Latest news with #GulfGiants'
Khaleej Times
28-01-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Harbhajan Singh showers praise on UAE youngster Aayan Afzal Khan
As the ILT20 Season 3 enters the exciting final phase of the competition, former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh has been impressed with the level of competition and the exciting performances on display, especially from young UAE spinner Aayan Afzal Khan. The legendary Indian spinner says all the teams have produced quality cricket in the ILT20, the UAE's IPL-style franchise league. "The tournament is going great, and we've seen some excellent cricket. The good thing about this tournament is that all the teams have shown quality, which means they still have a chance to make a comeback,' Harbhajan said. "Across the three venues (Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah) all pitches are different which makes it more competitive and interesting.' Among the standout performers from the UAE this season, Harbhajan highlighted the exceptional talent of Gulf Giants' Aayan whose eight wickets in the tournament includes a stunning spell of 4/16 against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. "Aayan Afzal Khan is doing a great job. I have been following him and speaking to him from the first season," Harbhajan said of the 19-year-old left-arm-spinner "I think Aayan could win the Blue Belt award as the most valuable UAE player. As the wickets dry up over the course of the competition, spinners will be key, and it's going to be a lot of fun to watch." Turning his focus to the Desert Vipers, who became the first team to qualify for the play-offs, Harbhajan had high praise for their all-round strength. "From the games I've seen or worked on (as commentator) during my time here, I think the Desert Vipers look like a really strong team. They have a brilliant bowling lineup with the likes of Mohammed Amir and Lockie Ferguson, and their batting features some serious firepower. They are real contenders for the championship," he said. Looking ahead, Harbhajan shared his predictions for the highest run-scorer (Green Belt) and wicket-taker (White Belt) of the season. "I think Fazalhaq Farooqi and Mohammed Amir have been in phenomenal form with the ball, taking wickets in every game. I think one of them could finish at the top of the ladder," he said. "So far, Shai Hope and Tom Banton have scored a lot of runs, but the second part of the tournament has just started. I want to see more players performing, scoring runs, and climbing up the ladder." Finally, Harbhajan said the ILT20 could be a game-changer for cricket in the UAE. 'This league is very important for UAE cricket. At the moment we have two players from the UAE in each team, maybe that number will go up to three or four in the next few seasons as the UAE players are getting better,' he said.
Khaleej Times
26-01-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Alsop steers Gulf Giants to six-wicket win over Sharjah Warriorz
Tom Alsop played a blinder as he struck an unbeaten 85 to propel the Gulf Giants to a six-wicket win against the Sharjah Warriorz in the ILT20 Season 3 clash at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday evening. Alsop was the architect of the Gulf Giants' chase as he held his bat to see through the win alongside Tom Curran as the two Englishmen put up a match-winning stand of 65 for their second win on the trot. Chasing 172 was always going to be tricky, but Alsop and James Vince did splendidly well to get the Gulf Giants going. The duo hit six fours between them in the first three overs to make their intentions clear, but their impressive partnership of 42 was cut short by Dilshan Madushanka when Vince was undone by a short ball. Alsop was joined by Jordan Cox in the middle and they put up 22 for the second wicket before Cox was dismissed. Alsop, though, was unperturbed on the other end as he played one of the best innings of his career. He took the bowlers to the cleaners as the Gulf Giants racked up 88 runs in the first 10 overs, well-poised to chase down the target. Alsop brought up his first fifty in the ILT20 off 44 balls and with the pressure rising, his calm head prevailed as he steered his side closer to the target. Gerhard Erasmus (10) and Shimron Hetmyer (12) fell without troubling the scorers much and that threatened to derail the Gulf Giants' chase, but the 16th over swiftly swung the momentum in their favour. Curran chipped in with a couple of boundaries and Alsop dispatched one into the stands as Madushanka conceded 18 and the Gulf Giants needed 40 off 24. Alsop and Curran were not to be stopped as they motored on, playing sensible cricket to get the job done. They picked on Adam Milne in the 18th over and hit him for 16 runs, as they raced closer to the target. Alsop brought his A-Game to the fore to hit an unbeaten 85 as the Gulf Giants sealed a comprehensive victory in Sharjah. Earlier, the Gulf Giants opted to bowl and restricted Warriorz to 171/6 in 20 overs despite Jason Roy's 44. Blessing Muzarabani (3 for 32) was the pick of the bowlers for the Giants.
