Desert Vipers off to winning start in ILT20 Development Tournament
Dubai, UAE (August 25, 2025) – The Desert Vipers team kicked off their campaign in the ILT20 Development Tournament at the ICC Academy with a sensational one-wicket win over the Dubai Capitals.
Taimoor Ali, the Vipers’ impact player in the match, made a superb unbeaten 59 from only 28 balls, with two fours and six sixes as the team chased down the Capitals’ 210 for six, with victory sealed off the final delivery.
Three other players who made important contributions to the win were all-rounder Ali Naseer, whose four overs for 28 was an exceptional effort in a high-scoring match, wicketkeeper-batter Tanish Suri, who captained the side and made 35 from 25 balls as opener to get the chase moving and left-arm spinner Nilansh Keswani, whose power-packed 22 from nine deliveries at the end helped catapult his side to the win.
On the eve of the Development Tournament, the trio had spoken with Vipers Voices to emphasise the need for strong performances to help them attain places in one of the six teams at the DP World ILT20, the UAE team or other franchise cricket teams around the world.
Tanish Suri was part of the Vipers family for season two and three as a specialist wicketkeeper. He was not retained by the team for season four but made a strong case for himself with that first innings in the Development Tournament opener and he admitted he knew the importance of using the platform to showcase his ability and skill to make an impact.
“Yes, obviously this tournament is very important for me to get back to playing for the Vipers this season, for season four,” he said.
“Plus, I have been out of the UAE side for a couple of series as well. So obviously this is a really, really important tournament for me to grab this opportunity and do as well as I can for the Vipers Development team and for myself as an individual.
“When you play sport, there is always pressure, but what I think is just to keep it simple, stick to the basics and just do my best for the team.
“Yes, there is a realistic chance of getting back (into the UAE team) if I really do well in this tournament because the more you perform, the more you get recognised. That is how every sport works. So I am looking forward to the tournament.”
Ali Naseer has been part of the Desert Vipers set-up across all three seasons of the DP World ILT20 and said he appreciated the support he has received from the team and the coaching staff.
Ali said he performed below expectation in season three and has been working hard to raise his game: “I was hoping to obviously do a lot more (in season three), and try and contribute more towards the team, but it did not happen and that is how sport is.
“Sometimes you cannot always contribute every season. So I just think it is important to back your process and just trust your own skills and play every game with that confidence.
“I am hoping to just try and perform as well as I can and try and get back into the Vipers side or any franchise team, stay with them for a while, be consistent with them and then play a few franchise tournaments around the world along with that.
“There are quite a few tours coming up for the UAE before the (DP World) ILT20. We have got a few WCL (ICC World Cricket League) tours home and away. I know for a fact if I perform well here, I will probably be back in the (national) camp with the UAE. And if I can perform well in the camp games, I am hopeful to make it back to the team and play for the UAE again.”
“I think our team is pretty well balanced (in the Development Tournament). We have some good top-order batters, a lot of fast bowlers and around five or six spinners and I think all of us are pretty good fielders.
“I am hoping that over the next one week, we can kind of gel and become like brothers, and if we just gel as a team really well, I think we can pull off wins.”
“My strength as a player is that I am a fighter” – Nilansh keswani
Left-arm spinner Nilansh Keswani’s starring role in the Vipers’ victory saw him hit big with his 22 off nine deliveries including two sixes and helped Taimoor Ali bring life to the Vipers run chase. But he admitted he was not looking too far ahead and just wanted to keep focused on one task at a time. “I feel like I am just really grateful that I am a part of Desert Vipers development team. In tournaments like these, you can easily go unnoticed if you are having a bad season. So I am just really grateful I have been picked in the tournament. And hopefully I can do well. “I feel like the good thing is that all the franchises have a team in the Development Tournament and they must have been following the domestic cricket closely. I am an example (of someone who has benefitted from that). I feel like I did really well this last domestic season. And fortunately I was picked by the Vipers (for this tournament) and a lot of other players who were doing well, have been picked by the teams as well. “My aim is contributing towards what I can do to make sure we win the tournament. Not just me thinking about my personal milestones. But eventually, if you do something to make the team win the tournament, that is what really matters. “The ILT20 development tournament helps UAE cricket immensely and I am an example of it as well. In season two I did well in the ILT20 Development Tournament, I think I got 10 or 11 wickets and eventually I got picked by Sharjah Warriors in the main ILT20 tournament. “Obviously the goal is to get picked for the main ILT20. But one thing I have realised is, if you go searching, if you try too much, you end up not getting picked. So I am just going to follow my process and hopefully I get picked. If not, there is always a next year. “My strength as a player is that I am a fighter. So I will always fight for my team to win. And I will always be behind my teammates.” The ILT20 Development Tournament runs until September 3, with a final at the ICC Academy. The DP World ILT20’s first player auction will then take place on October 1.
“I feel like I am just really grateful that I am a part of Desert Vipers development team. In tournaments like these, you can easily go unnoticed if you are having a bad season. So I am just really grateful I have been picked in the tournament. And hopefully I can do well. “
Here is a quick reminder of the retained players and direct signings for the Desert Vipers: Retained players:Lockie Ferguson (NZ)Wanindu Hasaranga (SL)Sam Curran (ENG)Max Holden (ENG)Dan Lawrence (ENG)David Payne (ENG)Khuzaima bin Tanveer (UAE) Direct Signing:Andries Gous (USA) Wild card signing:Shimron Hetmyer (WI) The Desert Vipers’ sustainable line of clothing from PALMFIT is now available via the franchise’s online shop: https://shop.thedesertvipers.comEnds
For more information please contact: Brian Murgatroyd & Roshni Jayakrishnan: media@thedesertvipers.com
Head Coach James Foster believes that the Desert Vipers strategy for season four of the DP World ILT20 has all the ingredients to build a successful campaign
