Pooran, Narine raring to go in season three of DP World ILT20

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (CMC):

Two of the region’s most impactful T20 players, Nicholas Pooran and Sunil Narine, are eager to showcase their leadership skills as the stage is set for the electrifying return of season three of the DP World International League T20 (ILT20).

The tournament bowls off today with a blockbuster opening clash between reigning champions MI Emirates and Dubai Capitals in a rematch of last season’s final. The match will take place at the iconic Dubai International Stadium, setting the tone for an action-packed month of cricket.

Pooran, captain of defending champions MI Emirates, expressed his confidence in his team’s chances of retaining their title.

The explosive left-hander, who shone with the bat last season after scoring 354 runs in 10 innings, emphasised the importance of building on their winning formula.

“I’ve been a part of the competition since its inception. Winning is something we take very seriously, and we’re eager to get started. We understand what it takes to succeed, and having a strong core is crucial,” said Pooran.

T20 veteran and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders skipper Sunil Narine is optimistic about his team’s prospects.

“We have our eyes on the prize. As captain, it’s about finding your way to lead, and I feel I’m improving with every game. A key for us will be our powerplay performances with both bat and ball, and we’re confident in the quality of our players. A strong start is what we’re aiming for,” Narine said.

The tournament will showcase some of the finest cricketing talents from around the world, including David Warner (Dubai Capitals), Jason Holder (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Shimron Hetmyer (Gulf Giants), Phil Salt (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Bhanuka Rajapaksa (Sharjah Warriorz), Sam Curran (Desert Vipers), Jake Fraser-McGurk (Dubai Capitals), Tim David (Gulf Giants), Fazalhaq Farooqi (MI Emirates), Adil Rashid (Sharjah Warriorz), Fakhar Zaman (Desert Vipers), Roston Chase (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Matthew Wade (Sharjah Warriorz), Ibrahim Zadran (Gulf Giants), Alex Hales (Desert Vipers), Sherfane Rutherford (Desert Vipers), Rovman Powell (Dubai Capitals), and Chris Jordan (Gulf Giants).