The Desert Vipers, the only DP World ILT20 franchise without Indian Premier League (IPL) ownership and the only team to feature Pakistani players, made history by winning their first-ever ILT20 title with a dominant victory over MI Emirates at Dubai International Stadium.
The title triumph capped a near-perfect tournament for the Vipers. They finished top of the league stage, defeated MI Emirates convincingly in the qualifier, and then outplayed the same opponents once again in the final to seal the championship.
Pakistani players delivered a match-winning performance in the final, claiming the first six wickets of MI Emirates’ innings. Naseem Shah led the attack with an outstanding spell, supported by Usman Tariq and Pakistan-born fast bowler Khuzaima Tanveer. Hassan Nawaz also played a key role in the field, taking two sharp catches to tighten the noose on the chasing side.
Earlier, the Vipers posted a challenging total after recovering from early setbacks. Captain Sam Curran anchored the innings with an unbeaten knock, building crucial partnerships that pushed the score beyond MI Emirates’ reach.
In reply, MI Emirates never settled. Despite winning the toss, their innings unraveled under sustained pressure from the Vipers’ pace attack. Led by Naseem Shah’s figures of 3 for 18 and Tariq’s economical spell, MI were bowled out for 136 in 18.3 overs.
The 46-run victory marked a landmark moment for the Desert Vipers, who had fallen short in two previous finals. This time, powered by a pro-Pakistani squad strategy and disciplined performances, the Vipers finally lifted the ILT20 trophy and etched their name into the league’s history.
