The Desert Vipers were delighted to host England women’s fast bowler Mahika Gaur at their DP World ILT20 match against the Gulf Giants at the Dubai International Stadium on Wednesday.
Left-arm Mahika, 18, is one of the rising stars of English cricket and was awarded her first England and Wales Cricket Board central contract in December 2024.
But although she was born in the United Kingdom, Mahika was brought up in the United Arab Emirates and made her senior international bow for the UAE when she was only 12 years old, in 2019.
After Wednesday’s match, which the Vipers won by five wickets to seal top spot in the DP World ILT20 table, Mahika met with two other left-arm fast bowlers – Pakistan great Wasim Akram and Mohammad Amir, the leader of the Vipers attack.
She also interacted with another fast-bowling legend from Pakistan, Shoaib Akhtar, a brand ambassador for the DP World ILT20, as well as Desert Vipers Director of Cricket Tom Moody, a two-time ICC Cricket World Cup winner.
Tom presented Mahika with a team jersey signed by the entire Vipers squad.
Commenting on Mahika’s presence at the match, Desert Vipers CEO Phil Oliver said: “It was a pleasure to host Mahika at Wednesday’s match and she is someone we hold in the very highest regard.
“Mahika is a role model for young and aspiring UAE cricketers and she is an example of the talent that exists at grassroots level within this country.”
“That talent is something that we, as the Desert Vipers, are keen to play our part in developing, not only through our utilization of the four UAE players within our playing squad but also through our extensive school programme.
“That programme, which began in September 2023, has seen us visit at least 60 schools and we have interacted with more than 10,000 children in that time.
“Our school programme has sought to introduce children to cricket and also make them aware of the issues of sustainability and the ongoing climate emergency, which we are passionate about.
“Sport is in a unique position to help spread positivity, whether that is by encouraging people to be active or by using its profile to start discussions and affect change, and that is something we are wholeheartedly committed to at the Desert Vipers.”
Mahika endured an injury-affected 2024 but is returning to full fitness and is all set to once again represent her county side Lancashire, Manchester Originals in the women’s Hundred and – hopefully – England over the coming months.
Desert Vipers’ Introduction to Cricket & Sustainability Schools Program has already reached ~12,000 students across the UAE, offering free, enriching sessions that improve physical fitness, build teamwork, and promote environmental awareness. We are very proud to have introduced cricket to girls, many for the first time, and hope to inspire many more female ambassadors of the sport and region, like Mahika, in the years ahead. For more information, contact our Development Lead, Jack Luffman, at jack@thedesertvipers.com.
