Latest news with #GulfGiants
Khaleej Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
ILT20: West Indies star Shimron Hetmyer joins Desert Vipers
West Indies star Shimron Hetmyer joined the the Desert Vipers for season four of the DP World ILT20 (December 2-January 4). The 28-year-old was part of the Gulf Giants in the first three seasons of the DP World ILT20, including season one where that team won the title by defeating the Desert Vipers in the final. Desert Vipers Director of Cricket, Tom Moody, welcomed the new recruit. 'Shimron is a player we rate extremely highly so for us to secure his services is a real coup,' he said. 'He has proved a thorn in our side in the DP World ILT20 in the past so to have him in our ranks now is great news.' The left-handed batter has played some memorable knocks against the Vipers, including smashing 70 off just 35 deliveries in season one. Hetmyer said he was looking forward to joining the squad. 'I am so happy to be joining the Desert Vipers. I have enjoyed my battles with the team during the past three seasons. The franchise is filled with quality players and I am looking forward to playing with them rather than against them.' With a strike rate of over 150 across those three seasons, having scored 390 (48 fours and 33 sixes) of his 666 runs in fours and sixes, Hetmyer is a hard hitter who can bring down any opposition on his day. Moody believes he could be a key disruptor for the team. 'Shimron is a game-changer with the bat and someone who can fill multiple roles,' he said. 'He is capable of batting in the top order and as a finisher, and his power and his ability to clear the fence are attributes we welcome. 'But he is also a smart cricketer who knows the T20 format inside-out. I have no doubt Shimron will be a huge asset for the Desert Vipers in the coming season and we look forward to welcoming him to our team later this year.' The Desert Vipers have twice been runners-up in the DP World ILT20 but are yet to win a championship, and Hetmyer is eager to change that statistic. 'I have seen the way the Vipers have been run, and the fact the team has reached two finals in three years speaks for itself,' he said. 'They have been so close to the trophy and hopefully my arrival will be the final piece of the puzzle to make sure the team finishes season four as winners. 'I love the tournament. It is such a great experience as a player, and I cannot wait to link up with the team in Dubai later this year.' Hetmyer brings with him a wealth of experience, having represented the West Indies at junior and senior levels, including leading them to victory in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in 2016. The left-hander is also in great demand on the franchise circuit and has played across the globe including in The Hundred, the Pakistan Super League, the Indian Premier League, the Caribbean Premier League, Major League Cricket and the DP World ILT20.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
ILT20: West Indies batter Shimron Hetmyer joins Desert Vipers as wild card signing ahead of fourth season
Shimron Hetmyer (Special Arrangements) The Desert Vipers have signed West Indies batsman Shimron Hetmyer as their wild card player for ILT20 season four. "Shimron is a player we rate extremely highly so for us to secure his services is a real coup," said Director of Cricket Tom Moody . "He has proved a thorn in our side in the ILT20 in the past so to have him in our ranks now is great news." Hetmyer, who previously played for Gulf Giants, has performed well against the Vipers, including a notable innings of 70 runs from 35 balls in season one. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! "I am so happy to be joining the Desert Vipers. I have enjoyed my battles with the team during the past three seasons. The franchise is filled with quality players and I am looking forward to playing with them rather than against them," said Hetmyer. The 28-year-old played for Gulf Giants in the first three ILT20 seasons and was part of their championship-winning team in season one when they defeated the Desert Vipers in the final. During his three seasons, Hetmyer maintained a strike rate above 150, scoring 666 runs with 48 fours and 33 sixes, totaling 390 runs in boundaries. "Shimron is a game-changer with the bat and someone who can fill multiple roles," said Tom Moody. "He is capable of batting in the top order and as a finisher, and his power and his ability to clear the fence are attributes we welcome. But he is also a smart cricketer who knows the T20 format inside-out. I have no doubt Shimron will be a huge asset for the Desert Vipers in the coming season and we look forward to welcoming him to our team later this year. " The Desert Vipers have finished as runners-up twice in the ILT20 but are still seeking their first title. "I have seen the way the Vipers have been run, and the fact the team has reached two finals in three years speaks for itself," Hetmyer said. "They have been so close to the trophy and hopefully my arrival will be the final piece of the puzzle to make sure the team finishes season four as winners. I love the tournament. It is such a great experience as a player, and I cannot wait to link up with the team in Dubai later this year." Hetmyer brings extensive cricket experience, having represented West Indies at both junior and senior levels. He led the West Indies to victory in the 2016 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Bloomberg
22-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
How Middle East Oil Giants Are Building Soft Power
For decades, the oil-rich nations of the Middle East have amassed tremendous amounts of money—more than anyone could possibly spend. Much of it was funneled into sovereign wealth funds, strategic repositories of state-owned cash just waiting to be deployed. Now they are coming into play in a very public way as the world inexorably pivots away from fossil fuels. The very countries who have benefitted most from its sale are increasingly seeking to pivot. Over the last decade or so, nations across the Persian Gulf and elsewhere have turned their attention to new areas of investment—to diversify away from oil and gas and to increase so-called soft power. One particular arena of interest has been sports. In the Bloomberg Originals mini-documentary How Gulf Giants Are Gathering Soft Power, we explain the growing number of areas in which sovereign wealth funds are investing, and what it may mean for the rest of the world.
Khaleej Times
13-02-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
UAE: David White credits fantastic pitches for good cricket in ILT20
Following the success of ILT20 Season 3 which concluded on February 9 with Dubai Capitals crowned the new champions, league CEO David White expressed delight over the quality of matches, edge-of-the-seat thrillers to the showdown. The final, with a packed stadium, was a testimony to world-class competition as Dubai Capitals chased down the target of 190 runs set by Desert Vipers with just four balls to spare, leaving fans enthralled till the very end. '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, the scores have reflected that,' White said. For the first time in ILT20, over 400 (430) sixes were scored and a total of 10,352 runs amassed by the batters in season 3 underscoring the high-octane matches in the league. 'More than 10,000 runs were scored this season, and we saw some standout individual performances too. The quality of cricket is also largely due to the quality of the pitches we had at our three tournament venues in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah,' White said. The season witnessed individual brilliance with in-form Shai Hope of Dubai Capitals winning the Green Belt for best batter, MI Emirates Fazalhaq Farooqi claiming the White Belt for best bowler and Sam Curran taking home the Red Belt as MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the season. Among some of the standout moments this season was home-grown prodigy Aayan Afzal Khan of Gulf Giants picking up four for 16 runs against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – making it the best figures for a UAE player in the ILT20. The previous record was held by Zuhaib Zuhair with 4 for 22 for Gulf Giants against Sharjah Warriors in the previous season. UAE's Farhan Khan, Dhruv Parashar, Muhammad Rohid Khan and the experienced Muhammad Waseem too hogged the limelight this season with impressive performances that promises to aide their career with the national squad. Elaborating on the impact DP World ILT20 has on developing cricket in UAE, White said, 'ILT20 plays a number of roles, from a community standpoint. It's a great way to connect with the community, we do that with the children playing before the game, the children's performance to the anthem, and we have a vibrant fan zone for families to come and enjoy together. Using the ILT20 brand to connect with the communities has been very good this season."
Arab News
31-01-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Pooran's brilliance guides MI Emirates to victory over Gulf Giants in ILT20
DUBAI: MI Emirates secured a five-wicket victory over the Gulf Giants in the DP World ILT20 at the Dubai International Stadium on Friday, with skipper Nicholas Pooran leading from the front with a match-winning unbeaten 58 off 37 balls, earning him the Player of the Match award as his side claimed their first win of the season. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Batting first, the Gulf Giants made a strong start, with openers Gerhard Erasmus and James Vince regularly finding the boundary. However, their momentum was dented in the third over when Akeal Hosein dismissed Erasmus for 12. Vince, undeterred, found an able partner in Jordan Cox, and together they pushed the score to 52 for one at the end of the powerplay. Cox and Vince put together a solid 51-run stand before Alzarri Joseph dismissed Cox in the 10th over. Tom Curran chipped in with 13, while Vince continued to anchor the innings, reaching his half-century in style. With the Giants poised for a strong finish, Vince was joined by Shimron Hetmyer, and the duo accelerated in the 16th over, hitting 19 runs. However, MI Emirates fought back, removing Hetmyer (15) and Vince (86 off 50 balls) in quick succession. Late contributions from Tim David and Chris Jordan (both 10 not out) took the Gulf Giants to 173 for six in 20 overs. Chasing 174, MI Emirates got off to a flying start as openers Andre Fletcher and Muhammad Waseem took the attack to the bowlers. Waseem smashed a rapid 26 off 10 balls before departing, while Tom Banton added 11 before falling to Aayan Khan. Despite a run-out setback that saw Kusal Perera dismissed for just one, Fletcher continued to hold the innings together, scoring 31 before being castled by Blessing Muzarabani, who impressed with figures of one for 17 in four overs. At 102 for four, MI Emirates faced an uphill task, needing 72 runs off the last five overs. Pooran, however, took control of the chase alongside Bevon Jacobs, forging a crucial 53-run stand off 33 balls. Jacobs' departure for 18 brought Romario Shepherd to the crease, but Pooran remained composed under pressure. Reaching his half-century in the 18th over, Pooran shifted gears as Shepherd's late blows further eased the equation. With six runs needed off the final over, the MI Emirates skipper finished the job in style, smashing a six over cow corner to seal the victory. Reflecting on his match-winning knock, Pooran said: 'I knew I had to get the job done and be there until the end. I am more experienced now and know what's required. The key is to trust yourself to absorb the pressure.' Vince, captain of Gulf Giants, admitted that missed opportunities cost his side. 'We didn't feel it was that straightforward out there. There was some turn for the slower bowlers, but we dropped a catch and it ultimately cost us tonight,' he said.
