UAE conditions have allowed batters to flourish in ILT20: David Gower

UAE, Dubai, 26 January, 2023: The International League T20, which is being held across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, witnessed several high-octane batting performances in the past few days of the competition. Desert Vipers’ Alex Hales and Sharjah Warriors’ Tom Kohler-Cadmore notched centuries against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and Dubai Capitals respectively, while Dubai Capitals’ Rovman Powell blasted his way to 97 runs off 41 balls against MI Emirates. 

Speaking about the sudden surge in runs during the ILT20, former England captain and commentator David Gower said, “The pitches have been ideal for batting. The players are getting into their stride. We are having closer matches in the middle stage of the tournament and we are having batters score 90s and 100s.”

Gower added that the fans want to see the ball disappear, “This is what the fans want to see. They want to see the ball disappear. We saw Najibullah strike the ball for six off the last delivery against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and that's the sort of finish we want to see.” 

The former England captain also spoke about Dubai Capitals’ Joe Root, who scored 214 runs in five matches before heading back home, “Joe Root is a classical cricket player. He has the brains to play the shots that work for him. He has the timing to find the gaps and hit the ball for boundaries. And he can hit sixes when he wants to.”

The ILT20 has seen a number of Englishman come to the party. Players such as Alex Hales, James Vince, Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Joe Root have lit up the tournament so far. Commenting on the same, Gower said, “England is so lucky to have so much talent at the moment. And these are the products of a system that has been in place for quite some time. Eoin Morgan changed England's culture in white ball cricket after the team's defeat in the 2015 World Cup. He encouraged all the players to be fearless and take an approach which gives dividends.”

An enticing ‘Friends and Family’ package is available starting at an incredible AED20 for fans to enjoy the action from the stands, as well as have the chance to be chosen to sit in the luxurious ‘Fan Pod’ on offer at each stadium. More information about these packages and to purchase tickets can be found by visiting https://tickets.ilt20.ae.

The DP World ILT20 made its debut at the Dubai International Stadium on 13 January 2023. Some of the greatest cricketing superstars have made their way to the UAE to play in the inaugural edition of the league. The tournament is currently being played in a 34-match format across the UAE’s exemplary, world-class cricket facilities in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Franchise teams, comprising over 100 International and 24 UAE-based players, include Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (Knight Riders Group), Desert Vipers (Lancer Capital), Dubai Capitals (GMR), Gulf Giants (Adani Sportsline), MI Emirates (Reliance Industries), and Sharjah Warriors (Capri Global).