Dubai Capitals emerged victorious in the final of the DP World International League T20 (ILT20) Season 3, held on February 9, in a thrilling encounter against Desert Vipers.
The match, played in front of a packed stadium, showcased high-intensity cricket as Dubai Capitals successfully chased down a target of 190 runs with just four balls to spare.
Sikandar Raza played a crucial role in sealing the win for his side, celebrating a hard-fought victory that underscored the competitive nature of the tournament.
The season finale was a testament to the rising standards of the ILT20, which featured world-class players and nail-biting finishes throughout the tournament.
League CEO David White expressed his satisfaction with the tournament’s quality, calling Season 3 a significant step forward in the evolution of ILT20.
“I think what summarises the success of Season 3 is the excitement, world-class players, and some of the matches going down to the wire. No doubt, this season has been a big step up in the quality of cricket, and the scores have reflected that,” White stated.
Record-Breaking Season
The latest edition of ILT20 set new benchmarks, with an astonishing 430 sixes struck throughout the tournament and batters accumulating a total of 10,352 runs.
White credited the high-scoring matches to the quality of pitches at the three tournament venues—Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah.
“More than 10,000 runs were scored this season, and we saw some standout individual performances too,” White added. “The quality of cricket is also largely due to the quality of the pitches we had.”
The season also witnessed stellar individual achievements. Shai Hope of Dubai Capitals claimed the Green Belt for best batter, MI Emirates’ Fazalhaq Farooqi took home the White Belt for best bowler, and Sam Curran was awarded the Red Belt as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the season.
UAE Players Shine
A major highlight of ILT20 Season 3 was the emergence of home-grown talent. Aayan Afzal Khan of Gulf Giants produced a historic performance, picking up four wickets for just 16 runs against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders—setting the best-ever figures for a UAE player in the tournament’s history.
The previous record belonged to Zuhaib Zuhair, who claimed four for 22 for Gulf Giants in the previous season.
Additionally, UAE cricketers Farhan Khan, Dhruv Parashar, Muhammad Rohid Khan, and the experienced Muhammad Waseem delivered remarkable performances, further strengthening their prospects for selection in the national squad.
Community Engagement and Growth of UAE Cricket
Beyond the on-field spectacle, ILT20 continues to play a key role in developing cricket in the UAE. White emphasized the league’s community-driven approach, which includes children’s participation before games, youth performances during the national anthem, and a vibrant fan zone to engage families.
“Using the ILT20 brand to connect with communities has been very successful this season,” White said. “ILT20 plays a number of roles, from a community standpoint. It’s a great way to engage with young cricket enthusiasts and promote the sport in the region.”
With its continued growth, record-breaking performances, and increasing fan engagement, ILT20 Season 3 has set a strong foundation for future editions, further cementing its reputation as a premier T20 competition on the global stage.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members