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With the next edition of the DP World ILT20 just a couple of months away, it's time to kick-off a new season of Vipers Voices - and what better way to do it than to speak with Luke Wood and Azam Khan at the launch of the side's new playing kit for 2025.
What makes this kit fantastic is that it's produced locally, in the UAE, thanks to a new clothing agreement with PalmFit, and it's made from recycled material, in keeping with the Desert Vipers' sustainability drive. So the kit not only looks great but it's also great for the environment too!
In this episode we hear from Luke and Azam about their reflections on season two, what they've been up to since that last edition wrapped up in February, and their hopes and expectations for season three. It's a great listen so dive in...https://www.thedesertvipers.com
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This is our final podcast from season two of the DP World ILT20.
The Vipers signed off from the tournament for this season with a comfortable win by six wickets over the Sharjah Warriors in Sharjah, a win that ensured that although the side failed to finish in the top four and therefore secure a spot in the play-offs, it did mean Colin Munro’s side leapfrogged Sharjah into fifth place in the table.
It was a fourth win this term for the Vipers who produced perhaps their most complete performance of what was ultimately a disappointing campaign.Neither side was able to qualify and so pride was all that was at stake but the Vipers ensured they finished on a high and left the tournament on a positive note.
We hear from Head Coach James Foster with his reflections on the season as a whole, and there’s also the chance to listen to captain Colin Munro with his thoughts on both the victory over Sharjah and the season.
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This episode could easily be called Vipers heartache as Colin Munro’s side went down to a last ball loss against the Dubai Capitals for a second time this season.
The defeat leaves the franchise bottom of the six-team table and while they’re still not out of contention for a spot in the finals, it’s now out of their hands.
We hear from batter Alex Hales, who top-scored for the Vipers with 66 from 37 balls but, as you’ll hear, it was a bittersweet success for him on a night when the side suffered a gut-wrenching loss.
The Capitals needed six from the final delivery, bowled by Ali Naseer, and Sikandar Raza struck it over long-off for a maximum to seal the win.
There’s now just one regular season fixture left for the Vipers now – against Sharjah Warriors in Sharjah on Sunday the 11th of February – and if you want to attend that match then you can secure your ticket via the ILT20 website – www.ilt20.ae – or at any Virgin Megastore in the UAE.
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This time we have a real treat for you – a round-table chat with captain Colin Munro and Director of Cricket Tom Moody to look ahead to the match against the Dubai Capitals at the Dubai International Stadium on Friday night, the 9th of February.
It’s the penultimate match of the regular season for the Vipers and it’s a must-win encounter if the side wants to retain a realistic chance of making it to the play-offs.
In our chat with Tom and Colin, the pair reflect on the season so far, and also on what’s to come, starting with that clash against the Capitals.
We spoke about the return of Dan Lawrence from England duty for the next two matches, the arrival of Sam Curran and Phil Salt, both outstanding international cricketers in the Twenty20 format, and the impact, both on and off the field, of the Pakistan contingent – Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Azam Khan and Mohammad Amir – this season.
We also discussed the importance of the toss and the fact that the Capitals match is so high-stakes. It’s all about pressure and Colin and Tom have some very interesting thoughts on that.
We’re all set for what should be some unmissable action over the next few days with, first, the match against the Capitals and then an encounter against Sharjah Warriors that could define the whole season.
And if you want to be part of that action then getting hold of your tickets couldn’t be easier.
You can do so either via the ILT20 website – www.ilt20.ae – or from any Virgin Megastore in the UAE.
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In this episode we speak with the Vipers recruits Phil Salt and Sam Curran, the England internationals who have flown in from the SA20 in South Africa to bolster the side’s roster in the run-in to the end of the regular season of the DP World ILT20.
Wicketkeeper-batter Phil has arrived from Pretoria Capitals and all-rounder Sam, has joined from MI Cape Town and both of them are experienced internationals.
Both were part of the England squad that lifted the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2022 with Sam being named player of the tournament on that occasion, and more recently Phil was absolutely superb in the T20I series against the West Indies in the Caribbean in December, when he scored two hundreds at the top of the order and made more than twice as many runs as any player from either team.
The good news for them both – as they touch upon in our chat that follows is that they’ve had time to get their feet under the table with a couple of training sessions after arriving before getting their teeth into two massive matches, the first of which is against Dubai capitals at the Dubai International Stadium on Friday evening, February the 9th.
The Vipers' final two group matches are against the Capitals and the Sharjah Warriors. Two wins should be enough for a place in the play-offs but it also means that every game is a virtual knock-out from hereon in.
What that should produce is compelling cricket and if you want to watch the matches against the Capitals or against the Warriors at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium then it couldn’t be easier to get hold of tickets.
You can do so either via the ILT20 website – www.ilt20.ae – or from any Virgin Megastore in the UAE.
https://www.thedesertvipers.com
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https://www.instagram.com/thedesertvipers/
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In this episode we look back at the Vipers’ Sustainability Match, against the Gulf Giants at the Dubai International Stadium last Saturday, in the company of the Desert Vipers CEO Phil Oliver and Sustainability Manager Ben Hardy-Jones.
The Vipers have nailed their colours to the mast by putting Sustainability and the climate crisis front and centre of their agenda and the match against the Giants was a manifestation of that approach.
We hear from Phil and Ben about how the match went and what happens next and how the Vipers will look to continue the progress that’s already been made.
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In this episode we reflect on a 30-run loss at the hands of MI Emirates in Abu Dhabi on Sunday February the 4th, the Vipers’ eighth game of this campaign.
We have reaction from debutant leg-spinner Nathan Sowter, who performed admirably in taking one for 27 and there’s also the views of Ali Naseer, the UAE all-rounder who had his maiden DP World ILT20 half-century, weighing in with an unbeaten 63 from 47 balls which ensured the damage to the Vipers’ net run-rate in the face of the loss wasn’t as damaging as it could have been.
The loss leaves the side battling it out with a host of other sides for a place in the top four – and therefore a spot in the end-of-season play-offs – and it looks like a battle that’s going to go down to the wire.
The Vipers now have two matches left in the regular season, against the Dubai Capitals in Dubai on Friday February the 9th and then Sharjah Warriors in Sharjah two days later.
And if you want to watch either or both games then it really couldn’t be easier to secure your tickets. You can do so via the league’s own website – www.ilt20.ae – or at any Virgin Megastore across the UAE.
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This time we look back on an emphatic win for Colin Munro’s side against the Gulf Giants – a six-wicket success with more than three overs in hand.
Coming up we have reaction from opening batter Alex Hales, wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan, who scored the fastest fifty in the history of the tournament, and also head coach James Foster, with the result seeing the side surge up the table from sixth to third.
It means that qualification for the end-of-season play-offs is now very much back on the radar and if the side can replicate the quality of this display, who knows? Maybe even a top-two spot – and with it two chances to reach the final – could be a possibility.https://www.thedesertvipers.com
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This is a very special episode of Vipers Voices. It's special because It was recorded on the day the Desert Vipers joined forces with the Dubai Sports Council.
Dubai Sports Council is the official body responsible for the development of the sports sector in the Emirate.
And in a ground-breaking partnership, Dubai Sports Council has become the Lead Partner in the Desert Vipers’ Sustainability Programme.
The announcement was made at the offices of the Dubai Sports Council in Dubai’s Design District in the presence of its Secretary General His Excellency Saaed Hareb as well as the Desert Vipers Owner Avram Glazer, Chief Executive Officer Phil Oliver, Director of Cricket Tom Moody and captain Colin Munro.
We hear from Colin, who talks about the partnership as well as looking back at the narrow defeat to Dubai Capitals and forward to the now-crucial game against the Gulf Giants at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday February the 3rd.
That match is the Vipers’ Sustainability Match, where the players will be wearing green kit, fans are being asked to attend dressed in green and are also be invited to bring in old and used sportswear which can then be recycled and upcycled in keeping with the Vipers commitment to sustainability and the environment.
We hear, too, from Tom Moody, who speaks about Shaheen Shah Afridi after the Pakistan Twenty20 International captain signed off for this season with that match against the Capitals.
Tom talks about Shaheen’s influence on and off the field and how the Vipers will deal with his absence.
So, plenty of chat – as ever – on this episode, but before we get into that, just a quick reminder that if you’d like to attend the Sustainability Match or any of the Vipers games this season, you can do so by picking up a ticket either at the league’s website – www.ilt20.ae – or at any Virgin megastore across the UAE.
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This time we reflect upon the side’s sixth match of the second edition of the tournament and it’s a match that ended in defeat for the Vipers – a four-wicket loss at the hands of David Warner’s Dubai Capitals, off the final ball of the match.
Coming up we hear from Director of Cricket Tom Moody, who offers us his perspective on the narrow reverse and we also get the thoughts of UAE all-rounder Rohan Mustafa, who scored 50 as opener and took a wicket with his off-spin.
There are four more group games left for the Vipers to secure a spot in the play-offs that follow the league stage of the competition, starting with a match against the Gulf Giants, a repeat of last year’s final. It’s the game that’s been designated the Vipers’ Sustainability Match and it takes place at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday February the 3rd.
If you want to attend the match then obtaining a ticket could not be easier. You can do so via the league’s own website – www.ilt20.ae – or at any Virgin Megastore across the UAE.
And if you are coming along then make sure you wear green and also bring with you an old or unwanted item of sportswear; the Vipers will swap it for a green shirt and also recycle or upcycle what you bring along, all part of the franchise’s sustainability strategy.
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In this episode we look back at the dramatic victory over MI Emirates, forward to the next match, against the Dubai Capitals, and also assess how the team is doing at the halfway point of the group stage, all in the company of captain Colin Munro.
Colin offers his usual fair and honest appraisal of his own and his side’s performances in the tournament so far and, as ever, it’s an interview you won’t want to miss.
Colin also talks about his and Shadab Khan's Spirit of Cricket gesture during the match against Sharjah Warriors after they withdrew their appeal for run-out against Sharjah batter Martin Guptill.After the last-ball success against MI Emirates, you won’t want to miss the next Vipers match, against David Warner’s Dubai Capitals, or any Vipers match in the tournament for that matter. And getting hold of tickets for the action couldn’t be easier. You can do so via the ILT20 website – www.ilt20.ae – or at any Virgin Megastore in the UAE.
https://www.thedesertvipers.com
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It’s a happy podcast this time as we have reaction after the Vipers' second win of this season's DP World ILT20, one secured by the narrowest of margins - by two wickets off the final ball in an absolute thriller against MI Emirates at the Dubai International Stadium.
We hear from head coach James Foster and also UAE all-rounder Ali Naseer, who took a game-changing catch to dismiss MI Emirates captain Nicholas Pooran.
The result lifts the Vipers off the bottom of the table but it really couldn’t be any closer at the halfway point of the group stage as the team is one of four sides on the same number of points – four, with Sharjah warriors on six and Mi Emirates on eight. It really does mean it’s all to play for with finals spots very much up for grabs.
This was undoubtedly the match of the tournament and if you’d like to sample some Vipers excitement first-hand then it couldn’t be easier to do so. You can get your tickets at the ILT20 website – www.ilt20.ae and at any Virgin Megastore across the UAE, with the Vipers next match is against the Dubai Capitals at the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday February the 1st.
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It’s time to hear from the Desert Vipers CEO Phil Oliver as we build up to the franchise’s Sustainability Match, against the Gulf Giants at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday February the 3rd.
The match is a first for the Vipers and for the DP World ILT20 as it’s been put in place to highlight all that the Vipers are doing to raise awareness of the issues of sustainability and, more broadly, the climate crisis.
There’ll be a whole range of activities and initiatives around the day and Phil tells us all about them in this interview.
First and foremost, the plan is to turn the stadium green, literally and metaphorically, on the day, with recycling, upcycling and activities highlighting sustainability inside and outside the venue.
Fans are also going to be given green shirts to wear, the Vipers will be playing in green, and people can also bring in their old and unwanted sports kit so that they can be put to good use by those who need them.
And if you fancy getting involved in the day by attending the match – or any Vipers match this season, for that matter – it couldn’t be easier to get hold of tickets. You can do so by visiting the ILT20 website – www.ilt20.ae – or going to any Virgin Megastore across the UAE.
https://www.thedesertvipers.com
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In this episode we reflect upon the match against the Sharjah Warriors at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, a game that saw the Vipers slip to a third defeat in four this season, going down narrowly by seven runs.
We hear from Luke Wood, who picked up three wickets in his first outing of the campaign and there’s also reaction from top-scorer Alex Hales, who’s 61 from 40 balls wasn’t quite enough to get the side over the line.
The result leaves the Vipers bottom of the six-team table but with six matches still to play and just two points between sides six to two there’s still plenty to play for with finals spots up for grabs.
And the Vipers have the chance to put their tough start to the tournament behind them starting on Tuesday the 30th of January when the side is next in action, against MI Emirates at the Dubai International Stadium on Tuesday the 30th of January.
And remember tickets are available for that match and all that the Vipers are set to play. You can buy them at the ILT20 website – www.ilt20.ae and at any Virgin Megastore across the UAE.
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In this episode, we look back on the side’s third match of the tournament, against the Abu Knight Riders in Abu Dhabi.
The Knight Riders repeated the result of the previous meeting between the two sides six days earlier by winning by six wickets, this time with 14 balls to spare.
We hear from Vipers batter Sherfane Rutherford, who made 28 from 21 balls, and also fast bowling coach Azhar Mahmood. Both were frustrated at the result and the performance but know there’s no point in dwelling on it given the matches are coming thick and fast now with another clash just 24 hours after the Knight Riders match, against the Sharjah Warriors in Sharjah.
And if you want to catch any of the Vipers matches live then buying tickets couldn’t be easier. You can do so via the league’s website, www.ilt20.ae and also at any Virgin Megastore in the UAE.
https://www.thedesertvipers.com
https://twitter.com/TheDesertVipers
https://www.instagram.com/thedesertvipers/
https://www.batforachance.org.uk/
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It’s time to look forward to the next match on the Vipers’ schedule, the match against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday afternoon.
And to that, we are in the company of head coach James Foster.
We chatted with James on Thursday and in a wide-ranging conversation he not only looked ahead to that match against the Knight Riders, a repeat of the side’s opening game of the season, but also back to the victory over the Gulf Giants and plenty more besides.
James talks about the impact of the arrival of the Pakistan players – Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan and Azam Khan – on the squad, the role of the toss and the impact of the super sub rule on the tournament.
There’s plenty of meat on the bone there and it’s an interview you won’t want to miss.
And remember you can buy your tickets for all Vipers matches, starting with that match against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, at the ILT20 website and also at all Virgin Megastores across the UAE.
https://www.thedesertvipers.com
https://twitter.com/TheDesertVipers
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This time we catch up with Tymal Mills, the left-arm fast bowler who’s already made a significant impact for the Vipers in this edition of the tournament.
Tymal talks to us about a range of subjects, looking back on the victory of the Gulf Giants in the side’s second match of the tournament, forward to match three against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, and plenty more besides.
We chat all things left-arm given there are five left-armers battling for spots in the starting line-up, we talk pitches, conditions, the value of the toss, the super sub rule – and Tymal has a very interesting take on that – and we also speak about what he does outside of cricket.
It’s a thoroughly engaging conversation and it’s coming up shortly here on Vipers Voices.
And remember you can buy your tickets for all Vipers matches, starting with the side’s next outing against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday the 27th of January at the ILT20 website and also at all Virgin Megastores across the UAE.
https://www.thedesertvipers.com
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We’re reacting to positive news as the Vipers are off the mark for the season with a six-wicket win with eight balls to spare against the Gulf Giants, the side that beat the Vipers in last year’s final.
It was a match that saw Pakistan trio Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan and Azam Khan all debut for the franchise and all played roles in the victory, while Wanindu Hasaranga produced a player-of-the-match performance with 1 for 26 and 42 from 19 balls.Coming up we hear from Vipers captain Colin Munro as he gives us his views on the team’s performance that means with just seven matches gone in the tournament, every side has now won at least one game and lost one game.
If you want to watch any Vipers matches this season then it couldn’t be easier to buy tickets.You can do so via the ILT20 website or at any Virgin Megastore in the UAE.
https://www.thedesertvipers.com
https://twitter.com/TheDesertVipers
https://www.instagram.com/thedesertvipers/
https://www.batforachance.org.uk/
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This episode is what you might call a Pakistan special as we chat to Mohammad Amir and Shadab Khan, part of the four-man contingent from that country who are bolstering the Vipers ranks for this second edition of the DP World ILT20.
Amir played in the first match of the season against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and now Shadab is in Dubai as well, along with Shaheen Shah Afridi and Azam Khan.
We caught up with Amir and Shadab during a media interaction with local and international journalists and, as you’ll hear from the chat, they were in relaxed mood ahead of the Vipers next match of the tournament, against the Gulf Giants at the Dubai International Stadium on Wednesday January the 24th.
Talking of which, tickets for that clash, a repeat of the 2023 final, and all other Vipers matches this season, are available via the ILT20 website, www.ilt20.ae and also at all Virgin Megastores in the UAE.
https://www.thedesertvipers.com
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This really is an episode with a difference as we begin the countdown to a first for the Vipers and a first for the DP World ILT20 – a game on February the 3rd against defending champions the Gulf Giants that’s being christened the Sustainability Match, aimed at highlighting all the things the Vipers are doing to raise the issues of climate change and recycling.
And to let us know what it’s all about and what’s planned, we hear from the Desert Vipers Sustainability Manager Ben Hardy-Jones, who gives us all the details – which include a change in the colour of the team’s playing strip for the day and opportunities for fans to get involved.
It’s an exciting innovation and hopefully, once you’ve listened to what Ben has to say, you’ll be enthused about it too – and if you’re in the UAE you’ll be keen to come along and play your part on the day.
Tickets for all Vipers matches, not just the sustainability match but every game the team is playing this season, starting with the next one – like the Sustainability Match, against the Gulf Giants, on Wednesday January the 24th, are on sale and can be purchased via the ILT20 website or at any Virgin Megastore across the UAE.
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