Dubai, UAE (December 30 , 2024) – The Desert Vipers have appointed Sportz Journey, the Dubai-based sports-specific tour operator, as an Associate Sponsor for season three of the DP World ILT20, the UAE’s own Twenty20 cricket tournament.
The agreement sees Sportz Journey becoming a team partner to the Vipers for the upcoming season, as well as the Vipers’ Official Sports Tours and Logistics Partner.
Sportz Journey has been the Desert Vipers’ local operations partner since season one of the DP World ILT20 and provides back-up to the team across a range of areas including transportation, accommodation and practice arrangements.
And outside of tournament time, Sportz Journey has managed a growing schools programme for the team in Dubai, taking the Vipers’ name, its sustainability agenda and the DP World ILT20 to the community.
The company has worked with a variety of international teams including New Zealand and Scotland men and West Indies and Scotland women, as well as assisting in the management and logistics of two Fairbreak International women’s tournaments.
And at grassroots level, it worked on the R66T Dubai Cup earlier this year, a tournament for under-13 boys and under-15 boys’ and girls’ teams, and has been appointed as Official Logistics Partner for the next edition, set to take place in April 2025.
The agreement with the Desert Vipers will see the Sportz Journey logo appear on players’ trousers during the upcoming DP World ILT20.
Desert Vipers CEO Phil Oliver said: “While Sportz Journey has always been part of the Desert Vipers family, the formalisation of our partnership through this Associate Sponsor agreement reflects Sportz Journey’s growth and emergence as a leading provider of services to a variety of teams in the UAE, from international sides, clubs and touring school groups.
“We are delighted to have Sportz Journey alongside us again as we work together to achieve success for the Desert Vipers in season three of the DP World ILT20.”
Phil Oliver added: “This agreement with Sportz Journey is not just about the Desert Vipers’ continuing desire for excellence in logistics; it is also another example of our sustainability agenda.
“By using local suppliers we know and trust, and not flying people in from overseas, we are managing our carbon footprint and supporting the local economy too. It means our partnership with Sportz Journey is a win-win for all concerned.”
Sportz Journey CEO Sam Charnley said: “We have worked with the Desert Vipers throughout the team’s history and we look forward to our relationship continuing to grow.
“Sportz Journey prides itself on delivering logistics within the UAE to international teams, clubs and schools and we are delighted to once again be alongside the Desert Vipers in pursuing success in the upcoming DP World ILT20.”
The Desert Vipers will begin season three of the DP World ILT20 on day two of the tournament, Sunday 12 January, against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in Abu Dhabi, at 2pm.
It is the first of 10 group matches the side will play in 23 days across three venues – Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.
The final of the six-team tournament will take place in Dubai on Sunday 9 February.
The Desert Vipers finished as runners-up in the inaugural DP World ILT20 in 2023. The squad for this season includes England batter Alex Hales, the leading run-scorer in season one and the scorer of the tournament’s first individual hundred, as well as Pakistan trio Mohammad Amir, Azam Khan and Fakhar Zaman, and Sri Lanka leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, the top wicket-taker in the 2021 and 2022 ICC men’s T20 World Cups.
