Tag: MI Emirates

Teams and players for DP World ILT20 Season 3 announced

MUMBAI: Just two days to go! The countdown has begun for the DP World ILT20 Season 3, which will be broadcast exclusively on Zee starting 11 January at the Dubai International Stadium. The tournament kicks off with the Dubai Capitals hosting the defending champions, MI Emirates, in the opener at 8:45 PM IST. Over the next month, 34 action-packed matches will take place, concluding on 9 February 2025. These matches will also air on Dubai TV, Abu Dhabi TV, the ILT20 official YouTube channel, and Myco for viewers in the MENA region.

The broadcaster announced the teams and their compositions on 9 January, with the flexibility for changes in case of injuries or non-availability of selected players.

Among the key squad updates ahead of the opener, England opener Phil Salt and Pakistan left-arm wrist spinner Sufiyan Muqeem have joined the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. Salt has been added as a wildcard, while Sufiyan replaces the unavailable Hassan Khan. Afghanistan spinner Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar has been signed by MI Emirates, and Vijayakanth Viyaskanth will join the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.

Zee’s Chief Growth Officer – Digital & Broadcast Revenue, Ashish Sehgal, commented: “Zee is delighted to unveil the impressive squad line-up for Season 3, featuring some of the world’s finest and most popular players. With iconic locations like Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah, world-class infrastructure, and six powerhouse franchises, our aim is to solidify the league as one of the most widely followed global cricket events. We have significantly expanded our broadcast reach by adding five more linear channels, including South Indian channels, and are excited to present this thrilling cricketing spectacle to fans across the world.”

Cricket fans can watch the tournament on ZEE’s extensive network of 15 linear TV channels, including &Pictures SD, &Pictures HD, Zee Cinema HD, Zee Anmol Cinema 2, Zee Action, Zee Biskope, Zee Zest SD, Zee Cinemalu HD, Zee Telugu HD, Zee Thirai, Zee Tamil HD, Zee Kannada HD, Zee Zest HD, &Flix SD, and &Flix HD. Additionally, the matches will be free to view on Zee5, one of India’s leading OTT platforms. Zee aims to capture a viewership of 230 million for the season.

Here are the six DP World ILT20 Season 3 squads as of 9 January 2025:

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders

New Signees: Gudakesh Motie, Ibrar Ahmad, Jason Holder, Kyle Mayers, Phil Salt (Wildcard), Roston Chase, Shahid Iqbal Bhutta, Sufiyan Muqeem, Terrance Hinds, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth Retentions: Aditya Shetty, Ali Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Andre Russell, Andries Gous, Charith Asalanka, David Willey, Joe Clarke, Laurie Evans, Michael Pepper, Sunil Narine.

Desert Vipers

New Signees: Dan Lawrence (Wildcard), David Payne, Dhruv Parashar, Fakhar Zaman, Kushal Malla (replacement for injured Bas de Leede), Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Lockie Ferguson, Max Holden, Sam Curran (played for Vipers in Season 2 as a wildcard) Retentions: Adam Hose, Alex Hales, Ali Naseer, Azam Khan, Luke Wood, Michael Jones, Mohammad Amir, Nathan Sowter, Sherfane Rutherford, Tanish Suri, Wanindu Hasaranga.

Dubai Capitals

New Signees: Adam Rossington (Wildcard), Aryaman Varma (replacement for Jake Fraser McGurk), Ben Dunk, Brandon McMullen, Garuka Sanketh (replacement), Farhan Khan, Gulbadin Naib, Joe Burns, Joe Weatherley, Najibullah Zadran, Obed McCoy, Scott Kuggeleijn, Sharafuddin Ashraf (replacement), Shai Hope, Shahrukh Ahmed, Zeeshan Naseer Retentions: Dasun Shanaka, David Warner, Dushmantha Chameera, Haider Ali, Raja Akif, Rovman Powell, Sam Billings, Sikandar Raza, Zahir Khan, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Oliver Stone.

Gulf Giants

New Signees: Adam Lyth, Dominic Drakes, Daniel Worrall (played for Giants in Season 2 as a wildcard), Dushan Hemantha (replacement), Ibrahim Zadran, Mark Adair, Ollie Robinson (wicketkeeper-batter), Tim David, Tom Curran, Tymal Mills, Muhammad Saghir Khan, Muhammad Uzair Khan, Wahidullah Zadran Retentions: Aayan Afzal Khan, Blessing Muzarabani, Chris Jordan, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gerhard Erasmus, James Vince, Jordan Cox, Mohammad Zuhaib Zubair, Rehan Ahmed, Shimron Hetmyer.

MI Emirates

New Signees: Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, Alzarri Joseph, Aryan Lakra, Ben Charlesworth, Fareed Ahmad, Romario Shepherd, Tom Banton, Thomas Draca, Zahoor Khan Retentions: Akeal Hosein, Andre Fletcher, Daniel Mousley, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Jordan Thompson, Kieron Pollard, Kusal Perera, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Muhammad Waseem, Nicholas Pooran, Nosthush Kenjige, Waqar Salamkheil.

Sharjah Warriorz

New Signees: Tim Southee (Captain), Adam Milne, Adil Rashid (played for Warriorz in Season 2 as a wildcard), Ashton Agar, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Daniel Sams, Ethan D’Souza, Harmeet Singh, Jason Roy, Karim Janat, Keemo Paul, Matthew Wade, Rohan Mustafa, Tim Seifert, Traveen Mathew, Virandeep Singh Retentions: Dilshan Madushanka, Johnson Charles, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah, Kusal Mendis, Luke Wells, Peter Hatzoglou, Tom Kohler-Cadmore.

January 9, 2025
Usha International continues partnership with MI Emirates for International League T20, 2024

Mumbai: Usha International, a leading consumer durables brand in India, has extended its partnership with MI Emirates for the second consecutive year, for the International League T20, 2024. The month-long league is underway, featuring six teams, spanning Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Dubai.

In 2023, Usha International extended its reach to cricket fans worldwide with its partnership with MI Emirates. This partnership further builds on the 12-year partnership between Usha International and Mumbai Indians, advancing the company’s commitment to supporting the sport of cricket worldwide.

The MI Emirates for the 2024 season is led by Nicholas Pooran and supported by a stellar cast of international cricket stars, including Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, and Trent Boult. Additionally, the team features promising local talent from the UAE, such as Muhammad Waseem, Basil Hameed, Zahoor Khan, and Rohan Bangash. Further bolstering the roster is Ambati Rayudu, India’s prolific T20 specialist.

Commenting on the partnership, the spokesperson for Usha International said, “Building on our 12-year relationship with the Mumbai Indians, this partnership with MI Emirates for the International League T20, 2024, reflects our commitment to leverage cricket’s universal appeal to promote healthy and active living. Through this synergistic union, we aim to engage with the global cricket community, sharing in the spirit of the game that transcends geographies and inspires a passion for sportsmanship”.

January 27, 2024
DP World ILT20 Season 2 to air LIVE on ZEE’s linear channels & OTT platform ZEE5 from Jan 2024

Mumbai: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEE) announced that the second season of the world’s second most watched T20 cricket league – DP World ILT20, sanctioned by the Emirates Cricket Board., The action packed tournament will air LIVE across the Company’s linear channels and OTT platform ZEE5 from Jan, 2024.

Synonymous for its ground-breaking content, ZEE is committed to provide an even grander presentation of the 34-match format DP World ILT20. The second season promises enthralling cricket action in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah in January and February 2024 with the finest players from the cricketing world being retained by the six franchises – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Desert Vipers, Dubai Capitals, Gulf Giants, MI Emirates and Sharjah Warriors.

Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., president- business, Rahul Johri said, “We are delighted with the overwhelming response DP World ILT20 received in its first season, generating a massive 367 million worldwide reach across TV and Digital platforms. The second season comes with an even bigger promise of an unparalleled cricketing action with the world’s top T20 cricketers retained by the six teams. DP World ILT20 Season 2 will continue to entertain viewers not just in India but across the world and build our sports business.”

General secretary ECB Mubashshir Usmani, commented, “DP World ILT20’s inaugural season was a roaring success. The tournament made waves worldwide through the presence of T20 superstars, quality cricket, world class production and a broadcast partnership which generated a reach of more than 367 million across TV and digital platforms. We are once again delighted to partner with Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited for Season 2 and our aim is to even better the outstanding broadcast numbers from India and around the world that we gathered from the inaugural season.”

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders have retained the T20 star Andre Russell and last year’s captain, and the prolific spinner Sunil Narine. Other retained players include Joe Clarke, Charith Asalanka, Marchant De Lange, Ali Khan, Sabir Ali and Matiullah Khan.

Desert Vipers, the finalists of Season 1, have retained the inaugural season’s top-scorer Alex Hales and the captain Colin Munro. Other retained players from the previous season are Wanindu Hasaranga, Sherfane Rutherford, Tom Curran, Luke Wood, Matheesha Pathirana, Rohan Mustafa, Sheldon Cottrell, Dinesh Chandimal, Gus Atkinson and Ali Nasser.

Dubai Capitals have retained the West Indian player, Rovman Powell and England’s stalwart Joe Root. The franchise has also retained Dushmantha Chameera, Sikandar Raza and Raja Akifullah Khan.

Champions, Gulf Giants have retained the captain James Vince and Best Bowler of the Tournament Chris Jordan. Chris Lynn, Shimron Hetmyer, Carlos Brathwaite, Jamie Overton, Richard Gleeson, Rehan Ahmed, Gerhard Erasmus, Aayan Afzal Khan and Sanchit Sharma have also been retained by the franchise.

MI Emirates retention list is led by Kieron Pollard and highest T20 wicket taker Dwayne Bravo. The other retained players from Season 1 include Nicholas Pooran, Trent Boult, Muhammad Waseem, Zahoor Khan, Daniel Mousley, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Jordan Thompson, Will Smeed, Mckenny Clarke, and Andre Fletcher.

Sharjah Warriors have retained bowling all-rounder Chris Woakes and batsman Joe Denly. Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Mark Deyal, Junaid Siddique and Muhammad Jawadullah are the players who have also been retained.

July 21, 2023