DUBAI: The inclusion of players from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in the DP World International League T20 is likely to make a tangible impact this season, according to Sharjah Warriorz captain Tim Southee, as franchise skippers highlighted the tournament’s rising standard before its fourth edition.
Season 4 of the competition follows the league’s first player auction, which took place in October, and features players from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait for the first time.
“The quality of local players has been outstanding,” the Kiwi said. “We’ve seen the improvement in UAE cricket, and I’m sure we’ll see the same with players from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia,” he added.
MI Emirates captain Kieron Pollard said his side had assembled the squad they wanted and were prepared for a high-level contest throughout the season.
“Going into the season from a planning perspective, we got exactly the team we needed,” Pollard said. “In this tournament, we always see the best international players, so the level of competition is very high.”
Defending champions Dubai Capitals are aiming to build on last season’s title, with Afghanistan all-rounder Gulbadin Naib emphasizing preparation and adaptability as key factors.
“Last year we won, but we’re looking forward to another successful season,” he said.
“This is a huge platform for everybody. We have new faces who are very keen to do something for the team. As professionals, it’s important to get our mindset right.”
Desert Vipers, finalists in two of the league’s three seasons to date, are again targeting a championship run. Captain Lockie Ferguson pointed to squad balance and team spirit as reasons for optimism.
“It feels like a family,” he said.
“We played great cricket throughout the tournament last season, and this year we’re looking to do even better. What’s great about this competition is that young players get a chance to learn very quickly,” he added.
Jason Holder, captain of Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, said discipline and execution would be central as his side look to rebound from a bottom-of-the-table finish last season.
“We all want to win, we need to be disciplined and execute our plans. There’s a lot of power and depth in our line-up, so the challenge is putting it all together over a long tournament,” he said.
For Gulf Giants, who won the inaugural title in 2023 before missing the playoffs last season, Moeen Ali said the league’s quality had improved.
“The quality has gone up,” the former England all-rounder said.
“We’ve gone in a different direction with our players, and we’re hoping to get back to competing for the title. We want to entertain our fans and perform at a high level.”
The tournament begins on Tuesday, with defending champions Dubai Capitals facing Desert Vipers at Dubai International Stadium in a repeat of last season’s final.
