By Anas Ahmed 
The ILT20 Season 3 has reached its most thrilling stage, with the Desert Vipers, Dubai Capitals, MI Emirates, and Sharjah Warriorz securing their spots in the playoffs. With a prize pool of USD 1.3 million, the stakes are high as the four teams fight for supremacy.
The Desert Vipers and Dubai Capitals will face off in Qualifier 1, with the winner advancing straight to the Final. Meanwhile, MI Emirates and Sharjah Warriorz will battle it out in the Eliminator, where the losing side will exit the tournament. The winner of the Eliminator will then meet the loser of Qualifier 1 for the remaining final spot.
Desert Vipers Eye Redemption Against Dubai Capitals
The Desert Vipers have been a dominant force this season, securing their playoff berth with an impressive run, including four consecutive victories. Alex Hales (286 runs) and Sam Curran (267 runs) have been the backbone of their batting, while Wanindu Hasaranga and Mohammad Amir (11 wickets each) have led the charge with the ball.
However, recent form has been a concern, with the Vipers losing two of their last three matches. To add to their challenge, they will be looking to break a two-match losing streak against the Dubai Capitals, who have beaten them twice this season.
Tom Moody, Desert Vipers’ Director of Cricket, remains confident ahead of the playoffs:
“We’ve had some fantastic performances throughout the season. Now, the focus is on delivering our best game on Wednesday night.”
Dubai Capitals Look to Maintain Momentum
After a shaky start with three consecutive defeats, the Dubai Capitals bounced back strongly, winning five of their last six matches to finish second in the standings.
Their campaign has been fueled by Shai Hope, who holds the Green Belt for most runs (467 runs at an average of 66.71). Gulbadin Naib has also been a standout performer, contributing with both bat and ball (314 runs and 9 wickets), while Dushmantha Chameera has been their top wicket-taker with 12 wickets in 8 matches.
Sikandar Raza, key all-rounder for the Capitals, expressed confidence in his side:
“Finishing in the top two gives us an extra cushion, but we want to go straight to the final. The ultimate goal is to lift the trophy this year.”
MI Emirates Bank on Banton & Farooqi in Eliminator
Reigning champions MI Emirates were the second team to secure a playoff spot. However, their season has been inconsistent, finishing with five wins in ten matches.
Their standout performer has been Tom Banton, who has amassed 464 runs, including two centuries—a first in ILT20 history. Captain Nicholas Pooran has also played a key role, scoring three half-centuries.
In the bowling department, Fazalhaq Farooqi has dominated, leading the White Belt race with 20 wickets in 10 matches, including a record-breaking 5/16 against Dubai Capitals.
Sharjah Warriorz Aim for a Deep Playoff Run
The Sharjah Warriorz made a stunning comeback after a four-match losing streak, winning three consecutive games to seal fourth place.
Batters Tom Kohler-Cadmore (347 runs) and Johnson Charles (305 runs) have led from the front, each registering three half-centuries. Adam Milne and captain Tim Southee have spearheaded the bowling attack with 11 and 8 wickets, respectively.
The Warriorz will face MI Emirates in the Eliminator, a team that handed them a nine-wicket defeat earlier in the season. However, they head into the knockout clash with confidence after beating MI Emirates convincingly in their last group-stage match.
ILT20 Prize Pool & Signature Awards
The ILT20 boasts a USD 1.3 million prize pool, with the champions earning USD 700,000 and the runners-up USD 300,000.
The tournament also features individual awards, including:
Green Belt – Leading run-scorer (USD 15,000)
White Belt – Leading wicket-taker (USD 15,000)
Red Belt – Most valuable player (USD 15,000)
Blue Belt – Best UAE player (USD 15,000)
The Player of the Match and DP World Dispatch of the Day winners during the playoffs will also receive USD 6,000 each.
ILT20 Playoff Schedule
Qualifier 1 – Desert Vipers vs. Dubai Capitals (February 5, Dubai)
Eliminator – MI Emirates vs. Sharjah Warriorz (February 6, Abu Dhabi)
Qualifier 2 – Winner of Eliminator vs. Loser of Qualifier 1 (February 7, Sharjah)
Final – February 9, Dubai
With four teams battling for the ILT20 crown, fans can expect an electrifying finish to Season 3.
Zainab Shafiq