Sports Bulletin

Dubai (Anjum Shakeel): Gulf Giants Development have won the DP World ILT20 Development Tournament 2026, beating Desert Vipers Development by four wickets in the final at the ICC Academy Ground in Dubai, the UAE. Chasing 144, Gulf Giants reached 144/6 in 18.4 overs, with eight balls to spare, to lift the trophy for the second time.Desert Vipers won the toss and elected to bat, but Gulf Giants’ bowlers kept them in check and dismissed them for 143 in 19.5 overs. Aayan Khan led the attack with 3/33, while Hazret Luqman claimed 2/30.The chase was controlled rather than hurried. Gulf Giants reached the target in 18.4 overs, with Junaid Shamsuddin making a valuable contribution at both ends. He took 1/8 and then scored 29 off 29 balls, earning Player of the Match honours.The victory completed a strong tournament for Gulf Giants Development, who finished top of the group stage with four wins from five matches. It is the side’s second title in the competition, following its 2024 triumph.Gulf Giants Head Coach Simon Helmot said the team delivered “about as complete a performance as we could have asked for”.“We were sharp with the ball from the first over and never let the game get away from us, and then our terrific batters did the rest. To restrict a strong batting unit to 143 and chase it down with overs and wickets in hand tells you everything about the character in this group.”The campaign also brought individual recognition for two Gulf Giants batters. Sagar Kalyan finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer, making 280 runs in seven matches at an average of 46.67 and a strike rate of 189.19.Ansh Tandon was third on the tournament’s run-scoring list with 237 runs at an average of 33.86 and a strike rate of 176.87.Helmot said having two of the tournament’s top five run-scorers in the Gulf Giants squad reflected the work being done in scouting and talent development.“Having two of the top five run scorers in the tournament come from our own squad is a testament to our scouting and talent development. Sagar and Ansh have been outstanding throughout the tournament, and the platform provided by this tournament is exactly what UAE cricket needs. It gives the upcoming players a genuine stage to show what they can do in front of the franchises ahead of the DP World ILT20 auctions.”The tournament also gives DP World ILT20 franchises an opportunity to assess emerging players ahead of the auction. Helmot said Gulf Giants had already identified players from across the competition whom they would consider for the next stage of squad-building.“This competition plays a big role in how we build our squad going forward. We’ve already identified our targets for the auction from all the teams that played in the tournament. We've got off to a great start here, and now the focus shifts to the auction and building towards a title charge in the DP World ILT20 as well.”

Dubai (Sports Reporter): DP World International League Season 5 was officially launched at a dazzling event held in Dubai last evening. Cricketing icons Brett Lee and Shoaib Akhtar were among the star attractions at the event.During the event, Chairman ILT20 Khalid Al Zarooni and ILT20 League Commissioner/ICC Director Associates/General Secretary ECB Mubashshir Usmani spoke in depth about the DP World ILT20’s massive rise in recent years, especially the tournament’s contribution to the growth and expansion of cricket in the Gulf region.*Addressing the gathering, DP World ILT20 Chairman Khalid Al Zarooni said:*“What began as a dream has grown into one of the world’s leading cricket leagues, bringing together top players and major franchises, while helping grow cricket in the UAE, the region and beyond.“I would like to thank our stakeholders, franchise owners, commercial and strategic partners for their continued support, with a special acknowledgement to DP World and Zee Network, as well as our strategic cricket partners Kuwait Cricket, the Saudi Arabia Cricket Federation, the Afghanistan Cricket Board and Cricket Ireland. We are also delighted to welcome SPORTFIVE as a new commercial partner and look forward to another successful season.”During the event, a special panel discussion hosted by former New Zealand international Simon Doull brought together senior representatives from cricket, sport, business and government to discuss the evolving landscape and future of the game both in the region and globally.*The panel featured* Mubashshir Usmani, ILT20 League Commissioner, ICC Board Director and ECB General Secretary; Dr. Mohamed Abu Hamra, COO – Digital Technology, DP World GCC; Mr. Eisa Sharif, Director Sports Events, Dubai Sports Council; Mr. Mukund Galgali, Deputy CEO & CFO, ZEE Entertainment Enterprises; Mr. Venu Nair, President – Middle East & South Asia, SportFive; and Mr. Tushar Malhotra, Global Director Sales & Marketing, Bisleri.Doull also hosted a panel discussion with Lee and Shoaib during the glittering launch event. The fast bowling legends spoke about the growing impact of the DP World ILT20 on UAE and regional cricket. The duo also reminisced about their playing days and shared memories in an era where they dominated the game through their blistering pace bowling.The evening also featured a spell-binding performance by celebrity mentalist Karan Singh Magic. The league also revealed the new brand identity for Season 5.Season 5 of the DP World ILT20 will be played in November-December this year at the UAE’s three iconic cricket venues – Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, Dubai International Stadium and Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Desert Vipers will begin the tournament as defending champions. Past winners include: Gulf Giants - Season 1, MI Emirates - Season 2 and Dubai Capitals - Season 3.

Abdul Jabbar Faisal/Anjum ShakeelIslamabad/Dubai: The squads for the fourth edition of the DP World International League T20 Development Tournament have been confirmed following the Player Draft held on 2 September, with six teams set to represent the franchises of the DP World ILT20. The tournament will begin on 14 September and bring together some of the UAE’s most promising cricketers in a competition designed to provide them with valuable exposure and experience. Several players selected in the six squads have already featured in the DP World ILT20 and made an impact while others will also have an opportunity to make an impression ahead of the DP World ILT20 Season 5 Player Auction scheduled to take place on 1 October 2026 in Dubai.Squads:Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Development: Masood Ul Rahman Gurbaz, Aftab Alam, Falaknoor Noor, Uzair Khan, Awais Ali Shah, Nawodya Wijayakumara, Zia Mukhtar, Usaid Amin, Junaid Khan Afridi, Asel Sigera, Zahid Ali, Ammar Badami, Salman Saleem, Uzair Haider, Ibrar Ahmad, Mayank Choudhary, Alishan SharafuDesert Vipers Development: Ayaan Misbah, Nilansh Keswani, Israr Ahmad, Hilal Afghan, Wasim Akram, Harshit Kaushik, Wali Muhammad, Abdul Ghaffar, Taimoor Ali, Punya Bhatia, Zeeshan Abid, Angad Nehru, Harsh Desai, Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Matiullah Khan, Sanjay Pahal, Vriitya AravindDubai Capitals Development: Akshdeep Nath, Tahir Zaman, Khalid Shah, Zeeshan Naseer, Muhammad Arfan, Saghir Khan, Yayin Rai, Ahmed Tariq, Raees Ahmed, Mohomad Halan, Rahul Chopra, Asif Mohammad Taniwal, Abdul Rahman Nasir, Farhan Khan, Haider Ali, Muhammad Farooq, Mohammad JawadullahGulf Giants Development: Sohaib Khan, Adeeb Usmani, Awais Ahmed, Sagar Kalyan, Junaid Shamsudheen, Ansh Tandon, Keshav Sharma, Nabeel Aziz, Muhammad Irshad, Samal Udawaththa, Mohammed Faraazuddin, Vaibhav Govekar, Tanish Suri, Albin Alias, Aayan Khan, Haider Razzaq, Zuhaib ZubairMI Emirates Development: Kona Srikar Bharat, Ali Naseer, Ibrahim Masood, Vishnu Sukumaran, Adithya Shetty, Aryan Lakra, Nasir Faraz, Said Nazeer, Wahab Hassan, Mohammad Sameer, Zenul Abideen, Raizal Nadir, Naseem Khan, Mohammad Waseem, Muhammad Rohid, Usman Khan, Zahoor KhanSharjah Warriorz Development: Harpreet Singh Bhatia, Dilan Suraweera, Daniyal Liaquat, Dhruv Parashar, Luqman Faisal, Mohit Kalyan, Uddish Suri, Basil Hameed, Omid Rahman, Hafiz Almas Ayub, Shahid Iqbal, Aftab Javed, Rayan Khan, Ronak Panoly, Anas Malik, Junaid Siddique, Ethan D SouzaSchedule:Monday, 14 September – 5pm – Desert Vipers Development vs MI Emirates DevelopmentMonday, 14 September – 9pm – Gulf Giants Development vs Dubai Capitals DevelopmentTuesday, 15 September – 5pm – Dubai Capitals Development vs Sharjah Warriorz DevelopmentTuesday, 15 September – 9pm – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Development vs MI Emirates DevelopmentWednesday, 16 September – 5pm – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Development vs Gulf Giants DevelopmentWednesday, 16 September – 9pm – Desert Vipers Development vs Sharjah Warriorz DevelopmentThursday, 17 September – 5pm – MI Emirates Development vs Dubai Capitals DevelopmentThursday, 17 September – 9pm – Gulf Giants Development vs Desert Vipers DevelopmentFriday, 18 September – Rest/TrainingSaturday, 19 September – 5pm – Sharjah Warriorz Development vs Gulf Giants DevelopmentSaturday, 19 September – 9pm – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Development vs Dubai Capitals DevelopmentSunday, 20 September – 5pm – Desert Vipers Development vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders DevelopmentSunday, 20 September – 9pm – Sharjah Warriorz Development vs MI Emirates DevelopmentMonday, 21 September – 7pm – Dubai Capitals Development vs Desert Vipers DevelopmentTuesday, 22 September – 5pm – MI Emirates Development vs Gulf Giants DevelopmentTuesday, 22 September – 9pm – Sharjah Warriorz Development vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders DevelopmentWednesday, 23 September – 5pm – Semi-final 1Wednesday, 23 September – 9pm – Semi-final 2Thursday, 24 September – 7pm – Final

Lahore (Sports Reporter): Lahore Qalandars owner Atif Rana has reaffirmed the franchise's commitment to developing Pakistan's next generation of cricketers, saying the team's squad for the ExxonMobil Global Super League (GSL) 2026 has been built around young and emerging talent to prepare future stars for international cricket. "The Qalandars' squad is based on youth and emerging talent, who will be provided international exposure to showcase their abilities on the biggest stages and develop into future stars for Pakistan," Atif Rana said as the Lahore Qalandars team departed for Guyana on Saturday. The franchise will be led by experienced New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell in the prestigious tournament, scheduled from July 23 to August 1 at the Guyana National Stadium, where champion franchises from across the world will compete.Highlighting another key objective of the tour, Atif Rana expressed confidence in head coach Shaun Tait, saying the former Australian fast bowler's experience would play a crucial role in nurturing Pakistan's future pace attack. "Shaun Tait is a highly experienced coach who has helped develop quality fast bowlers in Bangladesh. We are also focusing on producing outstanding fast bowlers under his guidance, so Pakistan's fast-bowling resources continue to grow," he added.Team Director Sameen Rana described Bracewell's appointment as captain as a strategic move. "Michael Bracewell's experience, leadership and all-round abilities make him the ideal captain to lead our young squad against world-class opposition in the Global Super League," said Sameen Rana.Lahore Qalandars will launch their GSL campaign against Perth Scorchers on July 23 before facing Desert Vipers (July 24), Guyana Amazon Warriors (July 26) and San Francisco Unicorns (July 29), with the final scheduled for August 1.The squad combines experienced overseas players, including Bracewell, Parvez Hossain Emon, Shayan Jahangir and Delano Potgieter, with promising Pakistani youngsters such as Abdullah Shafique, Usama Mir, Shamyl Hussain, Muhammad Naeem, Mehran Mumtaz and Shahab Khan, reflecting the franchise's long-term vision of producing the next generation of international stars.LAHORE QALANDARS SQUAD FOR GSL 2026: Michael Bracewell (New Zealand), Parvez Hossain Emon (Bangladesh), Shayan Jahangir (USA), Delano Potgieter (South Africa), Abdullah Shafique, Usama Mir, Shamyl Hussain, Muhammad Naeem, Imran Randhawa, Mehran Mumtaz, Farhan Yousaf, Shahab Khan, Muhammad Basit, Ali Shabbir.

Dubai (Sports News): Prolific opener Mohammad Waseem will lead the UAE side in the two-match T20I series against Ireland which will be played at the Dubai International Stadium. The first match of the series will begin at 6:30pm local time tomorrow (Thursday). The first ball in the second match will be bowled at 10:00am local time on Saturday, 31 January. UAE squad: Mohammad Waseem (captain), Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Basil Hameed, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Mohammad Arfan, Mohammad Farooq, Mohammad Jawadullah, Mohammad Zohaib, Rahul Chopra (wicketkeeper), Rohid Khan, Sohaib Khan and Simranjeet Singh. 

Dubai (Sports News): STARTRADER, a global broker, has announced a renewed partnership with the UAE Men’s National Cricket Team for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to begin on February 7, 2026 in India and Sri Lanka. As part of the agreement, STARTRADER’s branding will appear on the official team jerseys throughout the tournament.STARTRADER Chief Executive Officer Peter Karsten said on the occasion, “We have sponsored the UAE National Cricket Team during last year’s Asia Cup staged in the UAE but this time we are going bigger. We know that cricket has a way of reminding us what commitment, trust, and growth can achieve. Continuing this partnership reflects our belief in long-term support for communities and in the human spirit driving both the game and the markets.”As the CEO of STARTRADER stated, this partnership carries a strong message to the audience. It reinforces the pillars on which they operate. In cricket and in trading, trust in the team and in the strategy is the main force that leads participants in each of these fields to achieve more growth. The broker is licensed by five regulatory authorities around the world (SCA, ASIC, FSCA, FSA, FSC) which further highlights the trust aspect, allowing clients to aim for growth with peace of mind. Emirates Cricket Board Chief Operating Officer Subhan Ahmad: “We are delighted to welcome STARTRADER as our Official Partner for UAE Men’s National Cricket Team for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. We look forward to a mutually beneficial partnership which will help in the growth of the game in the UAE. Our partnership with STARTRADER goes beyond sport, reflecting shared values of discipline, focus, and resilience. The partnership is fully aligned with the Emirates Cricket Board’s vision for our team as they continue to showcase their talent at the world level with impressive performances.”

   Dubai (Sports News): Legendary Pakistan cricketer and DP World ILT20 commentator Wasim Akram has praised the DP World ILT20’s rise as a global T20 league, highlighting the quality of cricket and the rapid development of UAE players across four seasons.On Sunday night, the Desert Vipers clinched their maiden DP World ILT20 title with a victory over MI Emirates in front of a full house at the Dubai International Stadium.Reflecting on the atmosphere at the blockbuster final, Wasim Akram said, “You can see the atmosphere outside, it’s a packed house. Families, kids, all enjoying the game. My call time was at four in the afternoon and when I arrived it was already full. That shows this league is going places. I think it’s definitely up there with the top leagues in the world. The cricket has been exceptional, so many games going down to the last over, including a Super Over and that’s what makes this tournament special.”The icon with 916 wickets across formats pointed to the impact made by UAE players as one of the most encouraging aspects of the season.He opined, “What makes me happy is the way the UAE players performed. Players like Mohammad Waseem [MI Emirates], Khuzaima Tanveer [Desert Vipers], Ajay Kumar [Abu Dhabi Knight Riders], and of course Zahoor Khan [MI Emirates] before his injury — they’ve all done well.“Tanveer got 17 wickets, and his length was excellent. Ajay Kumar also impressed everyone. Zahoor is a specialist — after 12 or 13 overs he would come in and bowl three overs, and he was MI Emirates’ main bowler at the back end.”Associated with the DP World ILT20 since its inaugural season, the 59-year-old noted the league’s evolution and the clear improvement in local talent, reflected in the race for the tournament’s signature belts. Mohammad Waseem finished second in the race for the Green Belt (Best Batter) and secured the fourth place in the hunt for the Red Belt (Most Valuable Player). Meanwhile Abu Dhabi Knight Riders’ Ajay Kumar picked up 18 wickets – the same number as the White Belt (Best Bowler) winner, Dubai Capitals’ Waqar Salamkheil.“If you look from the first year to the fourth year, you can see how much the local talent has improved. There are belts for batting, for MVP, for bowling — and now your bowlers are competing for them. That tells you how much this league is about developing local talent. Everyone knows their names now. You didn’t know them in the first year, not even the second, but you’re getting better performances every year.”Looking ahead, he stressed the importance of longer-format cricket as a foundation for sustained progress for UAE.“If you want to further improve your cricket, you must play longer formats as well. You can start with two-day cricket, 75 or 90 overs an innings, so players learn how to bat long, bowlers can learn how to set up a batter, how to get him out without just relying on them hitting shots. Eventually you can move to three-day cricket. That’s very important if you want to play against top teams in the future.”

Dambulla (Sports News): Pakistan men’s team will take on Sri Lanka in a three-match T20I series in Dambulla, with matches scheduled on 7, 9 and 11 January, as preparations intensify for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to be held in India and Sri Lanka from 7 February to 8 March. The first ball of the match will be bowled at 7pm local time.The series will help the national selection committee to finalise Pakistan’s 15-member squad for the mega event. Pakistan will play all their World Cup fixtures in Sri Lanka, making the forthcoming bilateral series a vital opportunity to adapt to local conditions and fine-tune combinations.Salman Ali Agha will continue to lead the T20I side, who saw his side winning two tri-series tournaments and bilateral T20I series against Bangladesh, West Indies and South Africa in 2025. The series also offers players a chance to stake their claim for World Cup selection through impactful performances against a competitive Sri Lankan outfit.In the recent times, Pakistan have won three of the last five T20Is against Sri Lanka, which include win in the knockout match of the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup in Dubai and tri-series final in Rawalpindi. Salman Ali Agha in the pre-series press conference said:“The series provides a great opportunity for everyone to perform. Playing here ahead of the World Cup is a significant advantage for us, and we will look to acclimatise to the conditions as quickly as possible.“We have good players in our squad who are future prospects. We want to give them opportunities, and I am hopeful they will deliver strong performances in the series.15-member squad:Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, ⁠Abrar Ahmad, ⁠Faheem Ashraf, ⁠Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, ⁠Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, ⁠Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Usman Tariq 

Dubai (Sports News): The Desert Vipers secured their maiden DP World ILT20 trophy after beating MI Emirates by 46 runs in front of a packed Dubai International Stadium on Sunday night. The Desert Vipers took home a cash prize of USD 700,000 along with the Black Belt, while MI Emirates were awarded USD 300,000.Curran smashed an unbeaten 74 off 51 balls, studded with eight fours and two sixes, to power his team to an unassailable 182/4. He was well supported by Max Holden (41 off 32) and Dan Lawrence’s (23 off 15) late charge. Naseem Shah (3/18), Usman Tariq (2/20), and Khuzaima Tanveer (2/22) led the bowling effort before David Payne’s three-wicket haul (3/42) restricted MI Emirates to 136.Fans at the Dubai International Stadium were treated to a spectacular build-up ahead of the final, with a dazzling fireworks display and a drone show lighting up the night sky. The pre-match extravaganza created a carnival-like atmosphere as thousands of spectators soaked in the visual spectacle that celebrated the league and set the stage for the biggest clash of the season.The Vipers’ skipper Sam Curran capped off an impressive tournament by finishing with both the Red Belt (Most Valuable Player) and the Green Belt (Best Batter). Curran ended the season with 397 runs, including three half-centuries, and complemented his batting efforts with seven wickets and 10 catches.In the second innings, the Vipers’ Naseem Shah set the tone early, removing Andre Fletcher (10 off 11) and Tom Banton (7 off 6), while Khuzaima Tanveer capitalised with the key wicket of Muhammad Waseem (26 off 13). MI Emirates lost three wickets inside six overs and crawled to 46/3, leaving Shakib Al Hasan and Sanjay Krishnamurthi with plenty of work to do.Usman Tariq turned up the heat by dismissing Sanjay Krishnamurthi (2 off 9) in the eighth over. Shakib Al Hasan (36 off 27) attempted to steady the innings with calculated strikes, but boundaries were hard to come by. With Kieron Pollard struggling to break free, MI Emirates reached 72/4 after 10 overs, falling further behind in the chase.MI Emirates’ hopes rested on Shakib and Kieron Pollard (28 off 27), who completed their 50-run stand in 38 balls before Tariq delivered a decisive blow by removing Shakib, pushing the equation to a daunting 61 off the final four overs.After Naseem Shah removed Kieron Pollard to end any late resistance, David Payne ripped through the lower order, bagging three wickets in the 18th over. Khuzaima Tanveer sealed the title by clattering Muhammad Rohid’s stumps (3 off 4) as the Vipers closed out the match with nine balls to spare.Earlier, the Vipers began briskly in the powerplay as Fakhar Zaman (20 off 15) and Jason Roy (11 off 7) put on 34/0 in the first three overs. Momentum shifted in the fourth over when Fazalhaq Farooqi struck twice to dismiss both openers. Sam Curran responded emphatically, smashing three consecutive boundaries in the final over of the powerplay to carry the Vipers to 59/2.Curran then joined hands with Max Holden, rotating the strike efficiently and attacking smartly to take the Vipers to 83/2 at the halfway stage. The duo completed their 50-run stand in the 11th over, off just 39 balls. Curran kept the offensive going while Holden played the anchor role before Arab Gul ended their 89-run partnership off 64 balls with Holden’s wicket in the 15th over.The Vipers’ skipper continued piling on the pressure, bringing up his half-century off 39 balls in the 17th over. His fourth-wicket partnership with Dan Lawrence (23 off 15) provided the impetus in the death overs, as they added 57 runs in just 33 balls to carry the team to 182/4.The White Belt (Best Bowler) was claimed by Dubai Capitals’ Waqar Salamkheil, who led the bowling charts with 18 wickets. Meanwhile, MI Emirates’ Mohammad Waseem picked up the Blue Belt for Best UAE Player for the fourth straight campaign after scoring 370 runs across Season 4. The winners of the DP World ILT20 signature belts were awarded USD 15,000 each.Brief Scores:Desert Vipers 182/4 in 20 overs (Sam Curran 74 not out, Max Holden 41, Dan Lawrence 23, Fazalhaq Farooqi 2 for 33)MI Emirates 136 all out in 18.3 overs (Shakib Al Hasan 36, Kieron Pollard 28, Muhammad Waseem 26, Naseem Shah 3 for 18, David Payne 3 for 42, Usman Tariq 2 for 20, Khuzaima Tanveer 2 for 22)Player of the match: Sam CurranDP World ILT20 Season 4 belt winners:Red Belt (Most Valuable Player) – Sam Curran, Desert VipersGreen Belt (Best Batter) – Sam Curran, Desert VipersWhite Belt (Best Bowler) – Waqar Salamkheil, Dubai CapitalsBlue Belt (Best UAE player) – Mohammad Waseem, MI Emirates

Abu Dhabi (Sports News): MI Emirates confirmed their place in the top two after a comprehensive eight-wicket win over the Dubai Capitals at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Saturday. In what was an impressive all-round performance, Kieron Pollard's unbeaten 44, studded with five sixes, confirmed MI Emirates’ Qualifier 1 clash against the Desert Vipers on 30 December. Meanwhile, the winner of Sunday’s match (the last league-stage fixture) between the Gulf Giants and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders will go up against the Dubai Capitals in the Eliminator on 1 January.Earlier, the MI Emirates spinners continued their stellar form with Allah Ghazanfar’s three-wicket haul (3/28) and Shakib Al Hasan’s shrewd spell of 1/11 in four overs holding the Capitals at 122/8. Skipper Kieron Pollard’s unbeaten 44 runs in 31 balls, with one four and five sixes, led the charge as the MI Emirates secured their fifth straight win of the season.MI Emirates got off to a flying start as openers Muhammad Waseem (27 off 19) and Andre Fletcher (21 off 30) set the tone with a brisk 33-run stand inside the first three overs. The pair remained unbeaten through the powerplay, taking MI Emirates to a comfortable 45/0 after six overs and firmly dictating terms.The breakthrough came in the seventh over when Haider Ali trapped Waseem LBW, ending a 47-run opening partnership. Fletcher continued to keep the scoreboard ticking alongside Tom Banton (28 off 20) but was run out in the 10th over. Despite the setbacks, MI Emirates reached the halfway stage well placed at 59/2.From there on, the chase was firmly under control. The skipper steadied the innings with Banton in the middle overs before shifting momentum decisively in the 14th. Pollard smashed Waqar Salamkheil for 30 runs in the over, highlighted by three consecutive sixes and reducing the equation to just 10 runs from the final five overs. MI Emirates wrapped up the chase in style, cruising home after an unbeaten 67-run stand off 43 balls between Pollard and Banton.After opting to field, MI Emirates imposed themselves early, applying sustained pressure through the Powerplay. Shakib Al Hasan struck in the fourth over to remove Shayan Jahangir (17 off 18), while Ghazanfar followed up in the sixth by accounting for Sediqullah Atal (7 off 9), leaving the Dubai Capitals at 35/2.The situation deteriorated further when Leus de Plooy (3 off 5) was run-out and Dan Mousley scalped Rovman Powell (8 off 4) in the eighth over. Arab Gul also tightened the screws when he pinged number-three batter Jordan Cox on the pads, leaving the Capitals reeling at 53/5 in ten overs.James Neesham (21 off 14) briefly lifted the tempo with three boundaries but was halted by Ghazanfar, who snapped up Neesham with a sharp return catch, followed by David Willey (2 off 2) in the same over.Coming together at 83/7, Mohammad Nabi and Scott Currie (15 off 18) resuscitated the innings with a much-needed stand of 28 runs in just as many balls before Fazalhaq Farooqi scalped the latter in the penultimate over.Nabi remained unbeaten, but UAE’s Zahoor Khan gave away just five runs in the 20th over to close out a strong performance by the MI Emirates.