charles ignited the Dubai International Stadium on Tuesday night by leading the Sharjah Warriorz to a resounding nine-wicket victory.

His breathtaking knock of 71 runs in 33 balls set up a flawless run chase in only 11.5 overs as the Warriorz maintained their undefeated record against the Dubai Capitals in the DP World ILT20.

An impactful show from the spinners, including two wickets for 28 runs from Adam Zampa in the first innings, restricted the Dubai Capitals to 131/9. The result gives the Warriorz’s net run rate a significant boost, keeping them firmly in the fray for a playoff berth.

The powerplay made the chase a mere formality as Charles and Tom Kohler-Cadmore dominated the bowling to set the highest powerplay score of the season. The pair raced to 79 runs in just six overs, with Charles smashing five towering sixes, including a remarkable 24-run over off Zahir Khan. 

Charles brought up his 50 in 21 balls, studded with six sixes and two fours. Halted by Sikandar Raza in the 11th over, he departed after striking three fours and eight sixes, which included a combination of power hitting, deft touches and switch-hits.

Kohler-Cadmore wrapped up proceedings in the next over with a clever boundary off Dushmantha Chameera. The Englishman finished with 54 runs in 32 balls, smashing eight fours and two sixes.

Earlier in the day, Adam Rossington bludgeoned a six and two fours as the powerplay saw 55 runs for the Capitals. Shai Hope played second fiddle to Rossington until the latter was accounted for by Zampa in the seventh over for 37 runs in 23 balls. 

Following the powerplay there was a steep drop in the run-rate. While Hope occupied one end, batting with restraint, the wickets tumbled around him as the spinners dominated the middle overs.

Zampa claimed another when he dismissed Gulbadin Naib, and skipper Sikandar Raza was removed by Ashton Agar. In the same over, Najibullah Zadran was run out to leave the Capitals in hot water at 85/4 in 12 overs. 

The UAE’s Rohan Mustafa kept the pressure on with the wickets of Khalid Shah and Dasun Shanaka to expose the tail. Meanwhile Hope’s stint at the crease came to an end for 45 runs in 52 balls at the hand of Tim Southee in the 18th over.

Rovman Powell provided a flicker of hope with an unbeaten 32 runs in only 16 balls, peppered with three fours and two sixes but the Dubai Capitals finished the innings at a below-par score of 131/9 in 20 overs. 

Player of the match Charles said: “They got off to a bit of a flier, but I love playing in Dubai because the conditions tend to get a bit skiddier, which suits my style.

“I thought Ashton Agar and Rohan Mustafa bowled exceptionally well and complemented each other perfectly. We managed to put the opposition under pressure.

“Ash and I have played a lot together in the past, and it’s always a pleasure to play alongside him. It felt almost nostalgic since we haven’t had many opportunities to play together recently.”

The Dubai Capitals’ captain Raza said: “I thought we were traditional in our batting. We needed more sweeps, reverse sweeps and switch-hits. We went into a shell rather than being aggressive.

“Johnson is a fantastic player and done that to many teams; it was quite hard to bowl at him. He played a lot of great shots. One bad game is not going to derail us. We will try to get this game out of (our) system and winning the next two is the target.”

 

Brief scores 

  • Sharjah Warriorz beat Dubai Capitals by 9 wickets
  • Dubai Capitals 131/9 in 20 overs (Shai Hope 45, Adam Rossington 37, Rovman Powell 32 not out, Rohan Mustafa 2 for 12, Adam Zampa 2 for 28)
  • Sharjah Warriorz 135/1 in 11.5 overs (Johnson Charles 71, Tom Kohler-Cadmore 54 not out, Sikandar Raza 1 for 9)

 


Afghanistan’s female cricketers reunite for a match after 3 years in exile due to Taliban ban

Updated 29 January 2025
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Afghanistan’s female cricketers reunite for a match after 3 years in exile due to Taliban ban

  • An Afghanistan Women’s XI will play a Cricket Without Borders XI in the match at Melbourne’s Junction Oval
  • Since fleeing Afghanistan, the women cricketers, banned from playing in their home country, have been based in Canberra and Melbourne and playing for various club teams in local competitions

MELBOURNE: Cricketer Firooza Amiri says her team will “represent millions of women in Afghanistan who are denied their rights” when the side reunites after more than three years for an exhibition game in Australia on Thursday.

An Afghanistan Women’s XI will play a Cricket Without Borders XI in the match at Melbourne’s Junction Oval. It will bring together 21 female players who were formerly contracted by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) before the Taliban regime re-took control in August 2021.

Since fleeing Afghanistan, the women cricketers, banned from playing in their home country, have been based in Canberra and Melbourne and playing for various club teams in local competitions.

Amiri and Nahida Sapan, who will captain the Afghanistan Women’s XI, thanked the Australian government and Cricket Australia for their support in promoting women’s sport.

“It’s very special for all of us to get back together after three years, leaving everything and losing everything back home in Afghanistan and come together again,” Amiri said this week.

Amiri was forced to flee her home country when the Taliban took control. She and her family first traveled to Pakistan and then were evacuated to Australia.

“I also want to express deepest gratitude for everyone who support us. Your support means the world to us,” Sapan said. “Together we are building not just a team. We are building a movement for change and improvement.

“This is a very historic moment for all of Afghan women. This match can open doors for Afghan women for education, sport and our future.”

Sapan told the BBC in 2023 that her family received death threats from government officials after the Taliban re-took power. The threatening messages included: “If we find you, we will not let you live.”

Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley praised the resilience of the players. He said it was a powerful moment when they were presented with their team shirts for the exhibition match.

“To see their playing shirts for the first time with their names and numbers on the back, you can see how much it means to them,” Hockley said. “I’m just inspired by their resilience, their love for the game.”

Hockley said CA would continue to “advocate” for change at a global level through discussions with the International Cricket Council (ICC). He said Thursday’s game represented an important first step.

“This match shines the light on the fact that in places around the world, not every woman and girl has the chance to play,” Hockley said. “We continue to advocate at the ICC and continue to engage with the ACB (Afghanistan Cricket Board).

“It’s such a complex situation. It’s bigger than cricket.”

Under Taliban rule, the Afghanistan Cricket Board cannot field a national women’s team because the country’s laws forbid women from playing sport, studying and medical education, moves that have been criticized by world groups including the International Criminal Court.

Afghanistan is a full member of the ICC and a condition of that status should require it to have a women’s side.

England and Australia are refusing to participate in direct series against Afghanistan in protest, but continue to play against it in ICC events, such as next month’s Champions Trophy global event in Pakistan.

England cricket captain Jos Buttler said last week that his side should not boycott a match against the Afghanistan men’s team when they are scheduled to play in the Champions Trophy on Feb. 26 in Lahore. South Africa’s sport minister, however, has urged the Proteas to boycott their match against Afghanistan in the same tournament.

Asked why Australia was prepared to play a men’s game against Afghanistan in an ICC event, but not in a bilateral series, Hockley said CA was “duty-bound” to play all its scheduled fixtures at ICC events.

“We’re really trying to do everything we can in our power to make a difference,” Hockley said. “We’ve played Afghanistan in other ICC events. You have to draw a line somewhere and I think we’ve made our stance pretty clear.”

Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan from Afghanistan’s men’s national cricket team have posted support of women’s education on social media after the Taliban closed training institutes for nursing and midwives.

Hockley said he hoped Thursday’s match, the format for which was not announced, would become an annual one and that it would “promote lots of conversations.”

“You need moments like this to prompt real change. The first piece is awareness,” Hockley said. “Hopefully this game just raises awareness. I think it’s a real beacon of hope.”


India’s Bumrah named cricketer of the year after stellar 2024

Updated 29 January 2025
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India’s Bumrah named cricketer of the year after stellar 2024

  • Bumrah beat England batters Harry Brook and Joe Root as well as Australia’s Travis Head to the award — the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy, given by the sport’s governing body
  • New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr was voted women’s cricketer of the year to win the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy

NEW DELHI: India pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been named men’s cricketer of the year for 2024, the International Cricket Council announced Tuesday, a day after he won the Test award.

Bumrah, 31, ended last year as the top wicket-taker in Tests with 71 wickets and inspired India to the T20 World Cup title in June.

“The year 2024 was incredibly special — winning the men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in Barbados and also contributing as much as I could across all three formats of the game,” said Bumrah.

“I dedicate this award to everyone who has believed in me, the power of hard work and dreams, and to bowlers worldwide who continue to inspire and strive for excellence.”

Bumrah beat England batters Harry Brook and Joe Root as well as Australia’s Travis Head to the award — the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy, given by the sport’s governing body.

He is fifth Indian to receive the award after Rahul Dravid (2004), Sachin Tendulkar (2010), Ravichandran Ashwin (2016) and Virat Kohli (2017, 2018).

Bumrah has claimed 443 wickets in 204 international matches since his debut for India in 2016.

New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr was voted women’s cricketer of the year to win the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, after she won the T20 cricketer of the year on Saturday.

Kerr becomes the first New Zealander to win the trophy after she inspired the White Ferns to their women’s T20 World Cup victory in October last year.

The 24-year-old overcame South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt, Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu and Australia’s Annabel Sutherland to win the award.


Shami returns as India bowl against England in third T20

Updated 28 January 2025
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Shami returns as India bowl against England in third T20

  • Fit-again pace bowler Mohammed Shami returns for the hosts
  • The 34-year-old Shami last played for India in the 50-over World Cup final in November 2023

RAJKOT: India skipper Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and elected to field first against England as they look to clinch the series in the third T20 international on Tuesday.
Fit-again pace bowler Mohammed Shami returns for the hosts, who lead the five-match series 2-0, as the only change with Arshdeep Singh rested in Rajkot.
The 34-year-old Shami, who has recovered from a heel injury, last played for India in the 50-over World Cup final in November 2023 and recently returned to action in domestic cricket.
England, led by Jos Buttler, were unchanged from their previous loss on Saturday and look to stay alive in the series.
Jamie Smith will keep wicket in place of Phil Salt, who has a “stiff calf.”

Teams
India: Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Dhruv Jurel, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakravarthy
England: Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jos Buttler (capt), Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Smith (wk), Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood
Umpires: KN Ananthapadmanabhan (IND), Rohan Pandit (IND)
TV Umpire: Nitin Menon (IND)
Match Referee: Javagal Srinath (IND)


Banton and Fletcher shatter records as MI Emirates humble Desert Vipers by 154 runs

Updated 28 January 2025
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Banton and Fletcher shatter records as MI Emirates humble Desert Vipers by 154 runs

  • Duo’s 198-run stand the highest for any wicket in T20s on UAE soil, but Vipers stay top of table
  • Banton’s 105 makes him the first batter to register 2 centuries in the DP World ILT20

ABU DHABI: Tom Banton etched his name in DP World ILT20 history by becoming the first batter to score two centuries in the competition as MI Emirates cruised to a commanding 154-run victory over table-toppers Desert Vipers at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

The triumph also marked the second-highest victory margin in the DP World ILT20. Banton combined with Andre Fletcher to construct the highest stand for any wicket in T20s on UAE soil at 198 runs.

Fletcher remained unbeaten on 96 runs and Banton scored 105 runs to steer the MI Emirates to 228/2  — the second-highest total in DP World ILT20 history. 

In response, the Vipers only managed 74 runs, matching the record for the lowest score across three seasons of the DP World ILT20.

Muhammad Rohid made early inroads as he sent back Fakhar Zaman for only seven runs in the second over. Rohid went on to claim Sam Curran and Azam Khan later in the innings to finish with figures of 3/24. 

Meanwhile, Fazalhaq Farooqi claimed the wicket of the dangerous Alex Hales, while Alzarri Joseph bagged Dan Lawrence and Adam Hose to leave the Vipers reeling at 32/5 by the end of the powerplay.

With only two batters crossing double figures the Vipers were eventually bowled out for 74 runs in 12.3 overs. Dan Mousley picked up two wickets, while Farooqi and Alzarri picked up a wicket each to sweep up the tail.

Invited to bat first, the MI Emirates lost Muhammad Waseem, after he struck two consecutive sixes off Dhruv Parashar, to Mohammad Amir in the third over. Amir was economical in the powerplay only conceding 13 runs as the MI Emirates finished the first six overs at 40/1.

What followed was destruction from Banton and Fletcher. They initially played with restraint, taking 37 balls for their first 41 runs. But the tide turned in the 10th over when Banton took on Nathan Sowter, smashing him for a six and a four in a 16-run over.

Fletcher brought up his half-century off 32 balls, with Banton following suit in 38 deliveries. From there, it was pure carnage. The pair plundered 92 runs in the final five overs of the MI Emirates’ innings. 

Banton was the star of the show, reaching his second century of the season in just 52 balls. His knock, laced with nine fours and seven sixes, included three consecutive sixes off Lawrence. He was run out for 105 in the final over.

Fletcher was not far behind as he remained unbeaten on 96 runs in 50 balls, studded with 10 fours and three sixes as the MI Emirates were catapulted to 228/2 in 20 overs.

Player of the match Banton said: “I didn’t get off to a flier; I just knew the longer I stayed, the better chance I had. Sometimes you don’t time it as well as you’d like, and sometimes you do.

“As a top-order batter, you come up against very good bowlers, so having a good technique is important. It’s about looking at the match situation and scenario, not just teeing off.

“We came into this game on the back of two losses and were a bit under pressure. It’s a special night for MI Emirates, but we don’t want to take it for granted.”

Captaining the Desert Vipers in place of Lockie Ferguson, who was rested for the encounter, Curran said: “We just get the game out of the way and move on. That can happen in cricket.

“We were a little off with our fielding and energy. It’s such a quick tournament, and we play again the day after tomorrow, so we’ll have another chance.

“We can bounce back, and there’s no need to panic. It’s about learning and reflecting. Both of them played well, and I’m glad to see my fellow Englishman, and Fletcher, playing so well.”

Brief Scores

  • MI Emirates beat Desert Vipers by 154 runs
  • MI Emirates 228/2 in 20 overs (Tom Banton 105, Andre Fletcher 96 not out, Muhammad Waseem 19, Mohammad Amir 1 for 36)
  • Desert Vipers 74/10 in 12.3 overs (Azam Khan 12, Sam Curran 11, Muhammad Rohid 3 for 24, Alzarri Joseph 3 for 17, Dan Mousley 2 for 8, Fazalhaq Farooqi 2 for 10)