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Moody: “blue skies ahead” for champions Vipers

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Moody: “blue skies ahead” for champions Vipers

The Desert Vipers Director of Cricket Tom Moody has admitted to “a great sense of satisfaction” after the franchise got across the line to lift its first DP World ILT20 title this month.

Tom, twice a part of Australian ICC Cricket World Cup-winning squads as a player, knew that the Vipers needed to shed the tag of nearly men this season after twice previously reaching the final of the tournament only to be pipped at the post.

And speaking with the Vipers Voices podcast as he wrapped up Season 4, he said the success in the final against MI Emirates, after a record-breaking league stage campaign that produced eight wins in 10 matches, brought with it a whole range of emotions.

“I had many feelings to be honest with you (after having won the DP World ILT20 trophy in Season 4),” he said. “Fulfilment is one of them (because), whether we are players or support staff, we all aspire to be there at the end and to play the final.

“We have been privileged enough to do that three times, but this is the first time we have lifted the silverware (and) I think the first feeling I had was not relief; it was just a great sense of satisfaction for everyone that has been involved in this journey. 

“This is four years that we have been together as a franchise. Yes, we have had some personnel come and go, more so on the field than off it, and naturally you are going to have some changes with recruitment as the seasons go from one to the other.

“But just seeing the relief and the satisfaction that everyone involved with the Desert Vipers got for having that final moment and lifting the trophy was extremely rewarding.”

From Tom’s perspective, one of the keys to the side’s success in Season 4 was the way everyone dealt with the challenges thrown in their way. These included the loss of captain Lockie Ferguson and Shimron Hetmyer to tournament-ending injuries, the lengthy injury absence of wicketkeeper-batter Andries Gous and the fact spin bowling all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga was unable to feature at all due to Sri Lanka commitments.

“I (am most pleased) with the way we dealt with adversity,” he said. “We had a lot of challenges throughout the season, whether it was injuries or players unable to turn up or players not receiving the necessary NOCs (No Objection Certificates) from their countries. Those sorts of things can throw your planning into a bit of a spin.

“But we managed to remain quite calm in that situation, both on and off the field. We made some good strategic decisions around replacements that were unexpected. And just the fact that it was not smooth sailing, even though it may have looked on the surface that it was, when you saw we won eight group games out of 10, and then the way we had a clinical finish in the finals – that all adds up to excellence from our perspective.

“I think it is a reflection of the environment we have created and the leadership that we have got both on and off the field. That makes it even more important that we recognise that this has been a special year.”

Sam Curran led the Desert Vipers in seven matches, including Qualifier 1 and the final in the absence of Lockie Ferguson and apart from success as a leader, he also won awards for Player of the Tournament (his second in successive editions of the DP World ILT20) and as the leading run-scorer.

Phil Oliver, CEO of Desert Vipers during the final of the DP World International League T20 between Desert Vipers and MI Emirates at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 4 January 2026.

Photo by CREIMAS / ILT20

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That type of performance, as a player and a leader, led Tom Moody to reflect upon how crucial Sam was to the side’s ultimate success.

“Sam has got that ambition to want to lead teams,” he said. “He is a natural leader by character and people like to follow his lead as well, because he is one of those magnetic characters. 

“Probably most importantly, with regards to his captaincy, he is strategically savvy. He understands the game. He reads the game. And all good captains tend to captain an over or two ahead of the game. They do not chase the game. They do not react to situations. They are ahead of those situations and play it on their terms. 

“I think Sam captained for us in seven games and won virtually all of them. That is not too bad.”

Off the field, the Director of Cricket highlighted CEO Phil Oliver’s role in creating an environment that set the tone for the team’s success.

“Phil (Oliver) has played an enormous role,” he said. “His consistency and leadership at the top has been second to none. Obviously, there is a lot of pressures on a CEO in a league like this because there is more to it than what you see on the surface.

“The way that Phil empowers me and the cricketing group is second to none. He has also got some great insight with regards to the cricketing side of things, which we draw upon as well. 

“But what he is trying to create outside of the cricket side of things with regards to sustainability and the education piece is something to be admired not only by the people within our group, but also by people externally, who are starting to look inside our setup and see that there is another way to do things and do them efficiently.

“So, what Phil is developing and driving is something quite unique in sport, and it is a credit to him and his team the progress that we have made in that space. 

“I think it will be one of those things that we will look back in time and think we could be very proud of what we have achieved, because I cannot help but feel that we are nearly the shepherds of the game with regards to sustainability and education around how we can do things differently, how we can connect with more corporate support through different avenues.

“I think we are yet to really realise the impact this is going to have in sport globally,” he added.

Despite recent announcements around other cricket commitments that Tom Moody has taken on, he confirmed he will be very much a part of the team’s future plans and said he looked forward to keeping the winning habit going.

“History tells you that we are winning more games than we are losing. I think if we stay true to our values as an organisation and our principles in building sides, there is no reason why we will not be at the pointy end of the tournament next season. 

“We have got some winning momentum having got over this hurdle of winning a final. I think it is just blue skies ahead. So, it is exciting times for the Vipers.”

Vipers Voices: Tom Moody reviews S4

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Vipers Voices: Tom Moody reviews S4

Our Director of Cricket, Tom Moody, reflects on the Desert Vipers’ tournament-winning season.

How can sport play a role in education?

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How can sport play a role in education?

To celebrate International Day of Education on 24 January, this blog looks at how sports can play a role in helping to educate people around the world, particularly young people. According to the UN, youth make up more than half of the global population and are a powerful engine for innovation, social change, and sustainable development. Yet many still face persistent barriers to a prosperous future, so sports can help remove those barriers and invest in youth and education.

Desert Vipers Schools Programme

It is important to start education from a young age, particularly in relation to sport. Many athletes today started playing their sport when they were very young. For this reason, Desert Vipers runs a Schools Programme which teaches basic cricket for free to 8-13 year olds at schools across the UAE and India. 

However, this programme has a special twist: it combines sustainability education with cricket skills. For example, during the bowling minigame, stumps are replaced with single-use plastic bottles and Bluewater’s reusable bottles, and students are taught to aim to bowl-out the single-use plastic bottles, reinforcing the belief that pointless plastic is unnecessary in a fun minigame. In this way, students who learn through doing are taught about sustainable behaviours, creating a long-lasting impact. 

Educating About Nature

A connection to nature is another gateway to sustainable behaviour change. Because of this, Desert Vipers run a BioBlitz – a race against time to record and upload as many species of nature as possible. This BioBlitz, supported by Nature Wave, takes cricket fans into local areas and teaches them about the importance of nature, before the fans record species using technology. Building on the success with our first BioBlitz in January 2025 at JA The Resort, the recent 2025 UAE – India BioBlitz, Powered by Styrex | Fuelre4m, recorded a whopping 641 species across 1,961 observations, and included 103 participants.

As well as in-person community engagement, sports teams have the opportunity to educate the millions of fans watching on TV. At the Season 4 Desert Vipers Sustainability Match, our team wore a special jersey featuring the ‘Global Biodiversity Stripes’, which were designed by Professor Miles Richardson from the University of Derby. The stripes show how, since 1970, global wildlife populations have declined by 73%. This, coupled with the message ‘WITHOUT NATURE THERE IS NO SPORT’ on the LED boards, aimed to educate millions of viewers around the world about the importance of protecting and restoring nature.

Providing Opportunities – Desert Vipers

As well as educating people, it is important that sports organisations provide opportunities for people to use their education. At Desert Vipers, we are proud to offer internships to students who have recently completed their academic studies, developing a career pathway. Our first intern was Ben Hardy-Jones, who is now our Business Sustainability Lead, and our second intern, Yoganand Malligorai Kannan, is currently nearing the completion of his six-month Sustainability and Community Internship. Stay tuned for the next blog which will be about Yoga’s internship experience!

Our Partnership with Middlesex University Dubai also creates opportunities for young people. For example, the Desert Vipers are offering Middlesex University Dubai students the chance to train with elite cricket coaches, gaining first-hand experience in high performance, strength and conditioning, and various aspects of athletic development. The collaboration also includes a link to the London Sports Institute in Dubai, creating new pathways for students across the UAE and UK.

Providing Opportunities – Carbon Happy World

Equally at Carbon Happy World, education matters, and bringing on the stars of tomorrow is essential. We’ve always felt that the most exciting talent and innovations don’t have to come from halfway across the world from places like Silicon Valley. In fact, we’re finding that the best people and their ideas are often sitting right on our doorstep, waiting in our local university classrooms.

We’ve made a conscious choice to put a ‘local-first’ stamp on our recruitment policy, and honestly, it’s one of the things we’re most proud of as a Liverpool-based company. A huge part of this mission is anchored by our strategic partnership with the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moore’s University. We’re actively recruiting high-calibre AI and Data graduates from the local talent pool, ensuring that the brilliant minds nurtured right here in the city have an opportunity to change the world without packing their bags.

A direct result of this pipeline of talent is the development of our AI capabilities and the next generation AI Carbon Happy Tracker, which helps businesses and sports organisations, like Desert Vipers, to monitor their carbon footprint.

This isn’t just a piece of software we bought off the shelf, it was built from the ground up with the help of these very recruits. Our local graduates have played a massive role in coding the algorithms and refining the data models that make the tracker so effective.

Tom Jepson, Sustainability Data Analyst and one of our first graduate recruits, shares his thoughts, “I was fortunate enough to move almost directly from university into a professional role. I frequently hear of other graduates experiencing repetitive, mind-numbing training programmes, but this could not have been further from my experience. I have been trusted with a level of responsibility that is uncommon in a typical graduate role.

Within my first year, I have assisted in the development of our reporting software; represented the company at the Bridge AI annual showcase in London; worked directly with clients; and even conducted interviews for student internship positions. These experiences have accelerated my professional development, exposing me to environments and responsibilities not typically encountered so early in a career.

I was also particularly pleased to begin my professional career in Liverpool, a city I am proud to call home. Being able to contribute locally made the transition into employment even more rewarding and strengthened my motivation to contribute positively both to the company and the wider community.”

Like Desert Vipers, Carbon Happy World are showing how strategic partnerships with local universities can result in enormous benefits for place, people, and business.

Sustainability Spotlight – Middlesex University Dubai

This blog’s Sustainability Spotlight features Middlesex University Dubai, our Elite Sport Performance & Academic Research Partner. Middlesex University Dubai is Dubai’s largest UK university with more than 6,400 students from over 120 countries. Middlesex University Dubai is a forward-thinking, dynamic, and 5-star KHDA rated university, known for innovation, academic excellence, and impactful research. This makes them the perfect partner for Desert Vipers, and we’re excited to develop the next generation of athletes and leaders together.

About Carbon Happy World

At Carbon Happy World, we’re dedicated carbon accountants and ESG software consultants. We empower businesses to measure, manage, and significantly reduce carbon emissions. By providing a range of innovative solutions and insights, we help organisations achieve their carbon net zero goals and genuinely enhance their sustainability practices. As at Carbon Happy World every calculation starts a conversation. 

Six months with the Desert Vipers: where sustainability became a way of life

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Six months with the Desert Vipers: where sustainability became a way of life

Looking back on my six-month journey as a Sustainability and Community Intern with the Desert Vipers, it’s hard to describe it as just an internship. This experience was deeply formative, influencing my professional outlook, personal values, and ethical considerations, and fundamentally altering my perspective on sport, impact, and daily decisions.

From day one, what stood out most was the culture. The team is genuinely welcoming and open to ideas, regardless of role or title. Whether it was senior management or an intern, every voice mattered. Ideas were encouraged, challenged constructively, and often implemented. That level of trust and openness is rare, and it created an environment where creativity and responsibility thrived side by side.

Sustainability here isn’t a checkbox, it’s a shared passion. Across the organisation, there’s a strong commitment to reducing environmental impact while amplifying positive social outcomes. From community engagement and schools programmes to on-ground sustainability initiatives during matchdays, the team consistently asked: How can we do better for people and the planet? Seeing that commitment translated into action, week after week, was incredibly motivating. It showed me that sport can be a powerful platform for change when values lead the way.

This internship offered me the best of both worlds. I had opportunities to work on the field, supporting matchday initiatives, community activations, and live sustainability efforts and off the field, contributing to planning, reporting, and long-term strategy. That balance helped me build a well-rounded skill set across sustainability operations, stakeholder engagement, data-driven thinking, and event execution. The trust the team placed in me to take ownership of meaningful work accelerated my learning far beyond what I expected from a six-month role.

Working alongside the team during the tournament was an unforgettable experience. Matchdays were intense, fast-paced, and incredibly rewarding, bringing together months of planning, coordination, and teamwork into moments that truly mattered. Winning the trophy in my very first season with the team made this experience even more special. Celebrating that success with a team that values purpose as much as performance reinforced how powerful it is when high performance and strong values go hand in hand. It was a moment of collective pride and one I’ll always carry with me.

Two people played a pivotal role in shaping this journey:

  • Ben Hardy Jones (Business Sustainability Lead), who worked closely with me throughout the internship. Ben’s guidance, patience, and strategic thinking helped me understand sustainability not just as an ideal, but as a practical, measurable discipline within elite sport.
  • Matthew Bailey (Head of Strategy), whose big-picture perspective and constant encouragement pushed me to think beyond tasks and focus on long-term impact, alignment, and innovation. His consistent follow-ups and guidance pushed me to challenge myself and deliver the work I did, giving me the confidence to take ownership and grow throughout the internship

Their mentorship gave me confidence, clarity, and a strong foundation to carry forward throughout my internship.

One of the most powerful takeaways from my time with the team is how deeply the team’s values – H.I.S.S (High Performance, Innovation, Sustainability, and Society) are embedded in everyday decisions. Over these six months, those values gradually became part of my own lifestyle.

I’m incredibly grateful to the entire Desert Vipers team for trusting me, supporting me, and challenging me to grow. This internship didn’t just build my skills in sustainability, but also strengthened my purpose. As I move forward, I carry with me not only professional experience, but a mindset shaped by values, collaboration, and the belief that sport can truly drive positive change.

Yoganand MK
FangsOut🐍

Vipers take trophy on schools tour

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Vipers take trophy on schools tour

The Desert Vipers Schools Programme for the 2025-2026 academic year is back and highlighted by a trophy tour across the United Arab Emirates. 

The Vipers, recently crowned DP World ILT20 champions, have taken the initiative to bring their trophy to students and help inspire them and foster a greater interest in cricket.

The Desert Vipers won Season 4 of the DP World ILT20 after finishing as runners-up in two of the earlier three editions of the tournament. The trophy tour offers students a chance to meet some of those who worked behind the scenes in this victory, while also hearing the story of how the trophy was won after a lot of hard work and determination.

The Desert Vipers Schools Programme is designed for students aged eight to 13 years of age and in season 3 educated 10,250 students on cricket and sustainability through 366 hours of free coaching in 55 schools across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and India.

The programme goes beyond cricket. Alongside learning core cricket skills, students explore how sport is connected to nature and how small, responsible actions can help protect our planet, both on and off the field. Mini-games related to Schools Programme Partners, which also includes Bluewater Group, Carrefour MAF, and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, help reinforce learnings around protecting people and planet.

On the back of the success of the Schools Programme, the Desert Vipers expanded their community reach through the Desert Vipers Talent Pathway Powered by Balqis, to unearth local talent in students aged between 13 and 18 years old and prepare them for international competitions. With a focus on high-performance, this programme offers expert coaching and mentorship to boys and girls with the goal of providing them opportunities in the Desert Vipers main team set-up. 

Jack Luffman, Desert Vipers’ Development Lead, said: “We are thrilled to be able to take the DP World ILT20 trophy, won by the Desert Vipers, on a tour as part of our Schools Programme.

“This is a chance for us to give students a behind the scenes look at all the work that the athletes and coaches put in and what it takes to build a champion team.

“The success of our UAE players over four seasons of the DP World ILT20 is also a key element in our conversations with students to demonstrate a clear pathway for aspiring cricketers. The journey begins with the Schools Programme, then progresses to the Talent Pathway Programme, the ILT20 Development team and finally the senior Desert Vipers team. 

“Each year we look for new ways to engage with the local community and give back to the UAE, and the trophy tour is just one such offering.”

Email schools@thedesertvipers.com to book your school’s place for a visit.

Vipers’ CEO: Season 5 planning begins now

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Vipers’ CEO: Season 5 planning begins now

The Desert Vipers CEO Phil Oliver says that while players, staff and management are thrilled to have won Season 4 of the DP World ILT20, that has only made them hungrier for continued success going into Season 5. 

Speaking to the Vipers Voices podcast, Phil Oliver reviewed Season 4 and the various areas of operations that he was most proud of in the wake of victory in last Sunday’s final against MI Emirates.

But he promised there would be no extended basking in tournament glory, with preparations for Season 5 already in the forefront of his mind.

“I actually had a conversation with some of the team this morning, that winning just energises you so much more, and you want to experience it again and again, of course,” said Phil Oliver.

“So yes, everyone has a little bit of a rest and a break, but I know everyone is looking forward to building for next season.

“And that work starts straight away, really, in terms of the squad and on and off the field preparations. We will take stock and go through things with our partners, suppliers, everyone involved with the franchise, all stakeholders, including people at the league, and start preparations for Season 5, because you do not want to rest on your laurels, particularly from such a position of strength.”

The final victory at the end of a record-breaking tournament that featured eight wins in the league stage was not to only good news for the Vipers.

Phil Oliver also confirmed that Director of Cricket Tom Moody, despite taking up an appointment with Lucknow Super Giants as Global Director, looking after teams across India, the UK and South Africa, will still remain involved with the Desert Vipers, as he has been since Season 1.

“He (Tom) will be back next season,” said Phil Oliver. “We know how committed he is to us. This victory has happened under Tom’s leadership from a cricket perspective, and I know he wants to keep doing it. 

“It is no surprise that Tom has got that role (with Lucknow Super Giants as their global director). He very much deserves to be operating at the highest level in franchise cricket, and we are obviously pleased for him to have those other opportunities, but (for us) nothing changes.

“In fact he will be more involved than ever over the next few months as we continue to build and try and capitalise on what we have created so far, and really make something long-lasting in terms of a Desert Vipers dynasty or whatever we want to call it because we are hungry for more. 

“We have seen what Tom has done at the Oval Invincibles in terms of long-term planning and so hopefully this is the start of a special run. So, I look forward to having Tom back with us very soon.”

Desert Vipers’ owner, Avram Glazer, was at the final cheering the team on, and he shared in the trophy celebrations as well. Phil Oliver said it reflected the team’s ethos to support one another.

Tom Moody: a Vipers mainstay, back for Season 5

“That is what it is all about – everyone enjoying the success of each other,” he said. “So, for him (Desert Vipers owner Avram Glazer) to be able to come across (to Dubai for the final) was a real commitment to our cause and he has been incredibly supportive of the playing group, the coaching group and all the staff.

“I would say that I do not think he thought it was a particularly unusual thing to do. He has been to all four seasons of DP World ILT 20. He was here earlier in the tournament, and he said at that point, he would not have missed the final for anything.

“So, it was no surprise to have him back and it was really nice to see him enjoying that moment on the stage with the players because it is very well deserved.”

A crucial element for any franchise team is their partners, and Phil Oliver told Vipers Voices that off the field support from the team’s sponsors was crucial to fulfilling the team’s potential on the field, while also allowing for greater engagement within the local community.

“We have got a fantastic group of partners and the fact that they want to activate with us, the fact that they are so well aligned to our outlook and commitments to things like sustainability and community make our job very much easier. We have had lots of tangible support throughout the tournament from those guys.

“I think McCone Properties, and Hemani, our two headwear partners, came to pretty much every match. Balqis Capital, who are on two kit positions, as well as partnering on our Talent Pathway (programme), were there throughout as well as Ellington Properties.

“These businesses have very strong credentials locally and the fact that they like what we are doing is a feather in the cap for us as a franchise. It shows we are doing the right thing and we are very excited about what we can do together. 

“It is not just around the tournament, it is what we can do throughout the year in terms of giving back to communities, their own workforces and third-party workforces. We know cricket is such a powerful vehicle for social change, so the support of those partners is especially important to us.

“We had Carrefour and their Bright Bites campaign on our trousers. They are a key part of what we do in the Schools Programme, so these moments are very much for those partners. 

“PalmFit as well (are important partners), through whom we are able to have our kit produced locally. We are well into a long-term partnership with them and we just keep going strength to strength with Palm Fit.

“They make tremendous quality attire for us, made from fifty percent recycled materials, but crucially made locally, so when players come in, we make a phone call and the kit is there within a day or two. These things do not happen by coincidence. They are strategic partners that we have aboard with us.

“BlueWater help us make sure that the players are well hydrated with special LED-fronted water units by the dugout and in the changing room, and in the team room at the hotel. 

“It all fits in as part of the Desert Vipers operation. Raw Coffee Company – I must give a shout out to those guys too because the coffee club that we had every day throughout the tournament, two hours of fantastic coffee being served by two baristas who became part of the Vipers family, was fantastic. They came to watch the matches and I know they enjoyed supporting the team and this win is for them because it should not be underestimated just how much the players enjoyed having that coffee club, drinking good coffee and feeling that they could go to the matches and training well filled with Raw Coffee.”

The Desert Vipers CEO also gave a shout out to the JA Group, who have supported the team from Season 1 as the official team hotel, but are now expanding on that partnership across various levels, supporting the team’s sustainability programme as well as offering their new cricket facility for around-the-year use.

“It is our home away from home. We have been there (at JA Resorts) all four seasons of the tournament. We love staying there and have built some very special relationships,” said Phil Oliver.

“The fact that their new sports facility is nearing completion in terms, very near (JA Lakeview Hotel) where we stay is a game changer. The prospect of us being able to literally walk to training is very exciting.

“That is going to help us throughout the tournament but also between tournaments as well. We plan to host schools events, family fun days, cricket for workers and, of course, the Talent Pathway Programme itself. I think we know that those players deserve a really good location to train in.

“We are giving them (Talent Pathway Programme students) an opportunity to see what professional cricket involves and that means using fantastic facilities, and that is very much what JA has at their disposal. 

“It is very exciting for them and for us and it is only going to help us prepare for Season 5 when we are able to have training camps of all levels, be it Desert Vipers first team players, development squad players, right down to the pathway group as well. 

“It is really nice to have that as our base and we are very thankful for JA Resort for all the support they have given us over the four years.”

Vipers Voices: reactions from the final

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Vipers Voices: reactions from the final

We speak with Phil Oliver, James Foster, Usman Tariq and David Payne moments after taking the silverware.

Desert Vipers: CHAMPIONS!

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Desert Vipers: CHAMPIONS!

The Desert Vipers have won Season 4 of the DP World ILT20 after a sensational 46-run win over MI Emirates in the final at the Dubai International Stadium. 

Put into bat by MI Emirates, the Desert Vipers got off to a flyer, only to be suddenly halted in their tracks with both openers gone in a single over to leave them at 36 for two.

A rebuild was undertaken by captain Sam Curran (74 not out) and Max Holden (41), who shared a crucial 89-run partnership. Max Holden’s departure saw another vital stand, this time worth 57 runs between the captain and Dan Lawrence (25), helping the Vipers to what turned out to be a winning total of 182 for four in 20 overs.

The Vipers bowlers then kept the pressure on by taking regular wickets, bowling MI Emirates out for 136 in 18.3 overs. David Payne and Naseem Shah took three wickets each while Khuzaima Bin Tanveer and Usman Tariq accounted for two wickets apiece.

Sam Curran was declared Player of the Match, and he was also named Player of the Tournament after finishing as the top run-scorer with 397 runs. Sam contributed seven wickets during the season and also led the team in the absence of injured captain Lockie Ferguson.


Avram Glazer, Executive Co-Chairman and Director at Manchester United and Principal, Lancer Capital, Phil Oliver, CEO of Desert Vipers, and Tom Moody, Director of Cricket of Desert Vipers with the winning trophy during the final of the DP World International League T20 between Desert Vipers and MI Emirates at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 4 January 2026.

Photo by CREIMAS / ILT20

RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE

Match Scores: 

Toss: MI Emirates

Desert Vipers:  182/4 (20 overs)

Top scorer:  Sam Curran 74 not out (off 51 deliveries)

MI Emirates: 136 (18.3 overs)

Top scorer:  Shakib Al Hasan 36 (27)

Match Result: Desert Vipers won by 46 runs

Player of the Match: Sam Curran 

Player of the tournament: Sam Curran

Here are some quotes from the Vipers Voices post-match vodcast and podcast featuring James Foster, Phil Oliver, David Payne and Usman Tariq:

James Foster on finally winning the trophy after missing out on two previous occasions, in Seasons 1 and 3:

“It feels really good, if I am honest, it has been four years in the making. We have been so close two other times, but we kept believing ultimately, and we have been a very consistent side over the four years and to get the victory today means a lot.

“It means a lot to a lot of people actually, obviously not just the players actually doing the hard yards on the field, but everyone behind the scenes who work so hard and do it in such a great way, in such a great manner.

“I am just delighted for the whole franchise, I know that can be a throwaway line at times, but the whole franchise, everyone involved, I am absolutely tickled pink for them.”

Desert Vipers celebrates after winning the final of the DP World International League T20 between Desert Vipers and MI Emirates at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 4 January 2026. Photo by CREIMAS / ILT20 RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE

James Foster on Sam Curran as a leader, and Player of the Tournament once again, having finished with the same accolade in Season 3:

“He is an amazing man – the character he shows time and time again. The Curran brothers have this desire, this fight and this love for and thirst for massive occasions, which is not an easy thing to do.

“So often he just puts his hand up, and he has got back into the England side and I am delighted for him, he has been excellent in leading, we have had two phenomenal leaders this season in Lockie (Ferguson) and Sam.

“I am absolutely gutted for Lockie as he has worked so hard and he has put so much into this group, for him not to be here today, but I know he has been messaging a lot on the (team’s WhatsApp) group. We gained two great leaders and as a coaching group, we are so lucky to have those two guys leading the show for the franchise.”

Phil Oliver, Desert Vipers CEO on the win:

“It is an amazing feeling and just look at these scenes with friends, families, all the players, all the staff enjoying this moment together. This is what it is all about, and I am so very proud of everyone. It is just a fantastic moment that we all hoped would happen and it was only really right at the end there we thought ‘we are going to do this.’ It is just an amazing feeling, the best you can get in cricket.”

David Payne on the win for the Desert Vipers and what it means:

“Amazing. These sorts of moments do not usually sink in until the next couple of days, but yes, (I am) overjoyed at the moment. I am really, really proud for the Vipers, the whole family outside, on the field, off the field.

“I think it is a real team effort, a real franchise effort from everyone on and off the field, so it feels really nice to be able to do this for the Desert Vipers.”

Vipers Voices: Sam Curran on Season 4 final

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Vipers Voices: Sam Curran on Season 4 final

In this episode we hear from Vipers captain Sam Curran ahead of the final of the DP World ILT20, against MI Emirates at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday the 4th of January.

Sam gives us his thoughts on the threat that MI Emirates pose, talks us through his captaincy style and what he expects from the big game as the Vipers, having reached their third final in four seasons, look to secure a maiden title.

Sam Curran: we’ll treat final like any other game

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Sam Curran: we’ll treat final like any other game

Desert Vipers Captain Sam Curran believes the Desert Vipers have been the strongest team in the tournament this season – but that counts for nothing if the team cannot lift the trophy.

Speaking to the Vipers Voices podcast a day ahead of the DP World ILT20 final against MI Emirates at the Dubai International Stadium, Sam said he knew that, despite winning a record eight matches in the league stage of the campaign, success or failure still came down to the final match.

“Tomorrow is a huge game for the Vipers and we would love to have our name on the trophy, which I think we would like to say we deserve, but nothing is given to you in this game,” he said. 

“I think we have to use the experience of what we have learnt and hopefully I think this season, winning eight out of ten group games and then having a really strong qualification game in Abu Dhabi, means we have played very well.

“I think we have done all the right things and I really hope tomorrow can be another good performance for us.”

Sam Curran has been a part of several finals in his career, most notably at the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia in 2022, where he was player of the tournament. And the Vipers captain said he would draw from those experiences ahead of the upcoming final. 

“Tonight I will probably go to bed thinking about those big games, and of how you prepare for them. I think the best thing is to treat it like any other game. I think you have got to enjoy the occasion, but there will be a different feel to it. 

“The guys will be nervous and excited, but when you have played in big games I think you can learn from how you did in those.  Even last year we lost but we still played in a final and that in itself is a huge achievement. 

“I think Moods (Desert Vipers Director of Cricket Tom Moody) actually mentioned to me the other day that when you get to a final it is about enjoying it. It is a great achievement and hopefully it all falls into place but our team is hugely experienced with so many internationals (players). 

“A couple of the UAE guys have had breakthrough seasons for us. Khuzaima (Bin Tanveer) has been special and he will be excited for tomorrow. I guess it is just an exciting time and I am sure everyone at the Vipers is going to be very excited like I am.”

Sam Curran has had to take up captaincy duties with the exit of regular leader Lockie Ferguson due to injury. He has slipped into the role with great success, and said it was something he was enjoying. 

“I think I have enjoyed it,” he said. “I am trying to read the game as well as I can being an all-rounder. Fozzy (Head Coach James Foster) and Moods (Tom Moody) have let me do my own thing on the field and trusted what I have done, obviously with their help and guidance as well.

“I go a lot on gut feel on the field and I am not a huge planner in terms of worrying about what the pitch is going to do and things like that. 

“I will just try and wake up tomorrow and have a little look at the opposition but hopefully react on what is in front of us. I am sure it will be a full house tomorrow and hopefully a really nice pitch.

“MI Emirates are a great team but I will not be worrying about the opposition; instead, I will just be trying to rely on the way I see the game at various moments and when I am batting, bowling or on the field marshalling the lads. I am excited that we have played so well and are in a good spot.”

“We have got a great group of lads playing on the field and I have had a lot of help (in my captaincy) from guys like Dan Lawrence and other experienced players, like Jason Roy and Fakhar (Zaman), and all the guys who are on the field. So, it has been great and hopefully just that one more tomorrow which we are all excited for.”

MI Emirates captain Kieron Pollard said after his team reached the finals by beating Abu Dhabi Knight Riders that the pressure was now all on the Desert Vipers. Sam Curran believed that was just a pre-final tactic. 

“He is playing a bit of mind games,” laughed Sam. “I know him pretty well and we share some banter. We saw in the qualifier that there was a bit of competitive niggle on the pitch which was great. We both really want to win.  

“I guess we have been the strongest team throughout the group but that does not really matter now. I think we take huge confidence from that, but we will see if I am speaking to you after the game in a good or bad mood and whether the mind games worked.  For now I think it is just all excitement.”

The Desert Vipers take on MI Emirates in the DP World ILT20 Season 4 final on January 4, at Dubai International Stadium from 6:30 pm.

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