In this episode, we speak with Vipers spin bowling coach Carl Crowe.

Carl’s role is to work with the slow-bowling talent within the franchise and in a fascinating interview he allows a peak behind the curtain at how he goes about his job, including his interactions with Wanindu Hasaranga, the Sri Lanka wrist spinner who was one of the few slow bowlers to enjoy concerted success in the first edition of the ILT20.

Carl also talks about why spin – Hasaranga apart – didn’t have a great impact in season one of the tournament, and he looks ahead to working with Shadab Khan, the Pakistan leg-spinning all-rounder signed by the Vipers for the upcoming action.This chat offers a great insight into the world of elite-level coaching.

Dubai, UAE (September 26, 2023) – Dutch all-rounder Bas de Leede is only 23 years old, but he has already shot into the limelight, as a promising young player, who can single-handedly win matches for his team. In July, he became one of only four players in One-Day International history to score a hundred and take five wickets in a match. That effort led the Netherlands to World Cup qualification, through victory over Scotland in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe.

De Leede is one of Desert Vipers’ exciting new signings for season two of the DP World ILT20, and speaking to the Vipers Voices podcast he recalled that match against Scotland and his memories from the day: “Most of my memories are from after the game, as we had some nice team celebrations which I will remember for a very long time,” he said.

“In the second innings when we had lost a couple of wickets and we were under pressure to chase down the target in a certain number of overs (to qualify), Saqib Zulfiqar came in and we just had a lot of fun batting together. It took the pressure off and it is something I will remember that for a long time.”

Bas de Leede believes Netherlands’ qualification, and his own development as a player, can be attributed to the ICC World Cup Super League (WCSL), which has been instrumental in pushing the Dutch forward at a rapid rate.

When asked if the Netherlands would be playing in the ICC Cricket World Cup without the WCSL, de Leede was unequivocal. “No,” he said, before adding: “I think the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League has given the Netherlands so much.

“As a group of young, inexperienced players, to get the opportunity to play eight top-tier teams was amazing for our development and the confidence and learning we took from those games were massive, and that played a massive role in our qualifying for India,” de Leede said.

In fact, all of 2023 has been an extraordinary year for de Leede, who started with playing amongst legends with the MI Emirates team at the DP World ILT20, followed by his pivotal role in helping Netherlands to qualify for the ICC Cricket World Cup for the first time since 2011.

There has also been the matter of his first English county cricket contract with Durham, under former Netherlands Head Coach Ryan Campbell, with the team enjoying a fantastic run to secure promotion to the first division of the first-class game. And on top of that came a place in the Northern Superchargers squad for the men’s Hundred tournament in the United Kingdom.

Next up is the ICC Cricket World Cup in India, where de Leede is hoping his team can make a mark.

“As the Dutch team, we have played some good cricket over the last year-and-a-half and if we continue playing that way and we play our best cricket I reckon we have the chance to win games,” he said.

“But like cricket is, it takes one brilliant performance from the team you are facing, or it takes one bad performance to lose a game. It is a tough one, but I am really looking forward to going out there, showing everyone what we can do and how far we have come as a group, and hopefully win some games.”

Here are some thoughts from Bas de Leede on his recruitment to the Desert Vipers, the opportunity to work with some of the best players and coaches from around the world, and his hopes and expectations from the busy playing months that lie ahead:

On how the move from MI Emirates to Desert Vipers came about:“During the (ICC Cricket World Cup) Qualifiers I heard I was not going to be retained by MI Emirates, which was disappointing at the time, but I knew there was some interest from other teams to sign me and then speaking to my agent, Desert Vipers was really high on the list.

“I am really glad to have joined this team and to be working with James Foster and Neil McKenzie, who I have been working with at the Northern Superchargers (in The Hundred) as well.

On the ILT20 experience with MI Emirates:“It was my first franchise tournament; I was kind of nervous. What I saw was a very high standard of cricket, I think all the teams were very competitive even if it was the first season for everyone. I did not play too much, but to have still learnt all that I did was very valuable for me and something that I am hopefully going to take into my cricket career in the future. It was amazing to be a part of it and I am very much looking forward to being a part of the next one as well.”

On sharing the dressing room at MI Emirates with Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran,Trent Boult, Dwayne Bravo, and other legends of the game:“If someone would have said to me a year ago that I would have been in that position, I would not have believed it. Certainly for me it was an opportunity to learn, and I tried to make the most of it, speaking to those guys, about how they go about their cricket and what they work on. They might be legends of the game, but they still are trying to improve and that was a cool thing to learn about for me.

“I think in the end the Desert Vipers and the Gulf Giants were probably the strongest teams in the tournament and they deserved to be in the finals. But once you get there anything can happen, and it was tough to predict things last year.”

On playing county cricket (for Durham), and how much of a learning curve it was:“It was a massive learning curve, and for me personally, not having played much red ball cricket in my career, it has been a nice challenge to try and adapt my game to the longer format. Batting and bowling, and obviously playing in the T20 Blast has also been an incredible experience for me as well. The level of cricket there is so high, I have really enjoyed my first year and I am looking forward to next year as well.”

On the experience of working under Desert Vipers Head Coach James Foster andbatting coach Neil McKenzie at the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred:“It was really cool. Unfortunately I didn’t get to play a game, which was a shame, but we trained a lot, and the group was awesome to be around.

“To link up with James and Neil was amazing. I think in franchise cricket you have a lot of different coaches and as a player it might be hard to work on your game while you are playing in a franchise or a tournament. And I think to have been with James and Neil at The Hundred and now at the Desert Vipers is massive for my development and hopefully the continuity of the coaching is going to help me as well.”

On working alongside Adam Hose at the Northern Superchargers and now in theILT20 in the Desert Vipers squad.“I saw him a week after the draft and we both met at the gym and then I got to know him, and he is a really nice guy and I look forward to spending more time with him in the UAE.”

On Scotland batter Michael Jones, a teammate at Durham, and soon to be a teammate at the Desert Vipers:“Personality-wise he is a really nice and kind guy, and he will get along with everyone. As a cricketer he is a very versatile player. He is an opening batter and plays the longer format well, and I have seen him play some proper knocks in T20 cricket as well, making use of that powerplay and he really hits the ball hard. So, as a fellow Associate cricket player, I am really excited to see how he goes.”

On the prospect of playing alongside some big names from Pakistan, includingShaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan and Azam Khan:“These guys have so much experience playing, and they understand the game so well. It is going to be a treat to train with them and hopefully play a couple of games with them. Hopefully I will get the chance to speak with some of them at the World Cup (in India), which will be nice.”

On his role at the Desert Vipers, and where he sees his ideal batting position andbowling duties:“There is always going to be a difference in what I would want and what the coaches see me as. I have worked a lot playing that finisher role for the team, coming in later near the end, and trying to close out the innings with a couple of maximums which I have really enjoyed.

“Hopefully I can continue doing that for the Vipers, and with the ball, we have got so much talent in the pace department, so if I can be in and around there and bowl a couple of overs in the middle or close out at the death, that is where I would see myself play best.”

On the opportunity of working with Azhar Mahmood, the Desert Vipers seam bowling coach:“This is why these tournaments are so good because you have views from guys who have not just coached at this tournament but in so many other tournaments and they have so much experience from their playing career. A guy like Azhar Mahmood is someone who has been there and done that. So, from the bowling side of things, he is going to be a really great guy to work with.”

On being contacted by the Director of Cricket Tom Moody and Head Coach JamesFoster after being drafted into the team:“They have sent me messages, and James (Foster) was around during The Hundred (as Head Coach of Northern Superchargers) and Tom (Moody) was at the Oval Invincibles, and I would see them here and there. They sent me messages after we got promoted with Durham and after my knock in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers.”

On the Desert Vipers squad having a number of talented all-rounders, including Shadab Khan, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ali Naseer, Rohan Mustafa and Tom Curran:“You can never have enough all-rounders in a squad as they can help you in the bowling and batting departments. Yes, it seems like a very strong all-round squad, and we have all the bases covered.

“A guy like Tom Curran is someone I am looking forward to being around and learning from his experience. But also, I am looking forward to training with Ali Naseer the young UAE guy and Rohan Mustafa; after playing against them a lot of times it will be nice (to be on the same side).”

On having a lot of UAE experience, and also having played for the MI Emirates in season one of the ILT20:“I have always enjoyed playing in the UAE, especially when the sun sets, and it is not quite as hot. Obviously, having played a lot of bilateral series and also the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2021, I kind of know the conditions, and I love playing there.”

The second edition of the ILT20 is scheduled to start in January 2024. The Desert Vipers finished as runners-up in the inaugural edition of the tournament in January and February 2023.

Among the players the Desert Vipers have retained from that first edition are English opening batter Alex Hales, who scored the competition’s first-ever individual hundred and finished as its leading run-scorer, and Wanindu Hasaranga, the Sri Lanka wrist-spinner, the top wicket-taker in the past two editions of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

This time we have an interview with Netherlands all-rounder Bas de Leede.

Bas was with MI Emirates in season one of the DP World ILT20, but he has been snapped up by the Vipers for the second edition and arrives as one of the most exciting young talents in the game.

Bas is in India for the ICC Cricket World Cup, having played a key role in helping his country qualify for the tournament for the first time since 2011 and he gives us his thoughts on that, as well as his excitement at becoming a Viper, plus plenty more.

Dubai, UAE ( September 18, 2023)–There may still be almost four months to go until the second edition of the DP World ILT20 gets underway, but Desert Vipers Head Coach James Foster is already getting excited at the side’s prospects for the new season.

Foster helmed the squad that finished as runners-up in the inaugural tournament in January and February 2023, and reflecting on that experience as well as looking forward to the squad coming together again, he told the Vipers Voices podcast: “I know we just missed out last year, but our ambition is to go that one step further next time.

“We are absolutely delighted with the squad we have assembled this season, and we believe we have another great chance of potentially winning the competition.”

Former England wicketkeeper Foster, who is all set to head off to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India as part of the New Zealand backroom team following stints with Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League and the Northern Superchargers in the men’s Hundred earlier this year, said he was especially excited about the Vipers’ new additions from Pakistan.

And he also sang the praises of the squad’s other new recruits – Worcestershire and Northern Superchargers batter Adam Hose, Netherlands all-rounder Bas de Leede and Scotland top-order batter Michael Jones.

“Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan and Azam Khan are three wonderful Pakistan players, match winners and it is an absolute joy to have them in our squad,” said Foster.

“I have worked with Adam Hose in The Hundred as part of the Northern Superchargers. He is a star and a very flexible batter in terms of the positions in which he can bat. He has touch as well as a lot of power which is quite unusual in this day and age, to have that whole package. He is a 360 degrees contemporary player.

“Michael Jones and Bas de Leede are two Durham boys who have been doing well. Bas de Leede was with me in the Northern Superchargers as well, and he is a real talent.”

Foster also explained the recruitment process and how he worked in conjunction with Director of Cricket Tom Moody and Chief Executive Officer Phil Oliver assembling the blend they believe will ensure the side’s success next February.

“It was and is a collective way we went about it,” he said “We discussed whether we could improve with our squad, and while we were impressed with how our squad and how our players performed in season one, there was an opportunity to bring some special players on board and we took it.”

James Foster’s thoughts on the new players, as well as his reflections on the season gone by are below:

On Pakistan seam bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, and what he brings to the side:

“I don’t need to explain how good he is (but I will): he is a match winner, he takes wickets up front, he has raw pace and he has leadership qualities as well, which is very important in franchise cricket. Plus he has the ability to produce brilliant death bowling as well.

“Arguably he is one of the best seam bowlers in the world, so we are very lucky that he has joined us. He is also a very handy lower-order batter and I have seen him score a lot of crucial runs down the order in the last 12 to18 months.”

On Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan, and the prospect of him partnering with Wanindu Hasaranga in the spin department:

“He is an absolute gem. I have worked with him before and he is a really relaxed, fun and enjoyable cricketer. He seems to love life and he brings a lot of energy to the team. He is a good fielder, and he has leadership qualities, captaining the Islamabad side in the PSL (Pakistan Super league).

“The strength of our squad is really high, and it is a really exciting prospect of Shadab and Wanindu Hasaranga bowling together.”

On Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan:

“I am so excited for him to be on my side. I have been against him in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), and he is always someone we have feared because of his power, his ability, his class, and his wicketkeeping, that all show he is a very talented cricketer.”

On the importance of having Netherlands all-rounder Bas de Leede and England batter Adam Hose in the squad, especially with respect to their ILT20 experience as Bas was with MI Emirates and Adam was at the Sharjah Warriors in season one:

“A lot of guys play cricket around the world, but to have actual experience of these conditions is vitally important. I think they are both stunning players. When they became available, the management were very keen to get them and I am delighted that they have joined us.”

On Scotland batter Michael Jones:

He is a top-order player, who will give us a lot of options in that area. It is building the strength of our squad. We have a very exciting batting and bowling line-up. In that first game we will have to make some difficult calls, but we have some quality there and I am absolutely delighted.”

On UAE players Rohan Mustafa and Ali Naseer being retained:

“I think they are both brilliant players. Ronnie (Rohan Mustafa) has been around for a long period of time and has played in quite a few franchise tournaments and he fits the bill for us in the role as our frontline off-spin bowler and we used him in an attacking opening position with the bat last season and I thought he did a phenomenal job. He brings a lot of character and flair into the group, and he is a brilliant fielder, so it was a no-brainer (to retain him).

“Ali is a young and talented player and he worked very hard with Azhar Mahmood in the nets. Yes, he did not get a huge amount of opportunities to showcase that in the middle but he was excellent around the group. We have got a lot of high hopes for him. He is a real talent with both the bat and ball, and it is really great to see him having an impact for the UAE. He made his (One-Day International and Twenty20 International) debuts, and he has been doing a wonderful job for them.”

On having to release some players such as Sam Billings, Mark Watt and Jake Lintott who have then moved to other franchises:

“They are all excellent players, and I am delighted to see they have been picked up by other franchises, and no surprises there. Sometimes you have to shuffle the pack to bring in new players. Unfortunately, we have had to let go a few players. But this is the nature of the beast and franchise cricket.”

On Colin Munro as captain:

“I am a huge fan of Colin Munro and I love the way he went about his business (last season). I think he was extremely conscientious about all the players and has a really good touch and I thought he flourished last year. It is not easy, captaining, because T20 cricket is a fast-paced game.

“I am delighted about the job he did, and his (current) form. He has been doing really well, in the T20 Blast, The Hundred and now the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). He has a lot of experience, and he was a brilliant leader to have around.

“It was a busy season last year (in the ILT20) with a lot of cricket in a small space of time, but he was still coming down to all of our practice sessions, even though all our trainings were optional, and getting a lot of contact time with the players. That is just the measure of the man. It was about spending that time with the players and touching base and talking about nothing specific or about something specific.

“I thought he did a wonderful job, and I am delighted again to be able to build on our partnership and see him flourish again this season.”

Reflections on the Desert Viper’s first season, and whether the loss of Sherfane Rutherford to injury ahead of the final was an important factor in eventually losing out to the Gulf Giants:

“I thought we had a brilliant campaign both on and off the pitch. I thought the team gelled really well and we played some brilliant cricket. There were some very good sides we came up against and we were in a very good position, after we qualified straight through to the final, but unfortunately we just missed out on the final.

“Yes, it would have been great to have Sherfane (Rutherford) for the final. He is a world-class player, and you just have to look at what he did, in (what was) effectively the semi-final. He was phenomenal. It was a brilliant campaign, it is all about performing on the day, (especially) in T20 cricket, and unfortunately the Gulf Giants were just too good for us on the day.”

On learnings from season one of the DP World ILT20:

“It was a brilliant competition, and the standard was really high. It was an absolute pleasure to be involved in the first season for the Desert Vipers. We worked really hard in the construction of a really good side, and we spent a lot of time planning before the season started.

“It was interesting to see how much the ball swung, which is quite unusual in the modern white-ball game. Apart from that, everything else was as expected. Sometimes there would be dew, sometimes a lot of it, sometimes not much; the modern-day players are used to that playing in the UAE.”

On how the assignment with New Zealand Cricket, for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup came about:

“It came about when I was India for the IPL, and New Zealand were looking for an extra pair of hands for the World Cup. The opportunity came my way and I put my hand up. I have always been an admirer of the Black Caps and the way they have performed over many years. I have worked with various New Zealanders in franchise tournaments, and I have played with a handful of them back in the day, and I am just fascinated by their culture and how they go about their business. So, it is an absolute honour to be a part of their setup.”

The second edition of the ILT20 is scheduled to start in January 2024. The Desert Vipers finished as runners-up in the inaugural edition of the tournament in January and February 2023.

Among the players the Desert Vipers have retained from that first edition are English opening batter Alex Hales, who scored the competition’s first-ever individual hundred and finished as its leading run-scorer, and Wanindu Hasaranga, the Sri Lanka wrist-spinner, the top wicket-taker in the past two editions of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

This time we have an interview with Vipers Head Coach James Foster.

James is preparing to work with New Zealand at the Cricket World Cup in India in October and November but, ahead of that, he took the time to chat with us about his reflections on the first edition of the ILT20 when the Vipers finished as runners-up, as well as his work since then, the Vipers’ new signings for season two and plenty more besides.

UAE all-rounder Ali Naseer talks about Desert Vipers’ new signings ahead of DP World ILT20 Season 2.

Dubai, UAE ( September 5, 2023)–Former Pakistan all-rounder and Desert Vipers fast bowling coach Azhar Mahmood believes that the squad, season one finalists in the DP World ILT20, can go one step further and lift the silverware when season two gets underway in January 2024.

Mahmood said: “Yes, I think we are stronger than in season one and we are one year older, and we know what we have to do to win this tournament. We know what mistakes we made, and it has been a learning (curve) for every single one of us. We are stronger and hungrier and looking forward to winning this competition.“On paper we have got all the bases covered but, in the end, you cannot play the game on paper. You have to play on the field and execute the plans on the field really well. If we keep doing the basics right, we will do alright.”Having taken on key coaching positions in England and Pakistan, Mahmood knows what it takes to win a franchise tournament. He has had a spectacular summer assisting Desert Vipers Director of Cricket and Oval Invincibles Head Coach Tom Moody in taking the Invincibles’ men’s team to victory in The Hundred.During his role with the Invincibles, and with county side Surrey – themselves on the cusp of back-to-back County Championship successes – Azhar Mahmood has worked with two Desert Vipers stars, Gus Atkinson and Tom Curran, and he has been impressed with how far they had come since the ILT20.Speaking about Tom Curran, Mahmood said: “If you see his (Tom Curran) recent record, in terms of batting, he is on a different level. This year in the final (of The Hundred) we (Oval Invincibles) were 30 for five, and the way he and Jimmy Neesham batted was unbelievable. Tom is a phenomenal cricketer, and you want players like him on your team. He is a competitor, and he likes challenges and fighting on the field, and that is what he is all about.”Coach Mahmood also said Tom now offered the Desert Vipers more options in the top order: “You can play him anywhere, especially when the format is shorter,” said Azhar. “People think he needs to go in the last 30 balls and finish the game, but if he has an opportunity in any franchise where he can build the innings and attack the opposition bowlers (he can be just as effective, if not more so because) he has a bit more time because he has the ability and skill. He understands the game really well, and he can bat higher, but it all depends on the team combination.”Mahmood said he was equally excited about England fast bowler Gus Atkinson who has really come into his own since his stint at the Desert Vipers, when he was promoted from a net bowler to the playing squad.“I have worked really hard with him at Surrey, on the technical and mental side of things, and he has worked with (strength and conditioning coach) Darren Veness on the physical side of things,” said Azhar.“We all knew of the potential and talent he had, and we just needed to guide him towards the right path, I am glad that with our guidance he has gone on that right path and is now playing white-ball cricket for England.”Looking ahead Azhar Mahmood said he was excited about what Atkinson could do for the team, alongside some of the new recruits including Shaheen Shah Afridi: “(Gus) makes things look so easy, his run-up is so nice and smooth. He is quicker than you think, he has clocked 94-95 miles per hour, in The Hundred. Last year when he was taking the new ball for us (at the Desert Vipers), he bowled some good spells. I am really excited to see him and Shaheen Shah Afridi running in for Desert Vipers this season,” Mahmood said.Here are some further responses from Azhar Mahmood on the recruitment of Pakistan players into the squad and much more:On whether Desert Vipers have an advantage by being the only side to have Pakistan players on the team:“It definitely gives the Desert Vipers an advantage because two of the players, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Shadab Khan, have played a lot of cricket games on those (UAE) pitches and they understand how to bowl and bat there. Bringing a different culture to the dressing room will definitely enhance their (Desert Vipers’) game.”On previous experience working with Shaheen Shah Afridi: “He is a phenomenal talent, and he was on the (Pakistan) Under-19 team and I have worked with him throughout. During my experience with him on the Under-19 team he was one of my projects. He used to bowl outswingers, but he would never bowl inswingers, and we worked hard on that.“I am the one who first suggested to him that he bowl yorkers with the new ball, and very often he has had success bowling them. Moving forward, I still have these conversations with him. I am really looking forward to working with him again. Every time he has the ball in his hand, he wants to take wickets.“He is a really exciting prospect, and he is one of the best left-arm seamers in the world at the moment. The passion and enthusiasm he has always had throughout is phenomenal; whether it is as captain of the Lahore Qalanders (in the Pakistan Super League (PSL)) or whether he is playing anywhere in the world, you see him running and giving everything to the team. You want people like him in your dressing room. He is not a captain, but a leader.”On coaching Shaheen Shah Afridi: “I am always in touch with him, whenever he struggles or if he has any issues. He calls me and we discuss things. Now he wants to take wickets and I want him to bowl fuller, but when the ball is not swinging, he needs to drag his length back a little bit, and not go for six yorkers in the first over, like he used to bowl. So, we will have those sorts of discussions when I see him face-to-face during the net sessions.On Shadab Khan: “(He is a) phenomenal player; he is a leader and one of the best fielders in the world. Having him and Wanindu Hasaranga in the same team will boost our energy on the field. Both are competitors on the field, and both have different skills. Shadab Khan is the Islamabad United captain (in the PSL), and I have worked with him in Pakistan. I think Shadab Khan is one of the best all-rounders in the world.”On Azam Khan:“When I saw him when he was really young, he was (always) a great timer of the ball. He is a phenomenal cricketer; he has great cricketing ability and (he) is a six-hitter. I was lucky enough to have him on the Islamabad United side last year and the year before, and he is an impact player.“His understanding of the game is very good. He remains calm and knows when to attack. In one of the games, I remember he hit Shahid Afridi for four sixes, and he was taking the game deep. This year as well, against Quetta Gladiators, his father’s team, he took the game deep, and he hit Naseem Shah for a six outside the stadium. He has remarkable talent, and I am really looking forward to working with all three Pakistan players again.”On Sri Lanka fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana:“The first time I met him I found he was very competitive and wanted to learn everything about the game. He is a mini-Malinga with regard to his actions, and he has a lot of potential. Last year we worked really hard with him on his control of the ball. During the IPL (Indian Premier League) that followed, he bowled some really good spells. I think he has been working hard and is doing really well, and I am looking forward to working with him this year.”On England left-arm fast bowler Luke Wood:“Whether he is bowling the first or last ball, he will always be seen running in. He is such a great fielder as well. All these guys have a hunger to learn and as a coach, I am glad these guys want to learn, and I am going to pass my experience and knowledge to them. They can take that to another level, as a coach it is my responsibility to guide them on technical aspects and they can go and achieve their goals for their domestic and international teams.”On West Indies left-armer Sheldon Cottrell:“Sheldon is a very experienced player having played T20 cricket around the world. He knows his game really well, so you do not have to do too much technical stuff, just little tweaks here and there. From a tactical point of view (we can help) how to bowl and set up a batsman etc. Sheldon is a very quiet guy, he knows what he is doing, and when he is not sure about certain players, he asks questions at team meetings to understand strengths and weaknesses. He is a soldier.”On UAE all-rounder Ali Naseer:“He is a very talented cricketer. Last year, when he was with us, we worked really hard on his bowling. We tweaked a few things here and there. And while he did not bowl a lot during the tournament, we could see he has good skills and a lot of potential and we decided that we wanted to keep him in the team for the future. Having said that, when he made his debut, he got back-to-back fifties in One-Day International (ODI) cricket (for the UAE versus the West Indies in Sharjah in June), and he is taking the new ball (for the UAE in ODIs and Twenty20 Internationals), so you can tell he is a genuine all-rounder.”On Bas de Leede: “He is definitely (an exciting prospect). When he is doing well for his country, at the highest level, (as he did in guiding the Netherlands to the ICC Cricket World Cup in India through outstanding form in the Qualifier in Zimbabwe in June and July), it is telling about (his) temperament and (his) skill level. I am excited to be working with him and I will try my best to help enhance his game to a different level and help him achieve his goals.”On whether the Desert Vipers can win the ILT20: “Yes, we can win the ILT20, and that is the plan and that is the goal and that is what we will try and do.”The second edition of the ILT20 is scheduled to start in January 2024. The Desert Vipers finished as runners-up in the inaugural edition of the tournament in January and February 2023.Among the players the Desert Vipers have retained from that first edition are English opening batter Alex Hales, who scored the competition’s first-ever individual hundred and finished as its leading run-scorer, and Wanindu Hasaranga, the Sri Lanka wrist-spinner, the top wicket-taker in the past two editions of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Desert Vipers star batter Alex Hales, who finished season one of the DP World ILT20 as the tournament’s highest run-scorer with 469 runs, has come out in support of the team’s Spirit of Sustainability goals.The recently-retired England player Hales was in Dubai for a few days ahead of a busy playing schedule, and said he was proud to be a part of a franchise that was committed to sustainability and embarking on a transformative reduction journey.Hales said: “It is exciting (DV’s new sustainability agenda). Everyone can see the world is changing with all the signs of climate change, and I think it is really good that as a franchise we are getting involved and trying to make the world a better place, and hopefully people around the world can get on board with that too.”Hales was referring to the Spirit of Sustainability event last month at Lord’s, where the Desert Vipers CEO Phil Oliver, along with key stakeholders 1.5 Degrees Sport, the Environmental Change Institute at Oxford University, and Carbon Happy World, publicly disclosed the team’s carbon emissions data for season one of the ILT20, as the starting point in its reduction journey. The total carbon emissions amounted to a massive 570 tonnes.Taking cognizance of this number, Phil Oliver said it was time the team acknowledged the impact it was having on the environment. He said: “It is a big footprint and all we can do is try and improve that by setting targets and trying to stick to them and hope others will follow. The reality is that sports teams do have the power to inspire and create change.“Yes, we are a new team, but we want to do things differently and use our players and all the stakeholders involved in the ILT20 and the Desert Vipers specifically to try and inspire that change.”Air travel revealed itself as a major contributor to the team’s carbon footprint according to Desert Vipers Head of Sustainability Matt Bailey: “The breakdown of our footprint is fairly typical of a sports team,” he said.“Nearly 75 percent of that (carbon footprint) is attributable to travel. That is a huge percentage. We are playing cricket in Dubai and have players coming in from around the world and the majority of the staff fly into Dubai. We (Desert Vipers) must fly to play cricket. Nevertheless, we must look at this as a priority to have a chance at reducing emissions.”Bailey added: “We at the Desert Vipers are going to come up with solutions. It is likely to be a programme that incentivises players to consider whether it is possible for them not to travel in business class (to help reduce emissions). I am confident if we can structure something in the right way, we can find some answers to these problems.”CEO Phil Oliver said he was confident the team’s sustainability agenda would not have a negative effect on the field. “I would like to think not (in terms of it causing the team’s form to suffer,” he said. “Sustainability is a core part of what we are doing. It upholds the Desert Vipers’ values and our mission statement, and everyone involved in the team knows what we stand for, and that is the great thing about it.“That includes our Director of Cricket Tom Moody, as it affects our recruitment policy, around players. We must have people on board who share the right values, about how we go about things while having that elite high-performance culture.”The CEO added: “Sustainability represents that (high-performance culture) in some ways. It is about making good choices and about being good citizens in a league, where we are guests in a country, and it is important to leave a good legacy.”The CEO is equally confident the players will do all they can to support the strategy. “I think players have the power to inspire through their performances but also what they do off the field, and we know we will get the support of our group around that,” he said.“I think it will help us bring the team together, and I do not think it will affect performance in a negative sense. It is important that we do this authentically, and we are not forcing anyone to do things they do not want to do. We are educating and we are learning as we go. Let us hope we are on the other side of the results should we get to the final this year.”Director of Cricket Tom Moody, too, was pragmatic in his approach to the sustainability goals of the team: “I do not believe that we can avoid the flying when it comes to T20 cricket or sports in general, or business or life. We need to get around as a human race. We need to travel for work or for personal reasons, but I think the most important thing is us understanding the consequences of that.”Moody was confident the players would support the team’s emission reduction initiatives. “I think the players in this generation are very aware of climate change and the issues we face,” he said.“They are far more educated than my generation around all these issues and, if anything, they will champion it and grab it by the neck and be proud to be a part of the change and this initiative. Hopefully, this can be the beginning of a strong ripple effect through the game.”Coach James Foster said he was also supportive of the sustainability path but he accepted that challenges would have to be faced.“There is a performance element involved as, in this day and age, players might fly in the morning and play a few hours later,” he said.“It will be a balancing act for sure, but the fact that the Desert Vipers are looking to be the first team to really make a difference, this could then have a knock-on effect on other teams in the league and on other franchise teams around the world, and maybe on other sports as well.”The Desert Vipers team has signedup to the UN Sport For Climate Action Framework, and a key objective is to use sport as a vehicle to build awareness and drive action.Here arethree example programmesthat the team is offering partners who would like to join the Desert Vipers Spirit of Sustainability program: