Today's Edition
Abu Dhabi (Aletihad)
The second season of the DP World ILT20 has commenced with exciting matches and big strokeplay on display already across the three venues which have witnessed action each in the first three days.
And noted former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has expressed belief that the seeds are being sown for strengthening the cricket ecosystem in the UAE as well as his confidence in the country to provide the platform.
A resounding 31-run victory for defending champions Gulf Giants against Sharjah Warriors marked the league opener on a freshly laid wicket at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
On Saturday, His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Coexistence and Tolerance was in Dubai watching the action with Indian superstar actor Shahrukh Khan, whose team Abu Dhabi Knight Riders beat last season's finalists Desert Vipers.
On Sunday evening, the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi hosted its first match when MI Emirates, the other locally based team, and Gulf Giants took the field. Meanwhile, Harbhajan expressed his delight on his involvement with the league as ambassador and commentator on the sidelines.
"I was here last year as well and it was a lot of fun, I am enjoying myself as a commentator," the spinner with 711 international wickets said. "The UAE has hosted a lot of crickets in the past and I am pleased to see the sport continue to grow in the region. Similar to how the IPL has given a lot of opportunities for Indian players and we have seen many youngsters make a name for themselves through the IPL.
"The DP World ILT20 will help strengthen the UAE cricket team by providing local players opportunities. This will allow them to showcase their skills, while also improving on it by learning from other well-known players from across the world," he said.
"Cricket is all about believing in yourself and by playing and succeeding against some of the world's finest cricketers, it will instill a lot of confidence in the upcoming players from the UAE."
Season 2 match tickets are available online at https://tickets.ilt20.ae as well as at all 14 Virgin Megastore outlets across UAE.
