Dubai, UAE (December 24, 2024)– Kushal Malla, the Nepal batting all-rounder, has been signed by the Desert Vipers for the upcoming third season of the DP World ILT20.

Malla was one of the outstanding players in this month’s inaugural Nepal Premier League, and he will join the Vipers as a replacement for Netherlands all-rounder Bas de Leede, who has been ruled out of the tournament through injury.

Although still only 20 – he will turn 21 a month after the tournament concludes – Malla already has a significant amount of experience in international cricket under his belt.

The left-handed batter and left-arm spin bowler made his One-Day International (ODI) debut at 15 years and 340 days, against the USA in February 2020, making him the eighth youngest male player to appear in that format.

Malla is Nepal’s fifth-highest run scorer in Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), accruing 917 runs in 47 matches with one hundred, four fifties and a strike rate of 147.66, the best by any Nepal batter with more than 500 runs in the international format.

That hundred, 137 not out against Mongolia in the 2023 Asian Games, was made in only 50 balls, with eight fours and 12 sixes, and is the highest score by a men’s number three batter in the history of T20Is.

Malla also has 768 runs in 39 ODIs, with one hundred and four fifties, and he is one of only four male players to score hundreds in both international white-ball formats for Nepal.

On top of that, he has 43 wickets in ODIs and T20Is and he was a member of the Nepal side that took part in the ICC T20 World Cup in the USA and the Caribbean earlier this year.

Commenting on the signing of Kushal Malla, Desert Vipers Director of Cricket Tom Moody said: “We are delighted to welcome Kushal to the Desert Vipers.

“He is a young player, but for someone so young he already has a significant amount of experience at a high level so we know he will not be phased by stepping into the Vipers’ set-up.

“It is also a huge positive that Kushal is coming to us off the back of the Nepal Premier League, playing with and against good players in a competitive environment.

“As a batter, Kushal can slot in virtually anywhere, having batted from opener to number seven in Twenty20 Internationals, and his strike-rate in the format shows what a dangerous player he is.

“And as a bowler, his left-arm spin offers us an option we were previously missing in our squad so that is a huge plus.

“I often speak of players with high ceilings and high potential. That is certainly something that applies to Kushal.

“We are obviously sorry to be without the services of Bas this season. He fitted in well to our squad last season and we wish him a speedy recovery from the injury that has sidelined him from this tournament.

“In Kushal we feel like we have an outstanding replacement, a player who is hungry to achieve something significant on this type of stage, and we believe that being alongside the high-quality and experienced players we have at the Vipers will help him to realise his undoubted potential.”

The DP World ILT20 is the UAE’s own Twenty20 cricket tournament. The Desert Vipers, runners-up in the inaugural season in 2023, will start their quest for the 2025 title with a match against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on day two of the tournament, Sunday 12 January at 2pm.

Tickets for all Vipers matches can be purchased here:https://tickets.virginmegastore.me/ae/ILT20

Dubai, UAE (December 16 , 2024)– Lockie Ferguson, the New Zealand fast bowler, has been confirmed as a captain of the Desert Vipers for season three of the DP World ILT20.

Speaking to the Vipers Voices podcast, Ferguson said he was looking forward to the opportunity: “I feel honoured to be asked and excited to take on the challenge with this group. It is great to see bowlers getting captaincy roles, and more leadership roles too.

“Also, I am very excited to sign on with the Vipers for the next two years. I have heard a lot about the tournament, obviously it is a pretty cool place to play cricket, and I have some fond memories playing there (UAE) myself, including the IPL when it was there. So I am looking forward to joining the group in a few short weeks.”

The 33-year-old takes over from compatriot Colin Munro (nicknamed ‘Munners’ throughout the cricketing world) who led the team successfully for the first two seasons, taking them to the final in the inaugural edition. Ferguson said he was excited and nervous at the same time: “Yes, obviously they are big shoes to fill with Munners, obviously a great team man and an awesome guy to play with.

“I did my homework on the team before signing and knew the coaching staff, knew the great players that they had, and Munners had spoken very highly of the time he had with the Vipers.

“Of course, it would have been nice to have another round with Munners, but it is just nice to join this group and see what we can do this coming season.”

Ferguson brings with him wealth of international experience with 65 One-Day Internationals, 43 Twenty20 Internationals and one Test match. In addition, he has played in franchise leagues across the globe including the Indian Premier League (IPL), The Hundred in England and Wales and Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL), where he will play for Sydney Thunder at the back end of this year before joining the Vipers in January.

He told Vipers Voices he was excited about bringing that experience into his captaincy: “I captained New Zealand in 2023 and I had a great time in Bangladesh with a young team and sort of just fell into the role naturally being one of the elder statesmen of the squad.

“I think certainly from a bowling standpoint, I have learned from the likes of Tim Southee, and Hardik Pandya in the IPL, about what works best for a bowler. What do they like to hear from a captain? What kind of conversations are best to have when the pressure is on?

“Also, I like to think I can bring some understanding that it is T20 cricket, so you are going to get hit from a good ball and that is ok as long as you are executing. And even if you do not execute, it is still fine. That is part of the game and why it is so exciting.

“So I like to think those conversations are part of my strength, obviously being a bowler and sort of understanding those moments.”

As far as his captaincy style goes, Ferguson said aggression and risk taking would be key words in his vocabulary: “I like taking chances, being a bowling captain, putting catchers in positions where we might take a wicket or looking to bowl to a player going for a wicket rather than defending the over. That is sort of my style.

“And I think if I reflect on my career so far, those are the T20 games and tournaments that I have really enjoyed, where the team has had that approach. But also, those tournaments tended to be the ones where we went further and made finals and potentially won.”

The Black Cap also sent out a clear message to the Vipers that he expected the players to take responsibility for their own roles in the team: “I think it is important in these franchise tournaments that players take some responsibility for their own backyard. And I mean that in the most empowering way, because there is a reason they have been selected – they are very good at what they do. Certainly, I am in a place where I will come into a team and lean on that experience and lean on that good judgment.

“If at times there are conversations that need to be had, for sure, there are no issues from me with that.”

Despite an injury scare in Sri Lanka last month with a calf muscle tear, the fast bowler has been in rehabilitation and said he was raring to get back on to the field: “My left calf just had a little bit of muscle tightness and I had a small bit of fluid and tear there, but fortunately it did not stop me too much and I have been back bowling. I think I had about five weeks from then to my first game (in the BBL in Australia).

“(After Sri Lanka) it was great to get back to New Zealand, have some time there and work with my physio’ in Auckland. So yes, I am feeling good.”

And the million-dollar question Desert Vipers fans would want the answer to, is whether the Desert Vipers can go all the way and lift this coming season’s silverware. And the response from Ferguson was a resounding one.

“One hundred per cent yes! It is as believable as anything. Look at our squad. It is extremely strong, but you also must look at the support staff in and around the group and the passion that those guys have and the knowledge they have to win T20 cricket.

“I think we will be looking forward to getting underway first game and then rolling on from there. Remember many of our players are playing around the world in franchise tournaments and coming off a lot of cricket and a lot of success. So, what we have to do is carry that experience and that success through to the tournament and get a few guys scoring hundreds and a few guys taking wickets and we will be away.”

Additional quotes from Lockie Ferguson:

On bowlers getting captaincy roles in international and franchise cricket:

“It is great to see bowlers getting captaincy roles and more leadership roles. And it makes sense to me in a lot of ways. When the pressure moments are on, bowlers have been in those situations.

“I am not sure whether it is going to change (and more bowlers will be appointed to captaincy positions in the future). It is just on a case-by-case basis. But I certainly feel honoured to be asked and excited to take on the challenge with this group.”

On where he expects to bowl for the Desert Vipers:

“I have prided myself across my career at being a wicket-taking bowler at first change or second change. First or second change is an incredibly important role when the ball is not swinging and to still be creating opportunities and chances, trying to think about different ways to get wickets or shut down overs.

“Do not get me wrong; I love bowling with a swinging ball. But at the same time, I think we have got pretty good opening swing bowlers with Mohammad (Amir) and Sammy (Sam Curran). So, we will see how we go.”

On managing his workload as a bowling captain:

“I think the ice bath might be getting used quite a lot more than normal but at the same time, it is exciting. I think playing cricket and playing game after game, you tend to learn things pretty quickly. Recovery obviously becomes a hugely important part of the whole process.

“But at that time of year, I am sure in Dubai, it is a reasonable temperature, so not too hot. That said, it is a reasonably long tournament (in terms of matches to be played) within a short period of time.

“So, I guess it is all about finding the moments when maybe the speed gun gets ramped up. But at the same time, I think I do not often take the foot off the gas. We will just play every game as it comes.”

On being called a thinking cricketer by Tom Moody:

“It is nice for him to say that. I think in a way I am compassionate with my teammates and not only with the cricket tactics that we are using but trying to understand players. And I have enjoyed time in some leadership roles back with my domestic team, Auckland, trying to understand how different players tick. Some players like a more direct approach and some players prefer getting an arm around them. And that is great. That is part of learning how your teammates roll.”

On the decision to join the Desert Vipers:“I am obviously very excited to join the group, but with playing for New Zealand for quite a few years, the next contracting year was mostly filled with Test cricket, and it has been a bit of time since I have played Test cricket. So, I saw a bit of an opportunity to play some more franchise tournaments and the ILT20 was one I beelined for and spoke to my agent about opportunities in that area.

“Naturally, when you play a few of the leagues, you get talking to coaches too and I have heard good things about the league, so it was nice to get picked up by the Desert Vipers for sure. I am very excited to be on there for two years, and excited to join that group.”

On why he chose to play in the DP World ILT20 ahead of other leagues:

“It was an opportunity to sign a multi-year deal. Certainly, from a New Zealand cricket point of view, we do not get multi-year deals, that is just naturally how the contracts work out. There was some interest from the Vipers early on and, working with my agent, through Tom Moody and then James Foster, the agreement was reached.

“I have heard a lot of good things about the competition and obviously the travel with Dubai to Abu Dhabi and Sharjah is a lot more manageable too. So I am just really looking forward to getting underway and seeing how the team rolls.”

The DP World ILT20 kicks off on 11 January 2025 in Dubai with defending champions MI Emirates and Dubai Capitals playing at the Dubai International Stadium. The Desert Vipers play their first game the following day at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. Tickets for the DP World ILT20 can now be purchased online at the virgin megastore:https://tickets.virginmegastore.me/ae/ILT20/

Dubai, UAE (December 11, 2024) – Desert Vipers Director of Cricket Tom Moody is of the view that the combination of the full-time signing of all-rounder Sam Curran, the off- spin bowling options offered by Dan Lawrence, Lockie Ferguson’s pace and strategic thinking and Fakhar Zaman’s match-winning batting abilities are just some of the ingredients that make the team serious challengers in season three of the DP World ILT20.

England all-rounder Sam Curran, who joined up with the Desert Vipers for the back-end of season two after playing in the SA20 in South Africa, will not be available from the beginning of the upcoming tournament after putting pen to paper on a new deal.

And Moody, delighted at having the player after working with him during back-to-back Hundred successes in the United Kingdom, told the Vipers Voices podcast that one reason Sam chose the Vipers over the other franchise options available to him was the environment and culture of the team, based on what he experienced last season.

“It did not take any convincing at all (to get Sam back),” he said. “It was just a case of trying to fit it into his potential international calendar and how much we will see of him. “To have a player of his calibre that has got the experience he has got both internationally and in franchise cricket is going to be invaluable to us as a team.”Even though the impact sub which allows teams to replace players at any stage of a match is being continued in the upcoming tournament, something that some feel makes all-rounders less necessary, Moody said he felt Sam Curran added great value to the squad.

“I think Sam has shown over recent times that he can hold his own as a pure batter in the top six, along with being a specialist bowler,” said the former ICC Cricket World Cup winner.

“So yes, he is an all-rounder, but to me, he is in a pretty unique space where he is actually a player in this format that can comfortably put his hand up and say, ‘I can do either of these (batting and bowling) and be a specialist in either of these.’”

Sam Curran’s goal of playing all three formats of international cricket for England again is likely to be a great motivating factor for the player, and the Director of Cricket said he thought the player had every chance of national selection: “Oh, without a doubt. I think the one thing with Sam is he is not short of determination and talent. He is incredibly focused and determined.

“The other point to make is that (although) Sam has been around a long time, he is still in his mid-twenties. So really his career is only just starting. Most careers for international players, except for the absolute exceptional, start in the mid-twenties.”

Another star signing for the Vipers this season is Pakistan batter Fakhar Zaman, who has an impressive 11 international white-ball hundreds to his name, including a double hundred in the One-Day International format.

With a strike rate of 133 in Twenty20 Internationals, Fakhar is a force to reckon with and can be used anywhere in the top order, but it is his ability to turn matches that Tom Moody said he was most excited about.

“What I like about Fakhar is that he is a genuine match winner. When he is on, he is going to just rip the game away from the opposition. And that is what you want from your high profile players.

“Yes, consistency is important, but just how many games can you win for me? Go out there and turn this game in our favour and become the match winner for us. And Fakhar has got that capability. So, it is going to be very exciting to see him operate.”

New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson adds firepower to the Vipers bowling attack, most recently taking a hat trick for the Black Caps on their tour to Sri Lanka. And even with the slow pitches expected in the UAE during the DP World ILT20, Tom Moody said he still expected Ferguson would be very effective.

“When you are talking about someone that can get his pace up to, at times, 150 kilometres per hour, that is a different ball game. It does not matter what surface you are playing on; ball speed is your friend if you are a pace bowler. And Lockie has got an abundance of that.“I think that is the real appeal with Lockie is that he has got that genuine pace, but he has also got some great cricketing smarts. To me, he is a pretty switched-on fast bowler. Heknows how to use that pace to his advantage.

“His experience as a successful international bowler and a player that has played in the IPL will also transfer to us as a playing unit.”Dan Lawrence is a returnee to the Vipers squad, and someone who will offer value both as a top-order batter and an off-spin bowler. His stint last season with the franchise was interrupted with a national call-up for England’s Test tour to India, but the player showed his commitment to the cause by rejoining the Vipers during a break between Tests in that series.

”I think what Dan is going to give us is flexibility,” said Moody. “There are going to be particular times in the game that his style of bowling is going to be perfectly matched up against opposition batters. Where you may have automatically leant to Wanindu Hasaranga, now you have got the luxury of spreading that workload and that exposure to spin and keeping Wanindu for certain situations where you’re looking to exploit a particular player in the opposition or a particular phase of the game.

“He (Dan Lawrence) is very different than Hasaranga, he is very different than (leg-spinner) Nathan Sowter. So, there are plenty of pluses when it comes to his bowling.”

Someone Tom Moody said he was expecting a lot from is England seam and swing bowler David Payne, who was part of the Gloucestershire side that won the T20 Blast in the UK last summer, taking an incredible 33 wickets in that tournament.

“David Payne is not a name that might be in every household around the world, but he has got a really decorated career that has flown under the radar of a lot of people,” said Moody.

“(He)Certainly has not flown under our radar because we have monitored and watched exactly what he has done over recent times and admired his consistency.

“He is going to offer us that quality and depth to our bowling squad that we will need in a campaign like this. He is a bowler that can bowl through all the phases of the game. And I think his wicket-taking ability shouts that out because he has been taking them not only in power plays, but also at the end of the innings.

“David is going to be a real plus to us, particularly given, one, the form that he has been in and the upward curve his career has been tracking, band also because of the experience that he has got.”

Tom Moody was all praise for UAE retained players -all-rounder Ali Naseer andwicketkeeping batter Tanish Suri: “Ali been part of our setup from the get-go and we are wanting to not only help develop his game but also hope that he continues to grow within our team. His responsibilities will again be called upon, probably more so than in the past this season.

“Tanish is just an exciting player. He really had an impact in the group last year, with his professionalism and his enthusiasm to learn and to train and really commit to the Desert Vipers. As a wicketkeeper-batter, he gives us flexibility as a batter that potentially could open the batting if we chose to go down that path.”

The Desert Vipers Director of Cricket added that he believed the rise of the Desert Vipers’ UAE players was an indication of the impact the DP World ILT20 was having on the standard of cricket in the region.

“Once the (UAE) players get the exposure to be in the same dressing room, the same training ground and the same team meetings as a vast variety of international talent, you cannot help but accelerate their development and their knowledge for the game – there is no surprise there.“I think that is going to continue to accelerate at a rapid rate Now the UAE players have got a purpose and a reason to really show their talents because the carrot is a contract in the ILT20. It is exciting to see where it potentially could go in the next three to five years.”

The DP World ILT20 kicks off on 11 January 2025 in Dubai with defending champions MI Emirates playing the Dubai Capitals at the Dubai International Stadium. The Desert Vipers play their first game the following day at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.

Desert Vipers Director of Cricket Tom Moody said lessons have been learned by the franchise after last season’s failure to reach the playoffs of the DP World ILT20, the United Arab Emirates’ own T20 tournament.

The Vipers were runners-up in season one, losing out to inaugural champions the Gulf Giants in February 2023, but twelve months later finished fifth in the six-team competition to miss out on a spot in the post-season action.

And Moody told the Vipers Voices podcast that a post-season debrief and time away from the intensity of the tournament provided some valuable perspective on what went wrong and how it can be put right when season three gets underway next month.

“I think, with hindsight, we learned that players coming and going because of other commitments and because of restricted No Objection Certificates (from their home boards) with regards to their dates (of availability), can have a disruptive influence within the group in that you are not settled as a unit,” said Moody.

“You have got people coming, fresh faces coming into the group, and those faces leaving soon after. So, yes, we learned that as a lesson.

“So, the focus will be – and I am sure (Head Coach) James Foster will be endeavouring to create this environment – on trying to have a close-knit unit that not only enjoys what is on offer off the field but brings that sort of joy and enthusiasm on the field too.”Two of the players looking to bring that joy and enthusiasm are Dhruv Parashar and Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, the two players the Desert Vipers secured in the UAE player draft on Wednesday.

Off-spinning all-rounder Parashar, who will celebrate his 20th birthday later this month, is no stranger to the Vipers set-up as he was part of the squad in season one. Most recently, in November, he was part of the UAE squad that won the ICC T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier B against Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Cambodia and Bhutan, finishing as the top wicket-taker in the tournament with 12 wickets.

Director Cricket Tom Moody said he was pleased that the Vipers had the chance to reunite with Dhruv: “We consider Dhruv a very exciting off-spinner, all-rounder. He’s getting more and more opportunities at the UAE level and thriving with those opportunities.

“So it’s great to have him back. We always plan to try to keep a core of players that have had a connection with us as a franchise and Dhruv is one of those players. And it’s thrilling to see young players emerge through the system and we hope that his contact and journey with us at Desert Vipers is only going to help kick on his career, which is certainly going in the right direction.”

And Tanveer, a 24-year-old fast bowler, impressed during the ILT20 Development Tournament when he played for the Desert Vipers Development side in that competition. Subsequently, he played for the New York Strikers in the recently concluded Abu Dhabi T10, featuring alongside fellow Vipers fast bowler Mohammad Amir.

Commenting on the new fast bowling addition Tom Moody added: “(We are)Thrilled to pick up Khuzaima in the draft today. A quality emerging fast bowler that we’ve had a bit to do with over recent times and watched him very closely. (Khuzaima) Can bowl some high pace and can be a threat with a new ball but also be more than useful as the innings unfold.

“So it’s going to be exciting to get him in a Vipers shirt and I’m sure we’ll see some exciting things from him come season 2025.”One player who will not be returning to the Vipers is Colin Munro, captain for the first two editions of the tournament, as he is taking part in Australia’s Big Bash League.

Tom Moody paid tribute to Munro’s contribution towards the development of the Vipers’ culture and said a decision on the side’s new captain would be taken in due course.

“Colin has been a phenomenal performer for many, many years in this format,” said Moody. “It was a privilege for us to have him for the first couple of years of our journey.

“With regards to the new captain, it is certainly not something we are going to rush into.“There are a couple of options that we are considering but we will keep our cards pretty close to our chest because there are conversations that are yet to be had.”

The team will get underway on day two of the upcoming tournament, against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in Abu Dhabi, in an afternoon match on Sunday 12 January.

The Vipers will play 10 matches in 23 days, including the final group match before the post-season play-offs, but have avoided any back-to-back fixtures after having that scenario twice last season as part of a tough run of six matches in nine days.

Reacting to the schedule, Moody said: “It was a nice surprise, to be honest with you, to see the way the fixtures have been spread out over the season for us.

“We did have our challenges last year with the volume of cricket over a short period of time, managing players and having to make sure that they were fresh all the time.

“Back-to-back games were not an ideal situation, so it is good we have avoided that this coming season.

“As for having to play that last group game (against the Dubai Capitals in Sharjah on Monday 3 February), I see there is an advantage as we have got that very last game to deal with anything we may need to address. It is in our control against it being totally out of our control.”

While Moody and the team management have been busy working on the on-field side of

the franchise, the Desert Vipers have also continued to be busy in the off-season with a school programme, as well as continuing to build the side’s sustainability programme, through promoting the use of sustainable kits while also refusing to use plastic bottles both on and off the field.

And reflecting on that, Moody said: “I think it is exciting what we are doing outside of tournament time.

“It is something that the management and the ownership are very proud of with regards to their connection with the young emerging cricketers in the region through the school programme. And we are trying to not only provide that exposure with regards to cricket, but we are also giving them education around sustainability and everything that we are trying to do as an organisation.

“The children of today are very mindful of those things. And so they should be. And with regards to our behaviour around sustainability as an organisation, it is something that I think a lot of sporting teams are starting to slowly connect with and realise that there is a difference that can be made.

“I think it is only going to be a healthy thing for not only the game but, on a broader scale, the planet.”After all the squad-building over the off-season, the obvious question is whether the group of players that have been assembled is stronger than season two, or even season one for that matter.

“I am excited with what we have got,” said Moody. “There is no question of that. But is it stronger than last year or the first year? You could argue the case one way or the other.

“At the end of the day, you are only as strong as the performances that you put in throughout a tournament and the consistency you show as a team throughout that tournament.

“Yes, we have got some exciting match winners. There is no question of that. It is enough to say at this stage that I think we have managed to put together three very good squads over three seasons. So let us hope this is the one that ends up lifting the trophy.”

The DP World ILT20 kicks off on 11 January 2025 in Dubai with defending champions MI Emirates and Dubai Capitals playing at the Dubai International Stadium. The Desert Vipers play their first game the following day at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.

Dubai, UAE (December 2, 2024)- English top-order batter Max Holden said he is relishing the chance to line up for the Desert Vipers in the upcoming third season of the United Arab Emirates’ own Twenty20 cricket tournament, the DP World ILT20, which gets underway next month.

“I spoke to (Desert Vipers Director of Cricket) Tom Moody in the (northern hemisphere) summer, about the time The Hundred was being played over here in the UK,” said Holden, speaking with Vipers Voices, the Desert Vipers’ own podcast.

“Tom runs the Oval Invincibles and I am at the Manchester Originals. He showed interest and, having played against the Vipers and seeing what they were about last year and also knowing a bit about Tom and what he is about, I was really excited to get to join and jumped at the chance.”

And the excitement of Max slotting into the Vipers set-up was a two-way street, according to Tom Moody.

“What I have seen of Max in recent times, particularly in The Hundred, is that he is quite a versatile player, naturally aggressive and he is quite creative in his shot-playing,” he said.

“Max offers points of difference in that he is left-handed for one, and he also plays differently from other top-order players we have got like Alex Hales and Dan Lawrence as he has got the ability to be what I would call a 360-degree player in that he can score all around the wicket.

“We believe he will complement what is already in the squad and what has been successful in the squad, and, to me, he looks like a player on the rise.

“Max looks like a really exciting talent. There is a huge upside to having him in our squad and we can hopefully help him to not only dominate in the ILT20 but also use this as a launchpad to representing his country in the future,” added Moody

Holden is not new to the DP World ILT20 having represented 2024 runners-up the Dubai Capitals in season two. His highest score was a crucial 51 against eventual champions the MI Emirates in the group stage, and Holden said he was excited about returning to the competition.

“It was obviously a great competition to be a part of and I got the chance to play with some great players with the Capitals and had a good run to the final.

“Obviously, just missing out to MI Emirates in the final was disappointing, but it was a great experience to have a first taste of the ILT 20 and what it has to offer. And hopefully the move across to the Vipers now (gives me the chance) to be a part of a team that goes one step further than I did last year.”

A player good enough to represent England at under-19 level at an age-group World Cup alongside fellow Vipers Dan Lawrence and Sam Curran, at 26 years-old, Max Holden is now a well-established top-order batter with county side Middlesex.

In the last English summer, he scored almost 1,000 first-class runs at an average of close to 50, including a double-hundred against Northamptonshire, and he told Vipers Voices he has worked hard on expanding his white-ball skills.

“I came through the Middlesex pathway and academy system and got my professional contract when I was about 17,” he said. “I think growing up, I was probably always more suited to the longer format, perhaps.

“But maybe four or five years ago, I made quite a conscious decision to work on my white-ball game as I wanted to be someone who could be successful across all the formats. And I think the last couple of years I have made some nice improvements in my white-ball stuff.

“With The Hundred starting in the UK, that has been a great exposure and experience for younger players to be able to learn off top class players. It has been a great standard of competition to be involved in. And that has really helped me come on.”

Versatility is one of Holden’s hallmarks as he filled four different top- and middle-order slots for Middlesex during the 2024 T20 Blast competition in England and Wales, and he also opened, batted at number three and played a role as a finisher for the Manchester Originals.

“For the Manchester Originals this past season, (opener and captain) Jos Butler was injured just before The Hundred so there was a vacancy at the top of the order with Phil Salt,” he said.

“I was happy to get the opportunity to do that and that is something I look to do in T20 cricket, to be as adaptable as I can. You cannot really walk into any of these teams and say, ‘I am a number three’ or ‘I am at number four.’ You have got to be quite flexible.

“I am someone who is happy to fill in where the team needs me and when they need me. I have had quite a lot of experience of batting in different positions. And I think that can be used as a positive.”

As for playing alongside Buttler in 2023 – when the Originals were runners-up in The Hundred to Tom Moody’s Oval Invincibles – and with Salt in 2023 and against last season, Holden said the exposure to those players proved to be transformational for him.

“It was an unbelievable experience, I think, to be able to play with two of the best players in the world,” he said. “I think Jos Buttler is the best England white-ball player we have ever had, in my opinion.

“So, to get a chance to share a dressing room with him and have partnerships with him a couple of years ago, it was an unbelievable experience.

“Obviously, it is slightly daunting when you are batting with a couple of players (Buttler and Salt) like that because you do not want to take up too many balls so they get into their rhythm of their routines as well. But they are two great people as well, and they are very happy to share their experiences and make you feel calm and confident in the middle as well, and that is where you learn most, from being at the other end from them,” he added.

The Vipers roster is a star-studded one again for season three with the likes of England T20 World Cup winners like Alex Hales and Sam Curran alongside other exceptional overseas talent like Sherfane Rutherford, Fakhar Zaman, Lockie Ferguson, Wanindu Hasaranga and Azam Khan.

But despite that stellar cast of players, Holden said he the player he was most keen to link up with was not one of the squad’s household names.

“I think one man I actually am looking forward to playing with, having faced a lot of him, is David Payne,” said Holden.

”He has been in unbelievable form in the UK for a number of years, I faced a lot of him with the new ball and I think he is one of the best going around.

“The way he swings it is exceptional and he gets wickets at the top of the innings, which I think is one of the most important things in T20 cricket.

“Getting the chance to be on the same team as him rather than facing him is something I am really looking forward to. But I am looking forward to playing with everyone.

“I think going into this competition, there are obviously a lot of strong teams, but looking at our squad and the list of players we have, there is no reason why we should not be aiming to be at the top of the list.

“As for my own ambitions, what I am looking to do is go to every (training) session and every game willing to do what is needed for the team. I think if everyone has that mindset, with the talent we have on display, there is no reason why we cannot have a good tournament.”

The DP World ILT20 kicks off on 11 January 2025 in Dubai with defending champions MI Emirates and Dubai Capitals playing at the Dubai International Stadium. The Desert Vipers play their first game the following day at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.

Azam Khan on new sustainable kit: “I really like the design of the shirt, but the special thing about this shirt is that it is made out of recycled material. That is something that is very surprising to me, because I thought it would not be as breathable. But this is very nice and very comfortable.”Luke Wood on season three of the DP World ILT20: “When we (Desert Vipers) come together as a group our expectation is to try and win the whole thing. We have a good squad as we have had last two seasons, and I am looking forward to it.”Phil Oliver, CEO, Desert Vipers, on the new sustainable kit: “We are delighted to unveil our playing kit for season three of the DP World ILT20. We recently announced our three-year deal with Palm Fit, and the most important aspect of this partnership is the opportunity that we are creating for all sports teams, both grassroots and professional, to join us on our journey by choosing UAE-made sustainable sportswear. We know that this reduces our carbon emissions associated with kit by over fifty percent.”

Dubai, UAE (November 6, 2024) – Desert Vipers fast bowler Luke Wood and wicket-keeper-batter Azam Khan were in Dubai at the SEE Institute to lead the launch of the team’s sustainable match kit (made from recycled polyester) for season three of the DP World ILT20. Both players responded positively to the look and feel of the kit, while remaining hopeful of the team’s performance in the tournament next year.

Azam Khan commented on the kit and said wearing it reminded him that he would be part of the Desert Vipers at the DP World ILT20. “I am very excited about being back with the Vipers, and even though the tournament is a bit far away, wearing the kit made me much closer to the tournament.

“I really like the design of the shirt, but the special thing about this shirt is that it is made out of recycled material. That is something that is very surprising to me, because I thought it would not be as breathable. But this is very nice and very comfortable.”

Luke Wood agreed with Azam and said he was a fan of the new kit too: “It is great to put the (Desert Vipers) jersey back on and it feels like the tournament is getting closer.

“It is great, it has got the same colours, but it feels more like a football shirt. The material is nice, and I like the fitting as well, and most importantly it is breathable.”

Azam added that the team’s sustainability policies were important, and he hoped the Desert Vipers’ example would be followed by others too. “This is helping the planet, and I still have the aluminium bottles (from last season, when the team adopted the no-plastic bottles policy) and I do not use plastic at home,” he said.

“We all want to contribute and make the world a better place to live in, and these are the small changes we can make. In fact, I would recommend all the other teams to also follow this sustainability process with their match kits and that would be really good.”

Desert Vipers CEO Phil Oliver expressed his satisfaction and said he could not be more pleased with the direction the team’s sustainability initiatives was taking. “We are delighted to unveil our playing kit for season three of the DP World ILT20,” he said.

“We recently announced our three-year deal with Palm Fit, and the most important aspect of this partnership is the opportunity that we are creating for all sports teams, both grassroots and professional, to join us on our journey by choosing UAE-made sustainable sportswear. We know that this reduces our carbon emissions associated with kit by over fifty percent.”

Looking ahead to preparations for season three, Azam said he would not be playing in the Abu Dhabi T10 competition but would get in some practice at home: “I am going to play in a domestic tournament back in Pakistan in December, and that would give me good practice coming into the DP World ILT20.”

Wood said he would be participating in the Abu Dhabi T10 and possibly the Lanka T10 in his build up to the ILT20 but planned to arrive early: “I will come out here early, and do some training outside, because at home at this time of year it is impossible, so that is what my preparation looks like before we start all over again.”

With the ICC Champions Trophy ODI tournament scheduled to be played in Pakistan in February 2025, Azam Khan admitted he was not expecting to get into the national side for that event as the format did not suit his game: “It has been two years since I have played a List A game, and right now my focus is on T20 cricket because I enjoy playing a fast format game,” he said.“I know you have to be correct and know how to play a forward defence and a backfoot defence, but I like to smash every ball and T20 cricket and T10 cricket allows me to do that, and I am looking forward to playing the T20 tournament.”

Luke Wood meanwhile confirmed he was keen to play for England again and revealed how he was going about getting noticed by the selectors. “I try not to put too much pressure on myself. I have been playing for them (England) on and off over the last couple of years. That has been a great experience and I have really loved doing that,” he said.

“All I say is that I try and put on good performances wherever I play, whether that is the T10, the ILT20 or the IPL. Whenever I get the ball in my hand I try and put in performances and then see where it takes me.”

Batter Fakhar Zaman is one of the Desert Vipers new signings this season and Azam Khan said he was super-excited to link up with his compatriot.

“I am looking forward to playing alongside Fakhar Zaman,” he said. “He is a player who can change the course of the game at any point, whether he plays in the middle-order or as an opener. I am really excited that he is on my side and cannot wait to see him smashing the ball in the UAE.”

With victory at the heart of their ambitions for the Desert Vipers in the coming season, Azam Khan and Luke Wood said they were excited about reuniting with the squad. Azam said: “Last year I personally thought we had the best team in the tournament, but somehow we could not deliver. But I am glad the core of the team has been retained, and I have played with most of the guys all over the world. I am excited to play alongside them and I really want to win this tournament.”

Luke Wood added: “When we (Desert Vipers) come together as a group our expectation is to try and win the whole thing. We have a good squad as we have had for the last two seasons, and I do not want to get too ahead of ourselves, but I am looking forward to it.”

Players joining the squad this year include explosive Pakistan top-order batter Fakhar Zaman, ex-England under-19 captain Max Holden, England seam bowler David Payne who was part of the Gloucestershire side that won the T20 Blast in England and Wales in 2024, and New Zealand speedster Lockie Ferguson.

They join a dressing room that already features star all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga from Sri Lanka, Pakistan left-armer Mohammad Amir, plus Alex Hales, the man who was the leading run-scorer and maker of the tournament’s first hundred in season one.

And the UAE players already locked in are outstanding young all-rounder Ali Naseer and talented wicketkeeper-batter Tanish Suri.