The Desert Vipers Sustainability Match, held to highlight the team’s commitment to the environment, was a great success not just for the numbers that attended the match and the exciting initiatives on display, but also because of the victory achieved by Colin Munro’s side.Player of the Match Azam Khan scored the fastest half-century in DP World ILT20 history, off just 18 deliveries, to lead the Vipers to a sensational six-wicket triumph against the Gulf Giants. Captain Colin Munro weighed in with 51 while Alex Hales contributed with a valuable 44.Speaking to the Vipers Voices podcast afterwards, batter Alex Hales was delighted with the team’s win and said if the side can click like that again in the future, there was no reason why they could not go on to win the trophy. Quotes from that interview and from Player of the Match Azam Khan are included below.Match Scores:

Toss:Desert Vipers won the toss and elected to field first

Gulf Giants:160/7 (20 overs)

Top scorer: Shimron Hetmeyer 40* (23)

Desert Vipers:161/4 (16.5 overs)

Match Result:Desert Vipers won by six wickets with 19 balls remaining.

Player of the Match: Azam Khan 50(20)Here are some quotes from a post-match interview with Desert Vipers player Azam Khan:

“I really enjoyed the game. I always have this belief that I can change the game at any moment. (In this match) I was out in the middle and I knew I could finish the job and I am happy about the win.“The middle-order is a place where you cannot be consistent all the time. When you hit a purple patch, you tend to perform throughout. But at the end of the day, what is most important for the team is the strike rate. The better the strike rate the better it is for the team.“This win gives us a lot of happiness and confidence and we will try to perform like this to take the team forward. I will not be available for some of the matches later on, because of my commitment to the Pakistan Super League (PSL) but I think our team is very good, and they are in a great zone. We have had a few defeats but, after today, we have all got a great boost.“Sustainability is a good cause. We are all aware that global warming is a problem affecting all of us across the world. So, this is a really good initiative from the Desert Vipers. Global warming is happening around the world, and this is an important cause that the Desert Vipers are supporting.“One of the steps we have taken is to not use plastic bottles on the ground. Instead, we have a water filter which supplies our drinking water (from which we refill our reusable bottles). It is good for the team and for the environment.“I did find the crowd inspiring, because when the crowds are there, you (feel you) have to perform well and showcase your talents, I was there (batting) till the end and I am happy I managed to finish the game for my team.”Here are some quotes from the Vipers Voices post-match podcast featuring Desert Vipers batter Alex Hales:“We have not been at our best in this tournament, to be honest, but to come out like that in a must-win game for us, against the defending champions, was very impressive. Now is when it counts in tournament cricket; you want to play your best cricket towards the end of it, and that is exactly what we did today. It was very convincing, it looked like it could be close, but the way Azam Khan and Colin Munro batted was brilliant and it took all the pressure off.“I think to chase 160 was around par for a day game, and I thought we batted really well. It was a bit tricky during the powerplay and I had a little bit of luck with edges and inside edges, but sometimes you need that when you are trying to score some runs.“I think there has been a little bit of swing and a little bit of seam and a little bit of slow bounce off the pitch and I think it is important to give yourself a few balls to get used to what the pitch is going to do, whether there is swing or seam. And there actually was a bit of nibble out there. I just wanted to rein it in, and there were a couple of edges to help keep the scoreboard ticking along and then I expanded a little bit in the middle when it got easier.“It was amazing hitting from Azam Khan. I was sitting in the changing room after I got out, and I was saying to Tymal Mills that this could be a tricky chase, and that it could be hard work and a tight game. And then Azam came out, when two wickets had fallen in the same over, and he popped it (the final delivery of that over) back over the bowler’s head for six. When he did that, we all thought that he could do something special here.“He is that kind of player; he is one of the best hitters I have played with, a very good player of spin and a very powerful man. To have him in our ranks like that is very important.“It (the competition amongst the teams to qualify for the next stage) is very tight. All the teams can still qualify, I think. We are confident, and we feel like we have reached here having played nowhere near our best cricket. I think it is an exciting place to be as a team, knowing that if we click and start improving then there is no reason why we cannot go on and win the trophy.”The Desert Vipers are back in action on Sunday, February 4, when they take on MI Emirates at the Dubai International Stadium.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.

The Desert Vipers lost out in a last-ball thriller against the Dubai Capitals in Dubai, going down by four wickets for their fourth defeat in six games.Put in to bat, the Vipers got off to a flyer through their openers. Rohan Mustafa and Alex Hales shared an 81-run partnership, with Mustafa scoring his first fifty of this season, while Hales contributed 49.But in the face of such impressive batting, the Capitals adapted their bowling strategy and were successful in slowing the Vipers’ momentum, eventually limiting Colin Munro’s side to 169 for six.The Capitals run chase was led by player of the match Ben Dunk and West Indian batting powerhouse Rovman Powell, as they achieved the target from the final ball of the match, courtesy of a scrambled single.Speaking to the Vipers Voices podcast afterwards, Director of Cricket Tom Moody said the defeat was a tough one to take because the side had been unable to put all three key elements of the game together efficiently and were lacking consistency. Quotes from that interview and from Vipers all-rounder Rohan Mustafa are included below.Match Scores:

Toss:Dubai Capitals won the toss and elected to field first

Desert Vipers:169/6(20 overs)

Top scorer: Rohan Mustafa 50 (33)

Dubai Capitals: 170/6 (20 overs)

Top scorers:Ben Dunk 59 (30), Rovman Powell 40* (32)

Match Result:Dubai Capitals won by four wickets

Player of the Match: Ben DunkHere are some quotes from a post-match interview with Desert Vipers’ player Rohan Mustafa:“It started really well for us, but we slowed down scoring runs between the eighth and fourteenth overs, and we did not bat as well at that time; but the conditions were not easy, especially when they began bowling slower balls.“Whenever you play with a batter like Alex Hales you are not under pressure, because even if you play some dot balls, he goes for the big shots. We did really well (as an opening pair) in the last season as well and had a few good partnerships.“I feel I have really improved because of our batting coach Neil McKenzie, who has really helped me with my batting. When I was hitting it was going really well and I was going with the flow.”Here are some quotes from the Vipers Voices post-match podcast featuring Desert Vipers Director of Cricket Tom Moody:“It is very frustrating for us because at this stage we are not putting all three key elements together efficiently. There were parts where we were absolutely dominating the game, and then there were parts where we went completely missing. That is something for us to reflect on because we have to piece that together ahead of the final matches ahead of us.“We took a little bit of time to get going, but once we got going, particularly Rohan Mustafa, (he) took the game apart. That is what he has done on the odd occasion last year and that is what he has done today.“He batted superbly well and justified his role at the top of the order while being that impact player who can throw a punch early in those powerplay overs. I am thrilled to see him among the runs and giving us that start that really got our innings up and running and flying.“I think as the innings unfolded the conditions changed a little bit, and the Capitals adjusted how they bowled on the surface, and they changed their pace quite cleverly, and playing those free-flowing shots was not as easy as it was in the first phase of the game.“But with the batting lineup we have got and the power that we have got it was just disappointing that they (the Vipers middle order) did not take advantage of such a good foundation. In T20 cricket it is about partnerships, and that was a significant one (between Rohan Mustafa and Alex Hales, 81 in 8.2 overs), but then we failed to get any traction in those middle overs with any partnership. And it was not until Adam Hose at the end of the innings brought some life back into our innings (that we were able) to get to a competitive score.“I felt it (169/6) was a competitive score, particularly given the intel that we got from the way they (Dubai Capitals) bowled on the surface and what we could apply to our bowling innings.“But unfortunately I felt we did not take advantage of that intel as much as we should have done. Early on with the new ball we offered too much width. Ben Dunk played very well, it was vintage Ben Dunk out there, and we certainly allowed him to get off to that type of a flyer, and in this type of game if you do let someone off the hook like that you end up having to do a bit of chasing, which we did.“That was a terrific last over from Matheesha Pathirana; he showed just why he is highly regarded as a finisher with the ball. He has done it very successfully at Chennai Super Kings under the leadership of MS Dhoni and he showed again that he has got not only the skill but also the temperament to deliver under that kind of pressure.“We are in a tough position and a harder position than we would have liked to be in. We let one slip tonight, and we have let a couple of games slip in my view, and we just have not played consistent cricket to this point.“So, we do not deserve to be up the table or at the middle of the table yet but I have got full confidence that we have got the capability and the commitment to turn things around.”The Desert Vipers are back in action on Saturday, February 3, for the Sustainability Match, when they take on the Gulf Giants at the Dubai International Stadium.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.

Dubai Sports Council Welcomes Mr. Avram Glazer and “Desert Vipers” Team for a Sustainable Sports Future. His Excellency Saeed Hareb, the Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council, warmly welcomed Mr. Avram Glazer and the Desert Vipers team, along with esteemed attendees, to Dubai Sports Council headquarters today. In a collaborative effort to enhance sustainability in sports, Dubai Sports Council and the “Desert Vipers” team are joining forces, aligning with the nation’s commitment to a rational government approach and the strategic plan for the sports sector 2024-2033.HE Saeed Hareb said: “An agreement has been reached to unify efforts, focusing on integrating sustainability applications in sports stadiums and tournaments. This collaboration will encompass awareness campaigns and practical applications to make events and sports more sustainable and environmentally friendly.”While addressing the media, he also said: “Dubai has already set a precedent by organizing international events, such as the European Golf Tour Championship – Road to Dubai and the SAIL GP race, that adhere to sustainability standards.“Today, we proudly announce the addition of new cricket tournaments in cooperation with “Desert Vipers.” Looking ahead, our commitment extends to expanding this initiative to include various sports, tournaments, and facilities. Our goal is to spread the practice of sports and elevate its societal status, promoting health and happiness for everyone.“Dubai Sports Council remains steadfast in its dedication to fostering an effective contribution of sports towards a green future. By doing so, we aim to create a world where all can enjoy a healthy and happy life for ourselves and for future generations.”The Desert Vipers, a cricket team that plays in the UAE’s own Twenty20 competition, the DP World ILT20, has joined forces with Dubai Sports Council, the official body responsible for the development of the sports sector in the Emirate.In a ground-breaking partnership, Dubai Sports Council has become the Lead Partner in the Desert Vipers’ Sustainability Programme. Dubai Sports Council will endorse the Vipers’ Sustainability Match at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday 3 February.It will be the key contributor to a Sustainability in Sport Summit in Dubai in late 2024 in the presence of Desert Vipers owner Mr Avram Glazer.Dubai Sports Council will also play a key role in supporting the Desert Vipers’ schools programme which is introducing the sport of cricket and the issue of sustainability into Arab and international schools across the Emirate of Dubai in association with Sports Spirit Events LLC.Commenting on the partnership between the Desert Vipers and the Dubai Sports Council, Desert Vipers owner Mr Avram Glazer said: “This is a proud day, a landmark day for the Desert Vipers, to join with the Dubai Sports Council in addressing the fundamentally important opportunity to promote sustainability in sport.“We are thankful for the far-sighted approach of the Dubai Sports Council in joining with us to lead the way in this matter. Together we will set the path for others to follow.”CEO of the Desert Vipers, Mr Philip Oliver, said: “Our partnership is a perfect coming together of two organisations with shared objectives – namely, the fast-forwarding of sustainability in sport in Dubai and, more broadly, the UAE, and contributing to the future of sports movements worldwide.“Both the Desert Vipers and the Dubai Sports Council are aware that we are in a position to influence behaviour that will help safeguard the environment and allow sport to be played, watched and enjoyed for now and for the future.“By acting together, we will create meaningful change for sustainability in sport in Dubai and the UAE.“I would like to extend our sincere thanks to our local partner, Sports Spirit Events LLC, for facilitating this exciting partnership.”The synergy between the Desert Vipers and Dubai Sports Council means the partnership in sustainability makes perfect sense for both organisations.Saif Mohammed, Founder and Chairman of Sports Spirit Events (LLC), expressed immense pride in being part of the partnership between Dubai Sports Council and Desert Vipers to champion sustainability in sports. He said Sports Spirit Events was honoured to have facilitated this collaborative effort, serving as the official representative of Desert Vipers in the UAE.“Together, we aim to drive positive change and set a precedent for environmentally conscious practices in the realm of sports through different community engagement and outreach initiatives.”The Desert Vipers have eschewed the use of single-use plastic water bottles from their dressing room and have replaced them with reusable bottles filled with locally sourced water while the Dubai Government has banned single-use plastic bags.The Vipers have also undertaken an extensive education programme across schools in the Emirate, in keeping with DSC’s mandate to nurture talent.And with the Desert Vipers becoming the first Dubai-based sports organisation to sign up to the United Nations Sports for Climate Action framework, endorsement from Dubai Sports Council mirrors the body’s desire to support creativity and reward excellence and innovation.The partnership with the Dubai Sports Council will only serve to enhance and to shine a brighter light on activities the Vipers are undertaking.That includes its Sustainability Match at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday 3 February which will feature plastic bottle recycling at the venue for the first time.The match, against the Gulf Giants, a repeat of the final match of the inaugural tournament in 2023, will also feature a ‘fan carnival’, including sustainability-themed fan engagement and hospitality catering with reduced carbon emissions in mind.The match will take place in the presence of sustainability departments of more than 80 UAE businesses.The coupling of Dubai Sports Council and the Desert Vipers is also intended to cut across all sports, not only cricket, in raising awareness of the need for sustainability.Later in 2024 under the auspices of this partnership, the first Sustainability in Sport Summit and Awards Dinner will be held with Mr Avram Glazer in attendance, details of which will be announced in due course.Further details of Dubai Sports Council can be foundhere.