The Desert Vipers are aiming to turn the Dubai International Stadium green on Saturday, February 3rd when they stage their first-ever Sustainability Match.
The game against the Gulf Giants in the DP World ILT20, the UAE’s own Twenty20 cricket league, will see the franchise roll out a host of initiatives that will highlight the issues of climate change and plastic waste.
Desert Vipers players will wear green kit and fans will be encouraged to come to the stadium wearing green.
The franchise will hand out green fan shirts displaying their “Net Zero 2040” pledge and other sustainability messaging.
Fans are also being asked to bring with them old, unused or unwanted items of sports clothing which will then be recycled or upcycled, in keeping with the Vipers’ commitment to sending nothing to landfill.
A core group of Vipers fans will travel to the match in vehicles powered by biofuels, and the player of the match trophy will be made of sustainable material.
The fan village outside the stadium will also feature sustainability-themed activities and recycling bins will be a feature at the venue, All plastic waste materials collected will be sent to the Vipers’ recycling partners who will produce sportswear from it.
Desert Vipers Chief Executive Officer Phil Oliver said: “The Sustainability Match is intended to highlight what we stand for as a franchise – our commitment to raise awareness of the threat that climate change poses to everyone.
“We want to lead the way and set the example for this type of occasion and we hope other teams and leagues will follow suit.
“Our initiatives will hopefully be a fun way for the fans to engage with what we are doing and if it starts people thinking about the issues we are raising then all the better.
“By bringing these issues to the attention of the watching world we can foster conversations and behavioural change among cricket fans that will ultimately benefit everyone.
“We are grateful to the league for allowing us this platform to champion what we believe are issues that are fundamental not only to the game of cricket but also to the planet.
“As with our agreements with Bat For A Chance and The Plastic Pledge, the Sustainability Match fits in perfectly with our Sustainability Strategy Framework. And our mantra of reduce, reuse and recycle.
“It really is true that the longest journey starts with the first step. We have taken the first few steps towards protecting and preserving our environment and we hope others will join us on the journey.”
The Sustainability Match builds upon the actions the Desert Vipers have already taken.
The franchise became Dubai’s first signatory to the United Nations Sports for Climate Action Framework, bringing with it a commitment to reduce its emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 and reach net zero by 2040.
The Vipers have also eradicated single-use plastic bottles from the dressing rooms at all matches thanks to its Sustainability Impact Partnership with Bluewater, with the players and staff all having reusable drinks bottles.
Through its partnerships with Bat For A Chance and The Plastic Pledge the franchise is championing the causes of reusing and recycling old and unwanted playing kit with the aim of sending zero items to landfill.
The Desert Vipers are already undertaking a schools and community outreach programme across Dubai with the twin aims of introducing children to cricket and highlighting the need to protect the environment.
The second season of the DP World ILT20 began on 19 January and concludes with a final on 17 February. The Desert Vipers were runners-up in season one, losing in the final to the Gulf Giants, the opponents in the Sustainability Match.
Tickets for all Desert Vipers matches are now on sale and can be purchased via the official DP World ILT20 website or at any Virgin Megastore across the UAE.
