Sports Bulletin

Sharjah (Sports News): 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 Mohammad 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.Brief Scores;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)

Dubai (Sports News): Another fiery half-century from Pathum Nissanka scripted the Gulf Giants four-wicket victory over the Dubai Capitals at the DP World ILT20 Season 4. Nissanka (67 off 31) joined James Vince (50* off 45) in a match-winning partnership of 97 runs in 60 balls to chase down the target of 161 for a second consecutive win. Nissanka thumped six four and five sixes as the Gulf Giants moved to the top of the points table.Earlier, Azmatullah Omarzai led the charge with the ball, returning figures of 3/46 to restrict the Capitals to a competitive total. While several Capitals batters got starts, it was skipper Dasun Shanaka (23* off 9) lifted the tempo at the death with a late flurry.Despite losing Rahmanullah Gurbaz (9 off 6) early, the Giants’ reply gathered momentum quickly. Nissanka took aim at James Neesham in the fourth over, hammering three sixes and a boundary as the Giants motored to 60/1 at the end of the powerplay.While Vince played the quieter knock, Nissanka raced to a 23-ball half-century with five fours and four sixes.The momentum halted briefly when the Giants lost two wickets in consecutive overs. Mustafizur Rahman picked up his second wicket of the night, to account for Nissanka in the 12th over. Shanaka scalped Moeen Ali soon after leaving the Giants at 112/3.Omarzai (14 off 12) and Tom Moores (13 off 8) made handy contributions as Vince completed a 45-ball half-century and took the Giants home in 18.5 overs.In the first innings, Azmatullah Omarzai struck early to remove Shayan Jahangir (12 off 11) in the second over but Opener Sediqullah Atal (35 off 25) and David Willey (29 off 28) put on a crucial stand of 61 runs for the second wicket. Sediqullah’s innings saw two fours and two sixes until he was removed by Moeen Ali in the 10th over to leave the Capitals at 75/2.Willey and Gulbadin Naib (10 off 15) went in quick succession, with Liam Dawson dismissing Willey and Aayan Afzal Khan scalping Naib in the 14th over. The Capitals innings had faltered between the 10th and 14th over, only managing 18 runs during the phase.Jordan Cox (31 off 17) and James Neesham (16* off 13) energised the innings with a rapid partnership of 41 runs in 22 balls.Cox was looking dangerous with two fours and two sixes under his belt, but Omarzai returned to pick up the wickets of Cox and Rovman Powell (0 off 2) in the 18th over. Omarzai finished as the leading wicket taker with figures of 3/46, also leading the race for the White Belt (Best bowler/most wickets). Skipper Dasun Shanaka (23* off 9) finished the innings with two consecutive sixes in a 19-run over.Gulf Giants captain, Moeen Ali said:“The fact that we got the points, and we feel we can play better is a good thing. We squeezed them with the ball in the middle overs. Nissanka is a brilliant player and one of the top players in every format. Vince is also a quality player. He just did the job and played the situation well.”Reflecting on the loss, captain of the Dubai Capitals, Dasun Shanaka said:“Nissanka’s in the form of his life. He's amazing because he is so small, and yet he hits the ball so far. He's going to give trouble to a lot of teams in this tournament. We could have shown a little more intent with the bat in that middle period. We didn't try to find the gaps; rather than waiting to hit the long ball, we needed to rotate the strike. Rovman Powell and I probably could have gone a bit earlier, and we might get this right in the next game."

Farhan smashes 80 off 45 balls, Mohammad Nawaz snares 3 batters for 16 runs Abdul Jabbar FaisalRAWALPINDI: A couple of notable performances, Sahibzada Farhan (80 not out off 45 balls) and Mohammad Nawaz (3 for 16), guided Green Shirts to post a big triumph against Sri Lanka in the 3rd game of the T20 Tri-Nation Series here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday night.Hosts opening batters Sahibzada and Saim Ayub (20, 18b, 4x4s) provided their team a blistering 47-run stand in five overs before the latter departed. Saim also became just the ninth Pakistan batter to cross the 1,000 T20I runs landmark during the outing. Sahibzada then stitched a 69-run second-wicket stand with Babar Azam (16, 22b, 1x6) in which he contributed 53 runs also bringing up his sixth T20I half-century off 33 balls.With Dushmantha Chameera striking twice on consecutive balls, Sahibzada kept his charge going and ended hit the winning runs in style with a boundary in the 16th over. The right-handed opening batter struck six fours and five sixes also becoming the Pakistan batter to hit 100 or more sixes in T20s in a year.Earlier, Sri Lanka got off to a flying start with Kamil Mishara hitting two fours and as many sixes before departing in the fourth over with 32 runs on the board. Pakistan further dented Sri Lanka’s progress in the subsequent when Mohammad Wasim Jnr’s brilliant throw from third run out Kusal Mendis.Sri Lanka’s score of 65-3 at the halfway mark turned to 78-5 in the 12th over, when player of the match Mohammad Nawaz removed Kusal Perera (25, 19b, 2x4s, 1x6) and Dasun Shanaka on consecutive deliveries. Nawaz returned to remove Kamindu Mendis in the 14th over as Sri Lanka slipped to 86-6.Janith Liyanage, who top scored for Sri Lanka with 41 off 38 balls hitting three fours and one six, then formed a 31-ball 35-run seventh-wicket stand with Wanindu Hasaranga (11, 12b, 1x4) as they posted a fighting 128-7 in 20 overs. Apart from Nawaz’s 3-16 in four overs, Faheem Ashraf, Salman Mirza and Abrar Ahmed struck once each.Scores in brief:3rd T20I – Tri-nation series – Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets at Rawalpindi Cricket StadiumSri Lanka 128-7, 20 overs (Janith Liyanage 41 not out, Kusal Perera 25, Kamil Mishara 22; Mohammad Nawaz 3-16)Pakistan 131-3, 15.3 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 80 not out, Saim Ayub 20; Dushmantha Chameera 2-29)Series schedule:18 November – First T20I – Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by five wickets20 November – Zimbabwe beat Sri Lanka by 67 runs22 November – Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets23 November – Pakistan v Zimbabwe25 November – Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe27 November – Pakistan v Sri Lanka29 November – Final 

Dubai (SBR): West Indies’ Andre Fletcher capped a day of high-stakes drama at the first-ever DP World ILT20 Player Auction, emerging as the most expensive player with a whopping price tag of USD 260,000. MI Emirates outbid rivals to secure the explosive batter for a fourth consecutive season with the franchise. Close behind was England’s Scott Currie, snapped up by Dubai Capitals for USD 250,000. England’s Liam Dawson led the pack amongst the pacers acquired for USD 170,000 by Gulf Giants while Naveen-ul-Haq was acquired for USD 100,000 by the MI Emirates. UAE pacers were the flavour of the auction, with Junaid Siddique going to Sharjah Warriorz for USD 170,000 (Right-to-Match), making him their most expensive buy. Muhammad Rohid also drew a six-figure deal, going to MI Emirates for USD 140,000 (Right-to-Match), marking a massive milestone for UAE cricket. Notably some of the standout performers from the DP World ILT20 Development Tournament also converted their success into franchise deals at the auction. UAE pacer Haider Razzaq, the leading wicket-taker in Sharjah Warriorz Development’s title-winning campaign earlier this year, was purchased by Gulf Giants for USD 50,000. Player of the Tournament, Sanjay Pahal, an all-rounder who impressed throughout, was retained by Desert Vipers for USD 10,000. Raees Ahmed, who was amongst the top three run-getters, went back to Sharjah Warriorz at his base price of USD 10,000. Abu Dhabi Knight Riders eagerly pursued Scotland’s Brandon McMullen for USD 110,000, while also picking up Michael Pepper and Unmukt Chand at their base price of USD 40,000, along with England’s George Garton for USD 10,000. Their Associate Nation pool was reinforced by Kuwait’s Adnan Idrees (USD 10,000), while the UAE core featured Ibrar Ahmad (USD 22,000, RTM), Ajay Kumar (USD 10,000) and Abdul Manan Ali (USD 10,000). Desert Vipers acquired Pakistan stars Fakhar Zaman and Naseem Shah at their base price of USD 80,000 apiece, along with Afghanistan leggie Qais Ahmed (USD 40,000). They also secured Scotland’s Tom Bruce for USD 80,000 and brought in Pakistan’s Hasan Nawaz at USD 40,000. Their Associate signings saw UAE keeper Vriitya Aravind (USD 10,000) join Bilal Tahir (USD 10,000), while Faisal Khan made history as the first Saudi Arabian player bought at the auction, picked up at his base price of USD 10,000. Dubai Capitals followed their big splash for the young Currie by opting for experience. Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi and England’s Tymal Mills were among their headline overseas pick at USD 80,000, while UAE’s Farhan Khan and Muhammad Farooq were secured for USD 10,000 each. To round out their haul, they added Kuwait’s Anudeep Chenthamara (USD 10,000) and Saudi Arabia’s Usman Najeeb (USD 10,000). Gulf Giants spread their net wide and became the first team to complete their squad. The Giants snapped up South Africa’s Tabraiz Shamsi and Netherlands’ pacer Fred Klaassen for USD 40,000 each along with England’s Sean Dickson, landed at USD 10,000. The franchise also strengthened their bowling department through England’s Chris Wood and West Indies’ Ramon Simmonds with both pacers also coming in at USD 40,000 each. Their Associate Nation haul included Kuwait’s Meet Bhavsar (USD 14,000) and Saudi Arabia’s Ishtiaq Ahmad (USD 16,000), with UAE’s Asif Khan (USD 26,000) and Zuhaib Zubair ‘s USD 10,000 Right-to-Match adding to their UAE core. MI Emirates, alongside their record signing of Fletcher, added Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hassan for USD 40,000 and England all-rounder Jordan Thompson for USD 48,000. They further diversified with Associate Nations players such as USA’s Nosthush Kenjige, UAE’s Zahoor Khan, Kuwait’s Mohammad Shafiq and Saudi Arabia’s Zain ul Abidin, all at USD 10,000. Sharjah Warriorz roped in South African all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius at USD 120,000 and English leg-spinner Nathan Sowter for USD 100,000. They also locked in pacers Jayden Seales and Taskin Ahmed at USD 80,000 each. The Warriorz spent big on UAE’ s Wasim Akram, bagging the pacer for USD 55,000. Kuwait’s Mohamed Nawfer and Mohammed Aslam were picked up for USD 14,000 each while UAE’s Ethan D’Souza, Zimbabwe’s Richard Ngarava and USA’s Harmeet Singh also made their way to the Warriorz for USD 10,000. The DP World ILT20 Season 4 will begin on Tuesday, 2 December - UAE National Day (Eid-Al-Etihad), with the six-team, 34-match tournament set to conclude with the final on Sunday, 4 January 2026.   Complete Squad List Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (Total Spent: USD 1,457,000)Auction Signings: Michael Pepper (USD 40,000), George Garton (USD 10,000), Brandon McMullen (USD 110,000), Ibrar Ahmed (USD 22,000), Ajay Kumar (USD 10,000), Adnan Idrees Muhammad (USD 10,000), Abdul Manan Ali (USD 10,000), Mayank Chowdary (USD 10,000), Khary Pierre (USD 10,000), Shadley Van Schalkwyk (USD 10,000), Unmukt Chand (USD 40,000) Retentions + Direct Signings: Liam Livingstone, Alishan Sharafu, Alex Hales, Sherfane Rutherford, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Phil Salt, Olly Stone Desert Vipers (Total Spent: USD 1,617,500)Auction Signings: Vriitya Aravind (USD 10,000), Fakhar Zaman (USD 80,000), Naseem Shah (USD 80,000), Qais Ahmad (USD 40,000), Sanjay Pahal (USD 10,000), Bilal Tahir (USD 10,000), Faisal Khan (USD 10,000), Hasan Nawaz (USD 40,000), Tom Bruce (USD 80,000), Matiullah Khan (USD 10,000), Tawanda Muyeye (USD 40,000), Faridoon Dawoodzai (USD 10,000) Retentions + Direct Signings: Dan Lawrence, Max Holden, David Payne, Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Lockie Ferguson, Wanindu Hasaranga, Sam Curran, Andries Gous Dubai Capitals (Total Spent: USD 1,475,000)Auction Signings: Mohammad Farooq (USD 10,000), Tymal Mills (USD 80,000), Scott Currie (USD 250,000), Mohammad Nabi (USD 80,000), Farhan Khan (USD 10,000), Anudeep Chenthamara (USD 10,000), Usman Najeeb (USD 10,000), Ritesh Mallikarjuna Grandhi (USD 10,000), Shayan Jahangir (USD 10,000), Rushil Ugarkar (USD 10,000), Naveen Bidiasee (USD 10,000), Toby Albert (USD 10,000), Akshay Wakhare (USD 10,000) Retentions + Direct Signings: Jordan Matthew Cox, Rovman Powell, Gulbadin Naib, Sediqullah Atal, Waqar Salamkheil, Haider Ali, Muhammad Jawadullah, Jimmy Neesham Gulf Giants (Total Spent: USD 1,471,000)Auction Signings: Asif Khan (USD 26,000), Zuhaib Zubair (USD 10,000), Sean Dickson (USD 10,000), Tabraiz Shamsi (USD 40,000), Liam Dawson (USD 170,000), Fred Klaassen (USD 40,000), Haider Razzaq (USD 50,000), Meet Bhavsar (USD 14,000), Ishtiaq Ahmad (USD 16,000), Lorcan Tucker (USD 10,000), Chris Wood (USD 40,000), Tom Moores (USD 40,000), Ramon Simmonds (USD 40,000) Retentions + Direct Signings: Aayan Afzal Khan, Mark Adair, Gerhard Erasmus, Blessing Muzarabani, Moeen Ali, James Vince, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz MI Emirates (Total Spent: USD 1,868,000)Auction Signings: Muhammad Rohid (USD 140,000), Jordan Thompson (USD 48,000), Naveen-ul-Haq (USD 100,000), Andre Fletcher (USD 260,000), Nosthush Kenjige (USD 10,000), Mohamed Shafeeq (USD 10,000), Zain Ul Abidin (USD 10,000), Usman Khan (USD 10,000), Ackeem Auguste (USD 10,000), Arab Gul (USD 10,000), Tajinder Dhillon (USD 10,000), Zahoor Khan (USD 10,000), Shakib Al Hasan (USD 40,000) Retentions + Direct Signings: Fazalhaq Farooqi, Tom Banton, Romario Shepherd, Chris Woakes, Jonny Bairstow, AM Ghazanfar, Muhammad Waseem, Kamindu Mendis Sharjah Warriorz (Total Spent: USD 1,664,000)Auction Signings: Junaid Siddique (USD 170,000), James Rew (USD 10,000), Nathan Sowter (USD 100,000), Dwaine Pretorius (USD 120,000), Jayden Seales (USD 80,000), Harmeet Singh (USD 10,000), Wasim Akram (USD 55,000), Mohamed Nawfer Mohamed Aslam (USD 14,000), Raees Ahmad (USD 10,000), Richard Ngarava (USD 10,000), Shubham Ranjane (USD 10,000), Ethan D’Souza (USD 10,000), Taskin Ahmed (USD 80,000), Abdul Salman Khan (USD 10,000) Retentions + Direct Signings: Dinesh Karthik, Sikandar Raza, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Tim David, Johnson Charles, Tim Southee, Saurabh Netravalkar 

Dubai (SBR): The DP World International League T20 (ILT20) today announced a strategic partnership with the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation (SACF), under which SACF has sanctioned and licensed the DP World ILT20 as an official T20 league (men and women) to host matches within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as part of the forthcoming seasons.The milestone serves as another important step in DP World ILT20’s efforts to expand and enrich cricket across the Gulf region.Through this partnership the DP World ILT20 will work closely with the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation and its commercial arm, the Cricket Investment Company (CIC), on developing cricket in the country besides identifying and nurturing talent. In another exciting development, Saudi Arabia players will also have a direct pathway into the DP World ILT20. Notably, the DP World ILT20 Season 4 Player Auction, scheduled for Wednesday, 1 October, will require each franchise to secure at least one player from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.In the coming years, DP World ILT20 matches will also be staged in Saudi Arabia. Chairman ILT20 Khalid Al Zarooni: “We are very proud to announce our partnership with the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation. Saudi Arabia is a key part of the Gulf region, and its commitment to developing cricket is inspiring.“This partnership is built on our shared vision of growing the game beyond borders. The DP World ILT20 will create opportunities for players and hopefully bring world-class cricket closer to the fans.”Prince Saud Bin Mishal Al-Saud, Chairman of Saudi Arabia Cricket Federation (SACF): “We are proud to partner with the DP World ILT20. This collaboration reflects our commitment to developing cricket in the country and providing our players with opportunities to grow and succeed on an international stage. It also provides a platform for fan engagement within the Kingdom and opens up further avenues for developing the game across infrastructure and tourism.“With Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 placing strong emphasis on sport and community engagement, we believe this partnership will inspire more young men and women to take up cricket and will play a vital role in the sport’s growth in the country as part of SACF’s strategy to enable the private sector within Saudi Arabia.“This partnership is of immense significance to both SACF and the DP World ILT20, as we jointly expand across borders and become a catalyst for the growth of cricket in the Gulf region.”David White, CEO DP World ILT20: “This is a significant step in our vision to grow the game across the Gulf region. We have seen first-hand how young players from the UAE, and the broader ecosystem, have benefited from the DP World ILT20 platform under world-class coaching and playing alongside international stars. With Saudi Arabia’s dynamic growth in sport and entertainment, this partnership provides a tremendous opportunity for Saudi cricketers to develop.”“In the coming years we will be hosting DP World ILT20 tournament matches in Saudi Arabia while from next year, a development tournament will also be staged there which will provide an excellent opportunity to the local talent to make a claim for the main event. The league will also help Saudi Arabia in cricketing infrastructure development.” The DP World ILT20 Season 4 will begin on Tuesday, 2 December - with the six-team, 34-match tournament set to conclude with the Final on Sunday, 4 January 2026.

Sports Bulletin ReportDubai (UAE): Prolific opener Mohammad Waseem will lead the 17-member UAE squad in the DP World Asia Cup 2025 which begins in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, 9 September. UAE are placed in Group A. India, Oman and Pakistan are the other three teams in the group.UAE will take on India in their opening game at the Dubai International Stadium on Wednesday 10 September. UAE play Oman at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Cricket Stadium on Monday, 15 September. Their last group game is with Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium on Wednesday, 17 September.The top two teams in each group will progress to Super Four stage which will commence from Sunday, 21 September. UAE squad: Mohammad Waseem (captain), Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Asif Khan, Dhruv Parashar, Ethan D’ Souza, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Matiullah Khan, Mohammad Farooq, Mohammad Jawadullah, Mohammad Zohaib, Rahul Chopra (wicketkeeper), Rohid Khan, Simranjeet Singh and Saghir Khan. Support Staff: Amjad Ezzi (team manager), Lalchand Rajput (head coach), Azharuddin Qureshi (strength and conditioning coach), Manipreet Sidhu (video analyst), Naveed Ahmad (fielding coach), Darshan Singh (Side-Armer) and Manish Pradeshi (physiotherapist). UAE match schedule:Wednesday, 10 September – India vs United Arab Emirates, Dubai – 6:30pmMonday, 15 September – UAE vs Oman, Abu Dhabi – 4:00pmWednesday, 17 September – Pakistan vs UAE, Dubai – 6:30pmSaturday, 20 September – B1 vs B2, Dubai – 6:30pm*Super Four:*Sunday, 21 September – A1 vs A2, Dubai – 6:30pmMonday, 22 September – Rest DayTuesday, 23 September – A2 vs B1, Abu Dhabi – 6:30pmWednesday, 24 September – A1 vs B2, Dubai – 6:30pmThursday, 25 September – A2 vs B2, Dubai – 6:30pmFriday, 26 September – A1 vs B1, Dubai – 6:30pmSaturday, 27 September – Rest DaySunday, 28 September – Final, Dubai – 6:30pmMonday, 29 September – Reserve Day.

ISLAMABAD (Sports Desk): 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.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, DubaiWednesday, 3 December – Sharjah Warriorz vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – 6:30pm, SharjahThursday, 4 December – Gulf Giants vs MI Emirates – 6:30pm, DubaiFriday, 5 December – Desert Vipers vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – 6:30pm, SharjahSaturday, 6 December – Dubai Capitals vs Gulf Giants – 6:30pm, DubaiSunday, 7 December – Sharjah Warriorz vs MI Emirates – 2:00pm, SharjahSunday, 7 December – Dubai Capitals vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – 6:30pm, DubaiMonday, 8 December – Desert Vipers vs Gulf Giants – 6:30pm, DubaiTuesday, 9 December – MI Emirates vs Desert Vipers – 6:30pm, Abu DhabiWednesday, 10 December – Gulf Giants vs Sharjah Warriorz – 6:30pm, DubaiThursday, 11 December – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs MI Emirates – 6:30pm, Abu DhabiFriday, 12 December – Gulf Giants vs Desert Vipers – 6:30pm, DubaiSaturday, 13 December – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Dubai Capitals – 6:30pm, Abu DhabiSunday, 14 December – MI Emirates vs Sharjah Warriorz – 2:00pm, Abu DhabiSunday, 14 December – Desert Vipers vs Dubai Capitals – 6:30pm, DubaiMonday, 15 December – Sharjah Warriorz vs Gulf Giants – 6:30pm, SharjahTuesday, 16 December – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Desert Vipers – 6:30pm, Abu DhabiWednesday, 17 December – Dubai Capitals vs MI Emirates – 6:30pm, DubaiThursday, 18 December – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Gulf Giants – 6:30pm, Abu DhabiFriday, 19 December – Sharjah Warriorz vs Dubai Capitals – 6:30pm, SharjahSaturday, 20 December – MI Emirates vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – 2:00pm, Abu DhabiSaturday, 20 December – Desert Vipers vs Sharjah Warriorz – 6:30pm, DubaiSunday, 21 December – Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals – 2:00pm, SharjahSunday, 21 December – Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates – 6:30pm, DubaiMonday, 22 December – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Sharjah Warriorz – 6:30pm, Abu DhabiTuesday, 23 December – MI Emirates vs Gulf Giants – 6:30pm, Abu DhabiWednesday, 24 December – Dubai Capitals vs Sharjah Warriorz – 6:30pm, DubaiThursday, 25 December – Rest DayFriday, 26 December – Sharjah Warriorz vs Desert Vipers – 6:30pm, SharjahSaturday, 27 December – MI Emirates vs Dubai Capitals – 6:30pm, Abu DhabiSunday, 28 December – Gulf Giants vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – 6:30pm, DubaiMonday, 29 December – Rest DayTuesday, 30 December – Qualifier 1 (Team 1 vs Team 2) – 6:30pm, Abu DhabiWednesday, 31 December – Rest DayThursday, 1 January – Eliminator (Team 3 vs Team 4) – 6:30pm, DubaiFriday, 2 January – Qualifier 2 (Loser of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Eliminator) – 6:30pm, SharjahSaturday, 3 January – Rest DaySunday, 4 January – Final (Winner of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Qualifier 2) – 6:30pm, Dubai.

Sports Bulletin Report Dubai (UAE): Match tickets for the Inverex Solar Energy presents Bank Alfalah T20I Tri-Series 2025 featuring hosts UAE, Pakistan and Afghanistan are now available online and at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium and at tournament venue tickets office too.According to an official, the tournament will commence on Friday, 29 August with Pakistan taking on Afghanistan. UAE will play Pakistan on Saturday 30 August followed by Afghanistan’s clash against UAE on Monday, 1 September and their second match against Pakistan on Tuesday, 2 September. The General stands match tickets’ (Nort East, North West, West Stand and East Stand) start at an affordable price of AED 30. The Non-Hospitality tickets start from AED 100 (Gold and Platinum Stand). The Hospitality tickets (Diamond, VIP Suite West (25 persons), VIP Suite-West individual tickets, Royal Lounge and Royal Suite) start from AED 400.T20I Tri-Series 2025 (Schedule):Friday, 29 August – Afghanistan vs Pakistan at 7:00 pmSaturday, 30 August – UAE vs Pakistan at 7:00 pmMonday, 1 September – Afghanistan vs UAE at 7:00 pmTuesday, 2 September – Afghanistan vs Pakistan at 7:00 pm Thursday, 4 September – Pakistan vs UAE 7:00 pmFriday, 5 September – Afghanistan vs UAE 7:00 pmSunday, 7 September – Final at 7:00 pm

Dubai, UAE (SBR): The Desert Vipers announced West Indies batting maestro Shimron Hetmyer as the team’s wild card signing for season four of the DP World ILT20. Director of Cricket Tom Moody welcomed the new recruit: “Shimron is a player we rate extremely highly so for us to secure his services is a real coup,” he said.“He has proved a thorn in our side in the DP World ILT20 in the past so to have him in our ranks now is great news.”The left-handed batter, previously a member of the Gulf Giants team, has played some memorable knocks against the Vipers, including smashing 70 off just 35 deliveries in season one. Hetmyer said he was looking forward to joining the squad.“I am so happy to be joining the Desert Vipers. I have enjoyed my battles with the team during the past three seasons. The franchise is filled with quality players and I am looking forward to playing with them rather than against them.”The 28-year-old was part of the Gulf Giants in the first three seasons of the DP World ILT20, including season one where that team won the title by defeating the Desert Vipers in the final. With a strike rate of over 150 across those three seasons, having scored 390 (48 fours and 33 sixes) of his 666 runs in fours and sixes, Hetmyer is a hard hitter who can bring down any opposition on his day.  Tom Moody believes he could be a key disruptor for the team: “Shimron is a game-changer with the bat and someone who can fill multiple roles,” he said. “He is capable of batting in the top order and as a finisher, and his power and his ability to clear the fence are attributes we welcome. “But he is also a smart cricketer who knows the T20 format inside-out. I have no doubt Shimron will be a huge asset for the Desert Vipers in the coming season and we look forward to welcoming him to our team later this year.”The Desert Vipers have twice been runners-up in the DP World ILT20 but are yet to win a championship, and Hetmyer is eager to change that statistic.“I have seen the way the Vipers have been run, and the fact the team has reached two finals in three years speaks for itself,” he said. “They have been so close to the trophy and hopefully my arrival will be the final piece of the puzzle to make sure the team finishes season four as winners.“I love the tournament. It is such a great experience as a player, and I cannot wait to link up with the team in Dubai later this year.”Hetmyer brings with him a wealth of experience, having represented the West Indies at junior and senior levels, including leading them to victory in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in 2016. The left-hander is also in great demand on the franchise circuit and has played across the globe including in The Hundred, the Pakistan Super League, the Indian Premier League, the Caribbean Premier League, Major League Cricket and the DP World ILT20. Here is a quick reminder of the retained players and direct signings for the Desert Vipers:Retained players:Lockie Ferguson (ENG)Wanindu Hasaranga (SL)Sam Curran (ENG)Max Holden (ENG)Dan Lawrence (ENG)David Payne (ENG)Khuzaima bin Tanveer (UAE)Direct Signing:Andries Gous (USA)

Sports Bulletin ReportKARACHI: Former Test captain and wicketkeeper batter, Moin Khan has joined the Kashmir Premier League (KSL), as the preparations for the first edition of the prestigious T20 tournament are in full swing, the event will be played in Muzaffarabad, Faisalabad, and Rawalpindi in May, June this year 2025. Moin joined the league as the Executive Director of Cricket Operations, the contract signing ceremony took place at a local hotel in Karachi, which was attended by former cricketers and KSL Chairman Masood Ahmed Khan among others. On this occasion, Moin Khan said:  “Kashmir Premier League will make Super League a big brand. The league will be successful when the players get money, the players will not have any problem in this league. Big players like Wasim Akram, Shahid Afridi are also associated with this league, which suggests that the league will be on a large scale, a talent hunt program will also be organized for the league.”The players from the league will also be included in the Quetta Gladiators team. Kashmir Supreme League Chairman Masood Ahmad Khan said in his speech, "Legendary players have been included in the league to make it successful. It will be very beneficial to have Wasim Akram, Shahid Afridi and Moin Khan. The aim of the league is to bring forward the talented players. It is also to show the positive face of Kashmir to the world." At the end of the ceremony, the agreement for the sale of franchise Kotli Kings was also signed.