The Desert Vipers congratulate Ben Duckett for his recall to the England One-Day International (ODI) squad for the three-match series in South Africa.

Ben’s selection for matches in Bloemfontein (27 and 29 January) and Kimberley (1 February), his first time in the ODI squad since 2016, means he will miss the inaugural ILT20, and while the Vipers squad will miss his presence, it is a proud moment for the team as well.CEO Phil Oliver said: “We are very pleased for Ben Duckett, and we wish him the very best for the series in South Africa. We look forward to having him in our ranks for season two.”Director of Cricket Tom Moody said that while it was disappointing to lose a player of Ben’s ability, the situation was one the Desert Vipers were well prepared for.“You have to be nimble in these situations,” he said. “It certainly can be a challenge for us all to be creative, to be nimble and to be ready to have the options available to us when the unexpected does arise.“The coaches, managers and fans of the Desert Vipers might be writing down what a preferred eleven might be for the first match, but I can assure you that preferred eleven will change between now and the first game as that is the nature of franchise cricket.“There are things that do crop up that are unexpected, whether that be injury or unavailability due to selection with the national set up, an illness – it could be anything –and that is why it is important to have depth in your squad.“We are fortunate to have a great relationship with CricViz who can present us with a series of alternatives for any one of our squad members.“In Ben’s absence we have Dinesh Chandimal, who can bat anywhere in the order and can keep wicket. That is why we say it is a squad that wins a championship and not an individual.”About the Desert Vipers

Owned by Lancer Capital, The Desert Vipers team is one of six to compete at the inaugural ICC-sanctioned ILT20 tournament to be held in the UAE in January-February 2023. Cricket Director Tom Moody and Head Coach James Foster lead operations in the star-studded Desert Vipers camp, which includes players like Sam Billings, Wanindu Hasaranga, Alex Hales, Colin Munro, Tom Curran, and Sheldon Cottrell. Other key staffing appointments include Azhar Mahmood (fast bowling coach), Carl Crowe (spin bowling coach), Simon Helmot (fielding coach), and Neil McKenzie (batting coach).For more information please contact:

Brian Murgatroyd & Roshni Jayakrishnan:media@thedesertvipers.com

The Desert Vipers are delighted and proud to announce a principal sponsorship agreement with the iconic perfume brand Rasasi Perfumes.

Rasasi Perfumes, a pioneer of modern fragrance industry in the region, leads the fragrance manufacturing and retail operations, with a footprint of 165 stores across the GCC. Resonating the vision of UAE’s leadership, Rasasi Perfumes has been instrumental in creating an international presence for fragrances from the UAE. Rasasi is known for bringing together the mystique of the east and the sophistication of the west in its fragrances.

The Desert Vipers and Rasasi have come together for the inaugural edition of the ILT20, a tournament that belongs to the United Arab Emirates, and is committed to nurturing the sport in this region. The collective goal of promoting local talent offers the Desert Vipers and Rasasi a perfect meeting ground.

While Rasasi comes with four decades of leadership in scent artistry and experiential fragrance retail, delivering to the connoisseurs and patrons of perfumes across the GCC, and now globally, the Desert Vipers too are looking ahead to bring together a galaxy of local stars to shine alongside their international signings and represent the UAE brand of cricket worldwide.

Phil Oliver, CEO, Desert Vipers, said: “As a recent international arrival to Dubai, the Desert Vipers are tremendously proud to establish this partnership with the UAE’s most esteemed, global fragrance business. We look forward to working with Rasasi not only to build a world-class cricket franchise but also to play our part in developing the sport in the region. We could not wish for a better partner to work with, in achieving our vision for the Desert Vipers.”

Mr. Sharique Khan, General Manager, Rasasi Perfumes: “We are delighted to announce our sponsorship with Desert Vipers, a proud Dubai based team in the upcoming season of ILT20 2023. This partnership offers a unique opportunity to be a part of the UAE’s first home-grown cricket tournament ILT20, right here in Dubai, the new sports capital of the region. We wish the organisers, teams, and players success throughout the series.”

Mr. Omeir Kalsekar, Business Head, Rasasi Perfumes: “We are extremely proud of our association with Desert Vipers in the very first edition of ILT20 to be held in UAE. The energetic format of T20 cricket resonates with the zest, vibrancy, and modernity that Rasasi as a brand represents. Through this partnership we want to support the vision of the country in fostering young budding talent across sports. We look forward to witnessing great cricketing action unfold this season.”

Apoorva Srivastva, Marketing Head – Retail, Rasasi Perfumes: “We are delighted to announce Rasasi’s partnership with Desert Vipers in the first season of ILT20. We believe in the vision and the commitment of Avram Glazer towards cricket in the region, least to mention the experience of running successful sporting teams across the globe.

“As a sponsor, we strongly believe that sponsorship is not about just placing Rasasi’s logo on the jersey, but rather it is about building a positive association of the logo with the spirit of the team. Sports fans are incredibly loyal to the team they support and this association with Desert Vipers gives Rasasi an opportunity to be a part of the passion that consumers have for a sport. With this association, Rasasi aims to further support and consolidate UAE’s positioning as one of the most exciting sporting destinations.”

About the Desert VipersOwned by Lancer Capital, The Desert Vipers team is one of six to compete at the inaugural ICC-sanctioned ILT20 tournament to be held in the UAE in January-February 2023. Cricket Director Tom Moody and Head Coach James Foster lead operations in the star-studded Desert Vipers camp, which includes players like Sam Billings, Wanindu Hasaranga, Alex Hales, Colin Munro, Tom Curran, and Sheldon Cottrell. Other key staffing appointments include Azhar Mahmood (fast bowling coach), Carl Crowe (spin bowling coach), Simon Helmot (fielding coach), and Neil McKenzie (batting coach).

About RasasiRasasi is a leading regional perfume house in the GCC with four decades of legacy in scent artistry, mastery and commitment to the finest traditions of perfumery and quality. Founded in 1979, Rasasi Perfumes is amongst the leading fragrance companies in the region, creating some of the most exclusive scents from perfume oils to edt sprays for men and women. A pioneer in the field of perfume retail, Rasasi has contributed to the evolution of the modern perfume industry in the Middle East gaining a well-deserved reputation for quality, luxury and elegance. Rasasi operates over 165 elegantly designed unique, dedicated showrooms at leading malls and prime market locations across the GCC and exports its products to more than 60 countries across the globe through a strong distribution network.

To find out more about Rasasi fragrances, or to find the nearest store, please visit www.rasasi.com

For more information please contact:

Brian Murgatroyd & Roshni Jayakrishnan: media@thedesertvipers.com