The UAE’s home T20 franchise competition starts on Saturday when the third season of the DP World International T20 gets under way.
The campaign will begin at Dubai International Stadium with a rerun of last year’s final between MI Emirates, the defending champions, and Dubai Capitals.
Opening ceremony
The organisers opted against a starry opening ceremony last year after Jason Derulo performed ahead of the debut season in 2023.
This time around the first match will be prefaced by a performance by Bollywood stars Shahid Kapoor, Pooja Hegde and Sonam Bajwa. That will start at 6pm, with the cricket due to start at 7.15pm.
Schedule
Other than Saturday’s opening night, most matches will start at 6.30pm, with early matches on weekends at 2pm, and the second match on weekends starting at 6pm.
How to watch
The matches can be watched live in the UAE on Abu Dhabi TV, Dubai TV and Myco, as well as the ILT20’s YouTube channel. Talk FM Radio 100.3 will also have commentary.
It will be shown on many of Zee TV’s channels in India, Samsung TV Plus and Rakuten TV in Europe, Tapmad in Pakistan, and Styx Sports in Nepal.
Tickets
Admission starts at Dh15 for six to 16 years, and Dh20 for adults. Tickets are available here.
Teams
The same six teams who started out the first ILT20 two years ago remain – with the only slight amendment being the fact the Sharjah Warriors now have a funky z added to their name, having become the Warriorz.
Gulf Giants were the first winners in 2023, before MI Emirates – an offshoot of IPL side Mumbai Indians – took their title last year.
Dubai Capitals and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders are also affiliates of IPL teams, while Desert Vipers have the same owners as Manchester United.
Players to watch
Phil Salt (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders): The world’s No 2-ranked T20I batter has a strong affinity with the UAE capital, having previously represented Team Abu Dhabi in T10.
ADKR’s first match: Sunday, January 12, 2pm, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi.
Fakhar Zaman (Desert Vipers): The big-hitting left-hander is the biggest name import from Pakistan. He will be back at the grounds where he first made his name in the Pakistan Super League.
Vipers’ first match: Sunday, January 12, 2pm, Zayed Cricket Stadium.
David Warner (Dubai Capitals): Retired from international cricket and in the IPL sidings, but the former Australia opener is likely to remain as competitive as ever.
Capitals’ first game: Saturday, January 11, 7.15pm, Dubai International Stadium.
Dipendra Singh Airee (Gulf Giants): One of a select group to have hit six sixes in an over in international cricket. The Nepal all-rounder is one of the most electric fielders in the world.
Giants’ first game: Sunday, January 12, 6pm, Dubai International Stadium.
Muhammad Waseem (MI Emirates): Everyone knows about his MI batting colleague Nicholas Pooran. But more people should know about the brilliance of the UAE captain.
MI’s first game: Saturday, January 11, 7.15pm, Dubai International Stadium.
Tim Southee (Sharjah Warriorz): Ended a great New Zealand Test career earlier this winter. Now he will be captaining the Sharjah franchise in ILT20.
Warriorz’s first game: Sunday, January 12, 6pm, Dubai International Stadium.
Home hopes
Two places per starting XI are reserved for UAE-based players. They do not need to be eligible just yet for the national team, but at least be in the process of qualifying.
Rohan Mustafa, the long-serving former national team captain, has switched from Desert Vipers to Sharjah Warriorz for the new season. He will play alongside fellow UAE players Mohammed Jawadullah and Junaid Siddique.
The Vipers have Dhruv Parashar, Ali Naseer and Tanish Suri, a young trio in whom great hopes are invested for the future of UAE cricket.
Big-hitting middle-order batter Saghir Khan is an intriguing signing for Gulf Giants, where spin duo Aayan Khan and Zuhaib Zubair excelled last season.
Alishan Sharafu remains key to AD Knight Riders’ hopes, having made his name with them last season against an all-star Vipers bowling attack.
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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
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The biog
Family: wife, four children, 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren
Reads: Newspapers, historical, religious books and biographies
Education: High school in Thatta, a city now in Pakistan
Regrets: Not completing college in Karachi when universities were shut down following protests by freedom fighters for the British to quit India
Happiness: Work on creative ideas, you will also need ideals to make people happy
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
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Sanchez's club career
2005-2006: Cobreloa
2006-2011 Udinese
2006-2007 Colo-Colo (on loan)
2007-2008 River Plate (on loan)
2011-2014 Barcelona
2014–Present Arsenal
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Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
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Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Match info
Who: India v Afghanistan
What: One-off Test match, Bengaluru
When: June 14 to 18
TV: OSN Sports Cricket HD, 8am starts
Online: OSN Play (subscribers only)
