Latest news with #SharjahWarriorz
The National
13-02-2025
- Sport
- The National
High praise for ILT20 find Khuzaima: ‘If there's a better fast bowler in the country, I'd like to see them'
A former teacher, who spent the first season of the DP World International League T20 trying to get his students to attend matches, was to thank for discovering one of the outstanding new players of Season 3. Khuzaima Tanveer grabbed the attention of cricket lovers midway through the latest campaign of the UAE's franchise tournament. He was unknown ahead of his debut for Desert Vipers against Sharjah Warriorz. By the end of that match, he had four wickets, a player of the match trophy, and had conducted three TV interviews, including with the great Pakistan fast bowler Waqar Younis. By the end of the tournament, he had a runner-up medal, and the endorsement of one of the world's leading fast bowlers. Lockie Ferguson, the Vipers captain, said he envied Khuzaima's bowling action. The Pakistan-born newcomer's emergence came about by chance, when he was bowling in a low-key domestic tournament. The opposing batter happened to be Jack Luffman, the development lead for the Vipers. 'I was opening the batting against him and I thought, 'Oh dear, I might be getting a bit too old for this,'' Luffman said. Luffman played minor counties cricket in the UK before moving to Dubai to take up a teaching job. It was in his role as the head of sixth form at a GEMS school that he was asked to help spread the word about the new franchise league in 2023. That included giving out Desert Vipers shirts and hats, as well as tickets to their matches. He stayed in close contact with the franchise, and, as a Level 3 qualified cricket coach, was offered a role as part of their plan to lay down roots. He left his teaching job last year to work full time with the Vipers' schools and development programme. 'Getting a full-time role in cricket was too good an offer to turn down,' Luffman said. 'It has its risks because we are in professional sport, and I was going from a fairly stable job within education. 'We want to be a franchise that is here for 12 months of the year, not just for four or five weeks. That is not a criticism [of the other teams]. It is just the nature of the T20 merry-go-round.' Luffman also plays amateur cricket for the club he helped found, Dubai Wanderers. It was while playing for them that he first encountered Khuzaima, who was newly arrived from Pakistan. With the endorsement of his Wanderers teammates, Arron Lilley and Jordan Clark, who both have experience of county cricket, he closely monitored Khuzaima's progress. 'It is not just about ability,' Luffman said. '[The Vipers] are really big on the environment we create. You have to be a certain type of player. 'What struck us about Khuzaima was, other than the fact he bowls quick, is strong, can field and hold the bat, is that he is a really, really nice kid. 'He wants to ask questions and learn. He looks after himself, does extra stretches before warm ups, and does cool downs afterwards, even between innings. 'It became obvious he was someone we needed to go for in the main draft [ahead of ILT20 Season 3]. We were delighted to get him. We are really excited about what he can bring to the Vipers and UAE cricket. 'Like Tom Moody [Vipers' director of cricket] said, if there is a better fast bowler in the country than him, I would like to see them.' Ferguson, the New Zealand fast bowler, echoed that sentiment. 'Khuzaima has been a real stand out,' Ferguson said. 'The way he has gone about his training from the very beginning of the tournament shows he is constantly trying to get better. 'I love his bowling action. I wish mine looked as pretty as that. He is very young in terms of a fast-bowling career, but his skill set is exceptional. 'Even in the short time he has been in this tournament we have seen him grow and grow, including in the [qualifier play-off against the Warriorz] when he bowled a beautiful last over. 'He is an exciting prospect for UAE in terms of international cricket and I think he is going to have a lot of success in the future.' Khuzaima had to bide his time until he got his chance in the tournament. The game against the Warriorz in which he debuted was the Vipers' sixth of the season. Luffman said he was thrilled for the 25-year-old quick, who will have to wait for around a year and a half to be eligible for selection for the UAE via the ICC's residency criteria. 'I saw him that morning at breakfast, and he thanked me,' Luffman said. 'He calls everybody 'sir'. To see him doing so well in that first game and beyond, it shows he has pace, he is a fit, strong boy, he has skills, and he has bottle, which goes a long way at this level. 'We are really excited by what he can do. He seemed to rush everybody, even some of the world's best players. Now they know who he is, which is his next challenge when he plays against them. 'But that day in Sharjah, I was absolutely delighted for him, a little like a proud dad.'
Dubai Eye
08-02-2025
- Sport
- Dubai Eye
Desert Vipers beat Sharjah Warriorz to reach final
The Desert Vipers defeated the Sharjah Warriorz in the DP World ILT20 Season 3 Qualifier 2 clash bowling exceptionally well and followed it up with a scintillating batting display to cruise to a seven-wicket win at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday. The Desert Vipers chased down 163 with 20 balls remaining as Max Holden (48) and Alex Hales (47) set the tempo before the skipper Sam Curran smashed a 15-ball 34 to power his side past the finish line. The Desert Vipers will now face the Dubai Capitals for the DP World ILT20 Season 3 title on Sunday. Having finished as runners-up in the inaugural season, the Desert Vipers will hope to go the distance this time around. Defending a tight total, the Sharjah Warriorz got off to the perfect start as Adam Milne rattled Rahmanullah Gurbaz's stumps with a peach of a delivery. The lovely inswinger seamed in perfectly and snuck between bat and pad to reduce the Desert Vipers to 3/1 in the first over. Hales picked up the baton at the other end as he found a couple of early boundaries to set the pace for the chase. Those initial boundaries gave Hales a boost of confidence as he went on to fire on all cylinders. He clobbered Dilshan Madushanka for four striking fours in the fourth over and then Holden upped the ante with a couple of lovely boundaries against Moeen Ali as the Desert Vipers raced away to 54/1 at the end of the powerplay. Hales and Holden were in rousing form to seize control of the match. Hales dispatched Karim Janat for three successive boundaries, the pick among those was a flat hit straight over the bowler's head. The Desert Vipers were bossing the chase at this point, while the Sharjah Warriorz bowling attack searched for answers. They found the answer in Madushanka as he came back into the attack and struck right away to dismiss Hales for a brilliant 47 off 29 balls. The Desert Vipers still had the upper hand in the chase, placed at 92/2 after 10 overs, and Holden ensured they got closer to the target with a string of big hits. However, just as Holden and Dan Lawrence seemed to be forming a match-winning partnership, Milne beat Holden for pace and got his man for 48. Some clever changes of personnel and disciplined bowling allowed the Sharjah Warriorz to sneak back into the contest. They had gotten the better of the Desert Vipers' two in-form batters, but the job was far from done as the opposition needed just 46 runs from the final seven overs. Curran accelerated the chase with two neat hits to the boundary, sandwiched between a maximum from Lawrence, as the Desert Vipers eased their way to the target. Curran was hitting the ball really well as he amassed 11 runs in the 16th over, which included a beautiful flick off the pads for a massive six over midwicket. Curran played a captain's innings as he pummelled a humongous six and a flat six to go past the 4,000 run mark in T20s and propel the Desert Vipers into the final of the DP World ILT20 Season 3. Earlier, the Desert Vipers nearly made the perfect start as Mohammad Amir's first ball saw Tom Kohler-Cadmore edge to first slip, but the catch was dropped. However, that miss didn't prove costly as David Payne struck off his first delivery to account for Kohler-Cadmore. Payne bowled a stunning wicket maiden in the second over before Amir got Johnson Charles in the next one. Charles smashed Amir for a boundary and a maximum, but the Pakistani pacer had the last laugh as he got his man for 16 off 10 balls. Three overs in, the Sharjah Warriorz were at 19/2 with two new batsmen at the crease. That did not deter them as Jason Roy hit a streak of boundaries to get going and Tim Seifert soon joined the party as they led their side to 45/2 at the end of the powerplay. Roy found his groove as he played a fantastic pull shot against Khuzaima Tanveer to continue his blitzkrieg, but his 43-run partnership with Seifert was snapped by Nathan Sowter. The leggie bamboozled Seifert with a slower one and the New Zealand keeper-batter was out for 15 off 16 deliveries. Roy survived a close LBW call soon after as the Sharjah Warriorz put up 71/3 at the halfway mark. The Sharjah Warriorz needed some quick runs to improve their run rate and Matthew Wade attempted just that, but Sowter struck again with a superb leg-break. Wade failed to read the delivery and his leading edge sailed straight to Sowter for a simple catch. Roy remained the wrecker-in-chief as he continued to toy with the bowlers and brought up a magnificent 50 in 34 balls, with six overs to go. Some tight bowling from the Desert Vipers saw them give away just 14 runs and pick up a wicket in the next two overs as Moeen, playing his first match of the season, departed for 17 off 16. Janat was the next man to come in and he played a stunning late cameo as he clobbered four sixes, including three in the 19th over, which yielded 23 runs. Tanveer picked up the wickets of Roy and Janat in the final over and 18-year-old UAE batter Ethan D'Souza hit a four off the last ball of the innings as the Sharjah Warriorz wrapped up their innings at 162/7.
Arab News
07-02-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Desert Vipers storm into ILT20 final with commanding win over Sharjah Warriorz
SHARJAH: Desert Vipers delivered a dominant all-round performance to cruise past Sharjah Warriorz by seven wickets in Qualifier 2 of the DP World ILT20 on Friday, setting up a final clash against Dubai Capitals. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Chasing 163 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, the Vipers made light work of the target, reaching it with 20 balls to spare. Openers Max Holden (48) and Alex Hales (47) set the tone with aggressive stroke play before captain Sam Curran finished the chase in style with a blistering 15-ball 34. Having finished as runners-up in the tournament's inaugural season, the Vipers will now be determined to go all the way when they meet Dubai Capitals in the final on Sunday. Sharjah Warriorz got off to a dream start when Adam Milne bowled Rahmanullah Gurbaz for just three in the opening over with a superb inswinging delivery. However, Hales responded with a flurry of boundaries, including four consecutive fours off Dilshan Madushanka in the fourth over, as the Vipers raced to 54 for one by the end of the powerplay. Hales continued his assault, smashing Karim Janat for three successive boundaries before Madushanka finally got his revenge, dismissing the Englishman for a rapid 47 off 29 balls. Despite that breakthrough, Holden kept the momentum going with clean hitting, ensuring the Vipers remained in control at 92 for two after 10 overs. Just when Holden looked set to steer his side home, Milne struck again, dismissing him for a well-compiled 48. However, with just 46 runs required from the final seven overs, Curran took charge, the Vipers' skipper unleashing a brutal display of hitting, striking two fours and two sixes, including a massive shot over midwicket, to seal victory in emphatic fashion. Earlier, Sharjah Warriorz struggled for early momentum after losing Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Johnson Charles within the first three overs. Charles briefly threatened with a six and a four off Mohammad Amir but fell soon after for 16. Jason Roy provided some stability, striking a series of boundaries and forming a crucial 43-run partnership with Tim Seifert. However, the Vipers' bowlers continued to chip away, with Nathan Sowter deceiving Seifert (15) with a slower delivery and later removing Matthew Wade (6) with a brilliant leg-break. Roy fought valiantly, bringing up his half-century in 34 balls, but his departure in the final over — coupled with a stunning cameo from Janat, who smashed four sixes in the last two overs — meant the Warriorz could only muster 162 for seven. Reflecting on the defeat, Tim Southee, skipper of Sharjah Warriorz, admitted his side fell short with the ball. He said: 'It was a tough one. We knew the wicket would skid on later, but we needed to bowl better. The Vipers changed their pace well and executed their plans perfectly. Jason (Roy) played exceptionally well, but overall it was disappointing not to defend our total.' Meanwhile, Player of the Match Hales was delighted with his contribution, saying: 'It feels great. The pitch was playing well, and I'm happy I could time the chase perfectly. We kept it simple, watched the ball until the last moment, and played to our strengths. Now we're fully focused on the final.'
Khaleej Times
07-02-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Desert Vipers set up ILT20 final clash with Dubai Capitals
The Desert Vipers didn't put a foot wrong in their ILT20 Season 3 Qualifier 2 clash against the Sharjah Warriorz as they bowled exceptionally well and followed it up with a scintillating batting display to cruise to a seven-wicket win at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday. The Desert Vipers chased down 163 with 20 balls remaining as Max Holden (48) and Alex Hales (47) set the tempo before the skipper Sam Curran smashed a 15-ball 34 to power his side past the finish line. The Desert Vipers will now face the Dubai Capitals for the ILT20 Season 3 title on Sunday, February 9, in Dubai. Having finished as runners-up in the inaugural season, the Desert Vipers will hope to go the distance this time around. 'It feels good, the pitch was playing well and I'm glad to time that chase well," said Hales who was named player of the match. "It was holding a bit in the first 3-4 overs when we bowled, so we knew we had to adjust when we came out to bat. I kept it quite simple, very happy with how I played square and keeping it still, watching the ball till the last moment. We have a very strong batting line-up, so if we can use our change-ups well, we have a good chance in the final.' Meanwhile, Tim Southee, captain of the Sharjah Warriorz, said: 'It was a tough one. We knew the wicket would skid on a little bit later, but we needed to bowl better. The sides that bowl first tend to have more success here. The Desert Vipers changed their pace well and bowled well throughout the day."
Dubai Eye
07-02-2025
- Sport
- Dubai Eye
Sharjah Warriorz beat MI Emirates by six wickets
Tim Seifert's stellar cameo at the DP World ILT20 Season 3 helped the Sharjah Warriorz to seal a stunning six-wicket win against defending champions MI Emirates in their winner-takes-it-all Eliminator clash at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Thursday evening. Seifert's 40 off 20, coupled with Tim Southee's two-wicket haul takes Sharjah Warriorz a step closer to the title as they will next face the Desert Vipers in Qualifier 2 on Friday for a spot in the final. Following MI Emirates' elimination, new champions will be crowned in Season 3 of the DP World ILT20 as both previous winners have been knocked out of the competition. This is also the first time Sharjah Warriorz have reached this stage of the tournament. Chasing a modest total of 147, Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Johnson Charles struck five fours in the opening two overs to put up 23/0. Charles went after Alzarri Joseph in the third over as he cut it away for a boundary and then launched a massive six as the Sharjah Warriorz powered on. Charles was in sublime form as he slashed away on a ball that was outside the sixth stump for another boundary and put up 27 runs off just 12 deliveries. The Saint Lucian batter didn't spare any bowler as he next went after Muhammad Rohid and hit him for back-to-back boundaries. The young UAE bowler, though, made a fine comeback as he undid Charles with a short-pitched delivery. He departed for a well-made 36 off 20 and Jason Roy was the next man to come in. The Sharjah Warriorz looked well-poised to chase down the target as they amassed 58/1 at the end of the powerplay with Kohler-Cadmore in fine form. Kohler-Cadmore and Roy strung together a fine partnership as they took their side to 87/1 at the halfway mark and they needed exactly 60 runs off 60 deliveries. The MI Emirates needed a couple of quick wickets to work their way back into the contest and found their big breakthrough in the 13th over. Rohid was brought back in the attack and turned the tide in the MI Emirates' favour as he dismantled Roy's stumps to give his side some breathing room. It only got better for the local lad as he struck again two balls later when Will Jacks took a catch at cover to dismiss Matthew Wade. Rohid, thus picked up two massive wickets in the over and gave the MI Emirates a route back into the game. The momentum, though, was still with the Sharjah Warriorz as they were at 101/3 and needed 46 runs from the final seven overs with as many wickets in hand. Tim Seifert played a gem of an innings as he ensured he scored a boundary in each of the next three overs to take his team closer to the target. Kohler-Cadmore's patient innings was snapped by Fazalhaq Farooqi, the tournament's leading wicket-taker, after the Englishman played it onto his stumps for 40 off 40. His dismissal served as a scare among the Sharjah Warriorz faithful, but Seifert took control of the chase and got the job done. He clobbered 16 runs in the 19th over to finish with 40 runs from 20 balls and lead the Sharjah Warriorz to Qualifier 2. This was the first time the Sharjah Warriors had reached this stage of the tournament. Earlier, the MI Emirates innings didn't get off on the best note as Andre Fletcher fell to Adam Milne in the first over. Tom Banton and Will Jacks combined to put up 34 for the second wicket before an inspired bowling change earned the Sharjah Warriorz their second wicket. Ashton Agar was brought on in the sixth over and he repaid his captain's faith right away as he got Jacks with a quicker one that skidded off the surface. However, Nicholas Pooran came out all guns blazing as he hit 4,4,6 to get things underway and lead the MI Emirates to 48/2 at the end of the powerplay. Banton and Pooran looked in sound form and the Englishman kept the scoreboard ticking and overtook Shai Hope to soar ahead in the race for the Green Belt. Banton's stay came to an end in the 10th over as Rohan Mustafa took a stunning catch to dismiss him for 29. Mustafa bowled a flighted delivery and showed great reflexes to stick his right hand out and grab onto a sharp catch. At the halfway mark, the MI Emirates had 75/3 on the board. Pooran spearheaded his side's scoring duties as he dealt only in boundaries to 42 runs off just 19 deliveries. He played the perfect captain's innings and became only the third batter to score 1000 runs in the tournament but was undone in the 13th over by Dilshan Madushanka. The Sri Lankan hit the deck hard with a short ball and Pooran was beaten for pace. Bevon Jacobs fell in the next over after failing to dispatch a full toss and the MI Emirates found themselves at 101/5 with six overs to go. Interestingly, the MI Emirates had not lost a single wicket to spin in the six matches they played in Abu Dhabi this season but they lost three wickets on the evening. The Sharjah Warriorz swapped spin for pace in the 17th over as Southee came on and struck right away. Kusal Perera hit a six off the first ball but holed out the next delivery as Southee dismissed him for 18 off 12. It went downhill thereon for the Sharjah Warriorz as Romario Shepherd, who was dropped twice, trudged back to the pavilion for seven runs in the 19th over. The Sharjah Warriorz' brilliant bowling display saw them restrict the MI Emirates to 146/8 in 20 overs.
