While the T20 World Cup is still going on in the Caribbean, preparations have already started for the next season of the DP World International League T20 in the UAE with a number of star players lining up to feature in the tournament.
On Friday, organisers announced that franchises had retained a total of 69 players for the third season which begins on January 11 and concludes on February 9 next year, with matches taking place in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.
Some of the top T20 talent in the world will head to the UAE early next year to take part in a tournament that has quickly become one of the most lucrative in the sport. They include star West Indies all-rounders and IPL champions Andre Russell and Sunil Narine, Aussie veteran David Warner, Sri Lankan star Wanindu Hasaranga, Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir and bunch of other T20 heavyweights.
Since the tournament is the showpiece event of UAE cricket, local players will once again get an opportunity to rub shoulders with the biggest names in cricket.
They include UAE T20 regulars like Muhammad Waseem, Junaid Siddique, Aayan Afzal Khan, Alishan Sharafu and many more.
All six franchises were allowed to retain up to two UAE players each. Now they must sign a minimum of two more players to complete their quota of four UAE signings after the completion of the ILT20 Development Tournament which will be held in October.
MI Emirates lifted the ILT20 crown earlier this year when they defeated Dubai Capitals by 45 runs. UAE captain Waseem stole the show in the final, smashing 43 from 24 balls to help post a match-winning total of 208-3.
Retained players for ILT20 season three
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: Aditya Shetty (UAE), Ali Khan, Alishan Sharafu (UAE), Andre Russell, Andries Ghous, Charith Asalanka, David Willey, Joe Clarke, Laurie Evans, Micheal Pepper and Sunil Narine
Desert Vipers: Adam Hose, Alex Hales, Ali Naseer (UAE), Azam Khan, Bas de Leede, Luke Wood, Micheal Jones, Mohammad Amir, Nathan Sowter, Sherfane Rutherford, Tanish Suri (UAE) and Wanindu Hasaranga
Dubai Capitals: Dasun Shanaka, David Warner, Dushmantha Chameera, Haider Ali (UAE), Akif Raja (UAE), Rovman Powell, Sam Billings, Sikandar Raza, Zahir Khan, Jake Fraser McGurk and Oliver Stone
Gulf Giants: Aayan Afzal Khan (UAE), Blessing Muzarabani, Chris Jordan, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gerhard Erasmus, Jamie Overton, James Vince, Jamie Smith, Jordan Cox, Mohammad Zohaib Zubair (UAE), Rehan Ahmed, Richard Gleeson and Shimron Hetmyer
MI Emirates: Akeal Hosein, Andre Fletcher, Daniel Mousley, Dwayne Bravo, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Jordan Thompson, Kieron Pollard, Kusal Perera, Muhammad Rohid Khan (UAE), Muhammad Waseem (UAE), Nicholas Pooran, Nosthush Kenjige, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth and Waqar Salamkheil
Sharjah Warriors: Dilshan Madushanka, Johnson Charles, Junaid Siddique (UAE), Muhamad Jawadullah (UAE), Kusal Mendis, Luke Wells, Peter Hatzoglou and Tom Kohler-Cadmore
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.
Stormy seas
Weather warnings show that Storm Eunice is soon to make landfall. The videographer and I are scrambling to return to the other side of the Channel before it does. As we race to the port of Calais, I see miles of wire fencing topped with barbed wire all around it, a silent ‘Keep Out’ sign for those who, unlike us, aren’t lucky enough to have the right to move freely and safely across borders.
We set sail on a giant ferry whose length dwarfs the dinghies migrants use by nearly a 100 times. Despite the windy rain lashing at the portholes, we arrive safely in Dover; grateful but acutely aware of the miserable conditions the people we’ve left behind are in and of the privilege of choice.
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
