Brian Murgatroyd 0:00
Phil, welcome to Vipers voices, and it’s a Vipers voices with a difference, because this has been the first ever DP World ILT 20 player auction. We’re there at the end of the auction, and I’m delighted to say that we’ve got
Brian Murgatroyd 0:17
the CEO of the desert Vipers alongside me. Phil Oliver, Phil, thanks so much for joining us straight off the back of the auction. And I guess the first question has to be, are you happy?
Phil Oliver 0:29
Thanks, Brian, yeah, good to be here. It’s been a little while, but not, not too long ago, that we were talking in the side of the side of the dugout after the last final. So we’re really, yeah, pleased to be looking forward to season four. And it’s, yeah, it’s been a fantastic afternoon and evening. We’re very happy with what we’ve got. It’s been an exciting development with ILC 20 being able to enter an auction. And yeah, we’re very pleased. We’ve ticked all the boxes, as they say
Brian Murgatroyd 0:55
The headlines, I guess, for the desert vipers, the three big Pakistan signings, Fakhar Zaman, Nazim Shah and Hassan Nawaz. What was the thinking there?
Phil Oliver 1:07
Yeah, I mean, Faka to just start with him. We know what we get with him. He was obviously a big success for us last year, high quality batter who can open the innings and batters a bit lower down. So he provides some flexibility, but it’s also the character of the player. He’s a fantastic leader, great around the group. And, yeah, he’s very important piece of our jigsaw. So delighted to have him
Brian Murgatroyd 1:27
Naseem Shah sharp pace bowling option there. That’s quite exciting, isn’t it?
Phil Oliver 1:32
Yes, explosive. Yeah, lots of pace. Can bowl in all stages of leadings, all three phases. So yeah, he’s gonna be a real threat for us, yeah, with with the ball, and here we’re exciting, excited, excited to have him, because he is a bit x factor.
Brian Murgatroyd 1:45
And Hassan Nawaz, I guess, with the bat, a little bit of an X factor as well. Because we know earlier this year, 145 balls for Pakistan against New Zealand in Auckland. He did the same in the PSL as well. What a power striker
Phil Oliver 2:04
fantastic talent. Talking of X Factor, he is very much that you mentioned those innings. He had a fantastic PSL. Obviously kept a close eye on him thereafter, and yet, he’s flexible as well. He’s got an amazing boundary percentage. He clears the ropes. So he can bat in a variety of positions across the top order. And you know, it could be a finisher option as well for us. So, yeah, really good. Pick up.
Brian Murgatroyd 2:25
Have to ask as well, Phil, about the no objection certificate situation with those Pakistan players. How concerned are you as to whether they will actually get the green light to be part of the DP World IoT 20?
Phil Oliver 2:38
I guess it’s a bit of a consideration. But we we go for the talent and making sure that we get the all the positions that we need. We’ve had Pakistan players over the last two seasons. They’ve been a big part of what we’ve done getting to the final last year. As I say, fat was a huge part of that. So, yeah, we’ll cross that bridge if we if we need to come to it. But, you know, we’re just delighted to have them
Brian Murgatroyd 2:59
Two Afghanistan players as well, one of them the risk spinner, case, Ahmed, who’s got a storied T 20 career all around the world as well. So you’re getting experience with him, even though he’s still relatively young.
Phil Oliver 3:12
Yes, we know Qais, well, we’ve played against him in this tournament. Wrist spin is an important part of the jigsaw in in franchise cricket. So yeah, he’s he’s going to be an exciting addition to the to the squad, and I think it’s going to complement what we’ve got in terms of balance of of the attack, young, energetic, good around the field, but yeah, with some experience as well. So yeah, it’s really nice to have him complimenting our spin attack.
Brian Murgatroyd 3:40
And what about faridun darwood, the left arm fast bowler for Afghanistan? No t a name that’s a household name, I guess. But obviously, the Vipers over the years, have had a history of picking lots of left arm quicks, and he’s another one off the production line. In that regard,
Phil Oliver 3:58
they offer something a little bit different, and this, this guy definitely does that. You know, we look at young talent and look further ahead as well. We like developing players in our team and environment. That’s an important part of what we what we do. And he’s an exciting, an exciting young quick bowler who got lots of variation, and obviously, as I say, something a little bit different.
Brian Murgatroyd 4:15
Now you’ve also pulled in right at the end of the auction, there to wonder male who plays for Kent in England, and obviously has played for Tom, for Tom moody at The Oval Invincibles as well. Tom, I guess, was a fairly significant person in terms of getting him on board.
Phil Oliver 4:36
Yeah, Thomas, judgment of a player is second to none. So it’s brilliant to have his input on onto window, who’s had a brilliant summer High Class Act, a really good 100 and season in England. So, yeah, really, really good to have him and adding a touch of, you know, as I said, different sort of, different sort of option at the top of the order. But again, is also flexible and a really good.Like to have around the group. Tom knows him well, as you say, and yeah, we look forward to him getting the Viper’s colors.
Brian Murgatroyd 5:05
Let’s talk about the UAE signings. Phil Victor Aravind, you had the honor of having the first player with the hammer bang down for him, Sanjay pahar and also mutiyala Khan, those two players were part of the Vipers development squad that got to the final of the development tournament. How do you feel about those three?
Phil Oliver 5:29
Yeah, I think it’s a testament to the success of that event. Actually, we paid really close attention to the players were involved in that. The coaches did a great job of developing that group of players. And yeah, it was brilliant to see them up close. Mattiola, we we know from this tournament again, we’ve played against him. We know, yeah, we know what he can bring in terms of new ball bowling and across all three phases, actually. So yeah, he came in for a relatively late in the development tournament, played in that final. Yeah, he really got stuck in and proved himself that at that point. So we’re delighted to have the option to pick him up. Sanjay Bahal was, I think, MVP in that, in that event, exciting player in that he’s three, three disciplines, a genuine all rounder, clears the ropes, big, big hitter and reliable with the ball and safe pair of hands, so and a bit of experience as well. You know, he’s, you know, he’s, he’s plays for high level in India. So he’s a great addition. Rich, yeah, brilliant to have him. You know, he’s someone who’s been a big part of UAE cricket for a while, but still, still young. He’s that brilliant combination of young, but with experience. So, yeah, really, really pleased to have him,
Brian Murgatroyd 6:38
and he offers you the option of keeping wicked as well.
Phil Oliver 6:41
Yes, indeed. Yeah, flexibility and options is important. Yeah, I think it’s yeah. It’s nice to have have that, because combinations is important to have have that as you go throughout the tournament, cover all your bases. So yeah, yeah, Fritz is a brilliant addition.
Brian Murgatroyd 6:57
Now you had one associate player on your list through Andreas house, the USA wicket keeper batter, your second associate player was Tom Bruce, originally from New Zealand, now playing for Scotland thanks to his father, who’s a Scotsman. What was your thinking? There was he always, always one of your top picks, if you like,
Phil Oliver 7:19
yes, yeah, you assemble these shortlists, and you know, Tom has been a part of that, for throughout the process, impact player with a lot of experience again, yeah, and that really nice, that nice mix of having the experience in lots of different conditions, but with plenty to prove and take this opportunity in this league. So delighted to give him the opportunity, and he’s going to be a real option, because, as you say, you know, associates are an important part of this tournament. We’re delighted with how they develop, you know, in our team and environment, as I as I say, and the fact that an associate is in the starting 11, which is a slight change from from last year’s event, it’s important that you get those selections right. And we’re delighted with the two we’ve got,
Brian Murgatroyd 8:00
talking of changes from last year’s event. Of course, we can’t ignore the fact that there were Kuwait players and Saudi Arabia players in the auction as well. And the players you picked up for Kuwait, first of all, Bil al Tahir, lots of experience in a very high strike rate in the middle order. And also Faisal Khan from Saudi Arabia, an exceptional strike rate, a top order batter. Were those two players always on your radar?
Phil Oliver 8:28
Absolutely, yes, it’s, it’s been the fun part actually doing some scouting and and looking around at those options for the GCC nation players who have come in as you, as you say, and it’s a fantastic opportunity for them and for us. You know, we’re really excited about the direction of travel, with ILT20, with the associations, with Kuwait Cricket Board and Saudi Arabia Cricket Board, and these guys have got a brilliant opportunity. You know, they’re going to be playing with some fantastic players. And so everyone wins out for this arrangement. It’s, it’s really exciting, and we look forward to having them with us, that they’re going to learn a lot, but they’re going to offer a lot as well. You know, we’re going to have a really nice diverse group of players, lots of different nationalities, nice cultural mix, and it’s going to be a fantastic December and early January together.
Brian Murgatroyd 9:13
Let’s also, Phil, talk about the players that you bid for that you didn’t get, by my reckoning. Nathan Sowter, who’s been a desert Vipers player for a couple of seasons, the leg spin bowler, who’s had success at the over Invincibles, most recently in the 100 Scott curry, the Scotland all rounder. Brandon McMullen, another all rounder. And again for Scotland, Ibra Ahmed and meet bhavsa. So those players, you put the paddle up, but didn’t end up getting them across the line.Any regrets there?
Phil Oliver 9:47
The way, the way an auction goes, of course, but absolutely no, no complaints. Yeah. Just to touch on Nathan, you know, he’s been a part of the Vipers family for a couple of years, and just really pleased for him as much as anything. That’s the overriding emotion when, when you see a player get picked up at a really nice level for him, we wish him all all the best. You know, he’s a great guy, and he had a really good, good summer. And I’m no surprise that there was so much interested in.
Brian Murgatroyd 10:14
Just give us a little bit of a picture Phil as well. What was it like there at the table? Because, as we’ve said, this was the first ever auction for the DP World, ILT 20, how much tension was there, how much expectation was there, and how much were you looking round at the other tables and seeing what they were doing, how much money they had left, and how did all those things play together?
Phil Oliver 10:39
Yeah, a little bit. I think it was, it was good fun, mainly, of course, as you said, we were the first successful bidder. It was nice to get one. Get it’s getting off the mark, isn’t it, I guess. So that sort of relaxes everyone, I think, on the table. And it was so, you know, it was, well run, you know, you can see exactly what you had left in terms of purse, what the other teams were doing. Richard did a fantastic job.
Phil Oliver 11:01
As auctioneer, and all went very smoothly from from our perspective and in general. So, yeah, great experience. Yeah, it’s been, it’s been a while for an auction to come into into this league, and it’s, it’s been an exciting day. And yeah, we look forward to the results of the auction because the event itself is good fun. But the most important bit is getting the players together and getting cracking in in early December.
Brian Murgatroyd 11:25
Yeah, you ended up not spending all your money. So what does that actually mean to the desert vipers? Can you go out and bring other players in? Is that? Is that what it means?
Phil Oliver 11:36
Well, it’s nice position to be in without looking at the money too closely. Of course, I think it shows that you’ve done a pretty good job. And job. It’s obviously a I think it shows the hard work and impacts that the whole team have had together. You mentioned Tom moody, who was who’s on the line throughout in Australia. Freddie wild, our analyst, yeah, and everyone who worked together on that, James Foster, head coach, had a had an input. He’s New Zealand, so, yeah, everyone puts a lot into it, yeah. So it’s really nice to reflect well on a job well done.
Brian Murgatroyd 12:07
How did all that go? Actually? Phil, with so many people in so many different parts of the world, lot of moving parts for the auction. For you, how easy, or how difficult was it to coordinate all that
Phil Oliver 12:21
thing once just set up and you’ve got the preparations in place, it goes, goes pretty smoothly. We all knew what we needed to do in terms of logistics and process, but also what we need to do in terms of our targets. The work was done ahead of ahead of time, so it was nice to put it into into practice.
Phil Oliver 12:36
So how confident are you feeling now? Phil, obviously, we’re still a couple of months away from the start of the tournament, the Vipers playing the opening match of the tournament against the Dubai capital to repeat of the previous Final of season three. How confident are you? Do you feel? I don’t know, a foot taller perhaps, after getting the auction out the way and getting the people you wanted in the squad,
Phil Oliver 13:02
yeah, I mean it’s it’s definitely wetted the appetite. You know, I think, yeah, we’re two months away from the tournament, and this is, this is really all systems go. Now. We’ve got the we’ve got the squad, and we can’t wait to get going. Yes, we’re confident. It looks great on paper, but as the cliche goes, it’s what happens out on the picture, of course. So we’ve got all the all the ingredients you’re looking forward to getting out there on the second of December against familiar opposition, as you say.
Brian Murgatroyd 13:29
Well, there we are. Then that’s the story from the inaugural DP World ILT 20 draft. The Vipers have got this squad in place, and now it’s a question of, well, the players coming together, the coaching staff coming together, and hopefully everything else coming together for season four of the DP World, ILT 20 and fingers crossed this time Vipers can get their hands on the silverware. Thanks so much for being with us, and we will, of course, be back as the season unfolds.
Phil Oliver 13:59
Thanks, Brian, and thanks for all your hard work today. See you soon.
Brian Murgatroyd 14:03
Thanks, Phil.
