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It was a wonderful campaign. Cut short just when our dream had begun to take shape, sure, but a seriously fun campaign nevertheless.&nbsp;From Pollard tonking the ball around like only he can, to the announcement of Muhammad Waseem to the world, to Pooran and Fletcher performing day in and out, to Imran Tahir doing a Cristiano, to DJ Bravo foxing a few more batters for fun, to every game unearthing a new hero, it was some campaign!&nbsp;As it all came to a close, Kieron Pollard turned out for the press conference, and in his typical style, smacked some questions out of the park. Excerpts ..&nbsp;&nbsp;On what went wrong in this gameThere’s a lot of ifs and buts now. Obviously we ended up on the losing side of it but sometimes situations present themselves where you have to take initiatives. We were struggling a bit, we didn’t start off well with the bat. It has been the tale of the tournament. We’ve had good and bad starts. But today, I think it cost us.&nbsp;&nbsp;How he turned his batting form aroundIt all started at the end of the last IPL when you guys wrote me off. It gave me some opportunity to go back and think what I needed to do. There was a lot of talk about my age. Bear in mind, I am only 35. 38, 39, 40-year-olds are still playing. That gave me that extra motivation. Kieron Pollard loves that motivation factor. So, I leave you guys wanting more.&nbsp;&nbsp;On his chat with Gerhard Erasmus when he walked out to batJust welcoming him to the crease. Told him I was happy to have him here, and I didn’t want him to be there for too long. Just when Rashid was supposed to bowl, he pulled away. All within good spirit. He is a good talent playing in international cricket. For all these players playing in this tournament, for me, it was all about sharing my knowledge and giving them an opportunity to tap into my brains. All good things, and long may it continue for these players going forward.&nbsp;&nbsp;Whether back-to-back games affected the teamThat’s not an excuse and we are not going to use that. We had a very good game yesterday. Coming back today, a lot of these guys have played Test cricket, playing day in and day out. We knew from the outset that if we won yesterday, we’d have to play today. I won’t use that as an excuse. Mental, emotional, nothing like that. I think we were beaten on the day by the better team.&nbsp;&nbsp;On the difference between the Dubai and Sharjah pitchesThat’s what professional sport is about. I am sure you don’t want to know the difference between pitches and what we have to go through in order to come out and perform. That’s not an excuse, that’s not a reason. At the end of the day, you are professional cricketers and you want to see entertainment.&nbsp;Final thoughts on the ILT20 experienceFrom a team perspective, getting here, three other teams could have been in this position but they got knocked out. I thought we had a very good tournament with the squad we had in terms of experience and youth. A couple of guys coming over from England, from West Indies, we were able to blend and share our knowledge and experience with them. I thought it was a good campaign for us in the ILT20. Long may it continue. It is about learning and getting better as individuals. I am sure some of the guys would have taken some knowledge from here and carried on to their different teams.&nbsp;

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“All about learning and getting better as individuals”: Pollard

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MI Emirates skipper Kieron Pollard’s power-packed half century went in vain as the team bowed out of the ILT20 tournament after going down fighting against the Gulf Giants by four wickets in the second qualifier played at the Dubai International Stadium here on Friday.The mighty Trinidadian mixed power with finesse for a breezy 35-ball unbeaten 57, laced with three boundaries and four massive sixes, and more importantly raised his hands when his team demanded, once again displaying his brilliant leadership skills.Pollard, whose fourth half century of the ILT20 helped him retain the second spot among the top run-getters, ensured that the MI Emirates add 100 runs in the final 10 overs.At the post-match presser, Pollard, who has retired from the Mumbai Indians, was at his wittiest best as he left the scribes in awe while speaking on his transformation as a batter, leading the MI Emirates’ chart with 394 runs at a staggering strike rate of 192.15.“It all started off at the end of the last IPL when you guys (fans) wrote me off. It gave me an opportunity to go back and think about what I need to do. There has been a lot of talk about my age, although I’m just 35 while there are others playing at 38 and 39 years. So that gave me the extra motivation. I leave you guys wanting off,” he said.Joining hands with his West Indian teammate Nicholas Pooran (29) with the team in a spot of bother, the right-left combo injected the pace into the MI Emirates’ innings with a crucial 71-run partnership for the fourth wicket after the team crawled to 67/4 from the first 10 overs.“There can be a lots of ifs and buts now, obviously we are on the losing side but sometimes the situation presents itself when you have to take the initiative. We were struggling a bit, we didn’t start off pretty well with the bat. We had some bad starts earlier in the tournament but today it cost us,” Pollard said.Earlier, MI Emirates lost last evening’s star Andre Fletcher cheaply while Lorcan Tucker’s 17-ball 21 cameo also did not last too long. Muhammed Waseem managed to break the shackles for a while, with a six off Colin de Grandhomme, and then depositing leg spinner Qais Ahmed for two consecutive hits out of the park before his 26-ball 31 was cut short by Chris Jordan.&nbsp;Waseem’s departure at the crucial juncture demanded the need for acceleration, which was provided by the team’s best bets in the Trinidadian pair of Pooran and Pollard.&nbsp;Pooran used the three reprieves to full advantage by playing the perfect second fiddle to his captain, who clobbered the leg-spinner for consecutive sixes to turn on the heat. Pollard later meted out special treatment to other bowlers to add another 29 runs for the fifth wicket with Dwayne Bravo, who remained a spectator to the fellow Trinidadian’s exploits.In response, Giants’ skipper James Vince struck an unbeaten 83 to take the team to the final even after Bravo arrested a flashy 64-run start with the scalp of Chris Lynn (24) and Rashid Khan surprised de Grandhomme with a googly to further apply the brakes.&nbsp;With the opposition needing 60 off the last 8 overs, Fazalhaq Farooqi struck twice in two deliveries to briefly get MI Emirates back into the game, and make up for the dropped chance of Gerhard Erasmus (12) off his skipper from the previous over. Rashid struck again with Wiese’s (15) wicket but by then the damage was mostly done.

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A valiant effort, but alas, our journey ends here!

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Three nights. Two games. One title.&nbsp;Matches in the business end come thick and fast, and there’s been no time to bask in last night’s win. We romped through the Eliminator into the Qualifier, and the positive of having knockout games on back-to-back days is that we could aim to carry this momentum along. It’s almost as if we never left the ground!&nbsp;In front, stand the Gulf Giants, toppers of the table in the league stage. The first of the two head-to-head matches between us was washed out, and the second one was a proper thriller where we ended up on the wrong side of the result as Shimron Hetmyer smashed a six off the last ball of the innings. Not that it matters, as we saw against the Dubai Capitals as well, for the knockouts are a different beast altogether, but we have a score to settle too.&nbsp;Rashid Khan hit the ground running, and him coming into the XI has given our bowling another dimension, and oppositions another headache. At every stage of the tournament, a new player has put his hand up, and we are a well-oiled machine, ready to roll. BRING. IT. ON.&nbsp;&nbsp;What: Gulf Giants vs MI EmiratesWhen: Friday (February 10 2023)Where: Dubai International Stadium, DubaiWhat to expect: A red-hot contest. Two teams in top form. Complete box-office action in the middle.&nbsp;

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Qualifier 2: The Gulf Giants await

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Cometh the big match, cometh the big player. Andre Fletcher, who was warming the tournament up in the league stage, actually lit it on fire tonight. In a 45-ball 68, studded with four fours and four sixes, he strung together a 102-run stand with Nicholas Pooran as the duo helped MI Emirates chase the total down with 22 balls to spare. Here he is, talking to the league’s social media handle in a post-match chat. Excerpts ..&nbsp;&nbsp;On his batting approachMy role is to give the team a good start every time I get a chance to bat. Really happy to contribute. Even after the powerplay, I was switched on and I told Pooran that I would be there until the end. I didn’t want to leave it to another batter because the wicket was not easy for a batter who had just come in. happy to contribute, but this isn’t finished yet.&nbsp;What worked for the team todayWe have a very good team. As we say, this is a family. We believe in each other. We enjoy each other’s success and that is really important. We just have to continue from strength to strength, take that momentum into the next game and do the basics right as much as possible. The result will take care of itself.&nbsp;The impact of having Rashid Khan in the sideYou know when you have Rashid Khan in your team, you know what he brings to the table. We don’t want to get complacent. The captain said, just because Rashid was there, we shouldn’t leave it up to him. Everyone is putting their hand up. Today it was Pooran and I, and hopefully we can continue to contribute. Once we play as a team, as a unit, I don’t see any team beating us. &nbsp;On what is the secret for his success in the tournamentI have a big family. God gives me the strength to go out and play the game I love. I try to stay as fit as possible, hit the gym as often as possible, and it is paying off.&nbsp;

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“Told Pooran I would be there until the end, didn’t want to leave it to a new batter”

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MI Emirates ticked all the boxes, producing a clinical performance to beat Dubai Capitals by 8 wickets in the Eliminator at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, and set their date with the Gulf Giants in the second qualifier to be played in Dubai on Friday.&nbsp;&nbsp;In their hunt for a middling 152, MI Emirates lost their top performer Muhammed Waseem early on but the experienced pair of Andre Fletcher (68 not out off 45 balls) and Nicholas Pooran (66 not out off 36 balls) led the counter attack with cracking unbeaten half centuries to guide the side home with 20 balls to spare.Fletcher, who got to his fastest fifty of the tournament off mere 33 balls, started the onslaught with three consecutive boundaries, including a six off Reece Topley before welcoming Dasun Shanaka for a six over backward square, to set the tone for the chase. In the process, he added 46 runs for the second wicket with Lorcan Tucker (10) before being joined by Pooran, whose 25-ball 50 injected the pace into the chase.Pooran, who has been in red-hot form, announced his arrival at the crease by depositing Shanaka out of the park twice on consecutive occasions to get the required run-rate under control, and allowed the left-right combo to bring up a match-winning 104-run partnership off 65 balls for the third wicket in style and take the side over the line in 16.4 overs.Heaping praises on the way the team adapted to the tricky conditions in Sharjah, MI Emirates bowling coach Vinay Kumar said, “The pitch might have got better as the game progressed. Also the way the team bowled, if you see the first six overs, and the areas which we kept on bowling, that is what was required in this kind of a wicket.”Rashid Khan debuted, and controlled the game in the middle overs, once Kieron Pollard opted to field and wanted his team to put the pressure on the opposition.Rashid Khan (2/20) displayed his class and justified his selection by breaking a crucial fifty-run partnership between Sikandar Raza (38) and George Munsey, after the latter had scored 51 to set the opposition up for the final flourish, only to be halted by the champion leg-spinner with Yusuf Pathan’s scalp to mark a memorable debut in the competition.&nbsp;“Rashid comes straight in to the XI. He's a class player and once you have a player as good available, and has the opportunity to play, then why not take it?!” Pollard said at the toss.Earlier, right after putting the opposition to bat, MI Emirates bowlers kept things under check for a major part of the first innings, with star pacer Trent Boult leading the pack with a miserly spell of 2/19 off his four overs before the likes of Dwayne Bravo (1/35), and Rashid maintained the pressure from the other ends. Towards the end, Rovman Powell (30) got the Capitals to 151/5.“Getting those early wickets in the power play overs is crucial for any bowling attack. We can’t trust the bounce on this wicket, because the balls were keeping low. The balls were coming to the bat but the bounce was low,” Kumar said.On the prospect of playing the second qualifier in a matter of 24 hours, the MI Emirates bowling coach said, “We are taking one game at a time, it will definitely be a big game. With the kind of squad we have, most of them are matured enough to understand the importance of the game. We don’t have much time but the talk in the team is to treat it as just another game and go and give your best.”

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Pooran, Fletcher fifties help MI Emirates romp into Qualifier 2

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The big man's here. Rashid Khan, the star Afghanistan all-rounder, who's bamboozled the best of batters with his wrist-spinners, has joined the MI Emirates squad ahead of the Eliminator clash against the Dubai Capitals.&nbsp;The UAE is almost like a backyard for the 24-year old, having spent a lot of time on these grounds both in international and domestic cricket. And with his quick-arm action and the ability to get the ball zipping off the track, trust him to be a proper threat to deal with.&nbsp;He is set to add some more experience to our bowling lineup, and should hit the ground running, having until a week ago represented the MI family franchise in the SA20 in South Africa, MI Cape Town. Trust him to also bring in the big-match experience, having won multiple titles all around the world.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Rashid Khan joins the MI Emirates squad ahead of play-offs

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Kieron Pollard has led from the front in guiding MI Emirates to the play-offs of the ongoing ILT20 tournament, and on the eve of the Eliminator against the Dubai Capitals at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, the Trinidadian expects his team to take the match as any other ordinary game, and relish the scenarios to bring out their best after what they have done to reach this stage.“We have adjusted well (in all conditions). As players we understand well, what is needed, shots that we need to play, and from a bowling perspective knowing the right lines and lengths, so we have adapted pretty well,” Pollard said after the team’s training session at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium here.“But as I always say, all these things count for nothing when it’s the Eliminator because before the start of the game there is pressure as you know if you lose you get knocked out. But for me, it’s not only another game of cricket but one that you should relish as a cricketer in these scenarios to bring out your best after what you have done to get to this stage,” he added.Pollard, who is second in the list of highest run-getters in the tournament with an aggregate of 337 runs at a staggering strike rate of 198.23, and with an average of 67.40, believes that the team deserves full marks for the way they have played and managed to confirm their place for the play-offs even before a couple of games were left in the league phase.&nbsp;“We have been tested, at times we have played very good cricket, also made some elementary mistakes and these things do happen but overall the first instance in any tournament is to get to the playoffs, and to get there with one or two games to go before the end of the league phase was a good job by the team,” said the Trinidadian.MI Emirates finished third on the ILT20 table after recording five wins from their 10 outings, with one match being washed out.&nbsp;From a leadership point of view, Pollard, said he tries not to put his players under much pressure but at the same time prefers to take the back seat and back their performances.&nbsp;“As a captain, I try to focus on situations, and try not to put my players in too many pressure situations understanding what they can handle, and again watch their talents flourish. Sometimes you can lead from behind as well by just letting the youngsters enjoy themselves and show their youthful exuberance and gain experience of what is needed. You just take a step back and enjoy what they do,” the MI Emirates skipper said.Exuding confidence on the younger players for raising their hands whenever the situation demanded, Pollard said, “I am sure these experiences will help them because they are going to be the future of cricket.”

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Sometimes as a captain you take a back seat to watch the talent flourish: Kieron Pollard

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Right then. It’s time. And much like the name should suggest, the Eliminator is upon us. Four days. Three games. One title.&nbsp;Over this last month, every player in our XI has made his presence felt at some stage. We’ve won matches clinically, scraped through, have stolen victories from the jaws of defeat, have stumbled on the odd occasion, but importantly, we’ve gone from strength to strength and have picked up momentum at the right time.&nbsp;Level 1: The Dubai Capitals stand in between. Let’s not take them lightly, they’ve beaten us twice in this season. And in both cases, it’s their batting that has won it for them. We are in their backyard now as well. It’s a stiff challenge, but this is precisely what big matches are made of. This is where the big players stand up. Oh and we have plenty of them.&nbsp;&nbsp;What: MI Emirates vs Dubai CapitalsWhen: Thursday (February 9 2023)&nbsp;Where: Dubai International Stadium, DubaiWhat to expect: Pressure. Runs.&nbsp; Dew. Entertainment. All in equal measure. Remember, the winner goes into the second qualifier. The loser goes home.&nbsp;

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MIEvDC: It’s Eliminator time! 

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New Zealand and MI Emirates pace spearhead Trent Boult credited the research and hard work put in by the support staff of the franchise for the progress to the play-offs of the ongoing ILT20 competition here. The MI Emirates finished third on the ILT20 table after registering five wins from their 10 outings and are all set to face off Dubai Capitals in the Eliminator in Sharjah on Thursday.Counting his association with the Mumbai Indians’ IPL-winning side in 2020 as one of his ‘finest cricketing memories’, the 33-year-old left-armer said, “The 2020 IPL campaign with the Mumbai Indians was probably one of my finest cricketing memories. It was Covid and coming to a new environment, was excited to come into a prestigious franchise. To get a chance to play under Rohit Sharma alongside Kieron Pollard, and the coaching staff, and work so hard across the league stage and reaching the knockouts, and push forward to win the trophy was obviously one of the highlights of my career so far.”“The things I learnt from them (MI team management) are how they like to keep things simple, how much they support the guys to do the job and also the amount of work they put in while preparing and research, which is very important when you go into a new tournament like the ILT20. This is the reason why we are here in the play-offs,” he explained.Boult also spoke on his association with former Kiwi seamer and MI Emirates head coach Shane Bond, and hailed his cool and calm approach while leading the franchise to the knock-out stages.“I have known Shane for a long time, and had the experiences with him at the Mumbai Indians, before moving to the MI Emirates. It’s been an enjoyable one as well. He’s a guy who keeps it very clear, he’s nice and calm under any situation which is a key attribute for any coach. He’s been leading the group very well, and hopefully can take it all the way,” he said.Boult, who has been instrumental in leading the MI Emirates bowling attack with early wickets is happy to be a part of the leadership group, while hailing the bowling group for adapting to the ever-changing conditions in the UAE.&nbsp;“The best thing about these leagues is players from so many nationalities come together and all have played T20 leagues across the world, which makes it very exciting. I have really enjoyed how (Dwayne) Bravo, (Imran) Tahir and the others share their views and inspire the younger guys in the side,” he said.“In this part of the world where the wickets keep changing, I think the boys have been really smart, taking on the hardest options in the simplest of ways. A lot of hard work is still to be done but I think we can go all the way. One of the biggest challenges as a bowler is reading the wickets and bowling according to the plans,” he added.Boult also heaped praises on skipper Pollard, rating him as one of the toughest batters he has ever come across, and believes that the kind of experience, the Trinidadian brings, certainly makes him one of the strongest leaders.“It’s been an exciting bowling attack to be a part of, and obviously from the experience that the captain Kieron Pollard brings, he understands the game pretty well. It’s always good to have such a strong leader,” he said.

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Winning the 2020 IPL for MI one of my finest cricketing memories: Trent Boult 

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"If you need any help, I’m there by your side" the words from five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians captain and his favourite batter Rohit Sharma took Zahoor Khan some time to process as the UAE pacer was pleasantly surprised with the warm gesture by such a stalwart of world cricket.Roped in as a net bowler by the Mumbai Indians when the IPL was moved to the UAE in 2020, following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Zahoor got the chance to bowl at the Hitman.&nbsp;Zahoor has been a part of the Mumbai Indians net-bowling unit since 2014, but it was after his wicket-maiden in the Abu Dhabi T10, 2019 tournament, that made him a force that the Mumbai Indians were interested in.Recounting his association with the Mumbai Indians franchise, the 30-year-old said that he desperately wanted to be a part of the team after sharing the dressing room with the likes of Rohit, Jasprit Bumrah and other MI players.“I still remember the first day of training, I reached the stadium before the team arrived, and as I saw the players coming in, I found myself in one corner..only to find Rohit Sharma’s kit bag beside me. When Rohit came, I offered him the seat, but Instead he hugged me and made me feel relaxed saying, ‘Paaji pura pavilion apka hai, apko kisi bhi cheez jarurat ho toh banda haazir hai (The entire pavilion is yours, in case you need anything let me know),’” said Zahoor.“And that followed the chance encounter to bowl to Rohit at the nets. I started with a slow bouncer that surprised Rohit, and followed it up with a fast yorker, and another slower bouncer.” recalled Zahoor.“Rohit bhai would come to me and make me comfortable even though I was the one who troubled him with those deliveries.”“I remember bowling with Bumrah at the nets when the IPL was played here in 2014, but since then he has become a world class bowler, and we exchanged our cricketing knowledge with each other,” Zahoor recalled.“My world changed. The legends of the game like Mahela Jayawardene, Zaheer Khan, started addressing me by my name, which is a very big thing for me,” he said.Once he landed in the MI dressing room, he was overwhelmed by the response, and started visualising himself in the MI jersey one day. When the ILT20 was announced, Zahoor’s passion for playing for the blue jersey came true.Zahoor said that it was his late mother Farhad Biwi’s blessings that pumped him up before bowling the maiden over to Lendl Simmons in the Abu Dhabi T10, which in a way opened the doors of franchise cricket for him.&nbsp;“During the Abu Dhabi T10, she was in hospital. My mother told me, "Go and play your best game. The whole world will remember you,” the words resonated Zahoor during the game.&nbsp;“The dream was to always play for MI as I had served them as a net bowler and fully aware of how they operate. And the ILT20 league came at the right moment. I finally got my chance to feature for the MI team,” said an emotional Zahoor.

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"If you need any help, I’m there by your side" - Zahoor Khan recounts Rohit Sharma meeting

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MI Emirates debutants Zahir Khan (2/32) and Craig Overton (1/14) came up with impressive bowling performances before the team went down fighting against Dubai Capitals by seven wickets in their final league stage encounter of the ILT20 tournament, played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium here on Sunday.Having already qualified for the play-offs, the MI Emirates went in without the big four in their last league match of the tournament. Captain Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Imran Tahir and Trent Boult were rested as the franchise looked to test the bench before the business end of the tournament.The onus was on the seasoned West Indian Nicholas Pooran to lead the side and the stand-in skipper shouldered the responsibility with an authoritative 43 off 31 deliveries, when the chips were down for the MI Emirates after being put in to bat.Coming in at the end of the powerplay, the skipper struck five boundaries and a six during his stay for the next 10 overs, where he was involved in a crucial 56-run fifth wicket stand with Dan Mousley, to set the tone of MI Emirates’ eventual total of 164/6.Mousley, the 21-year-old from England, utilised the initial reprieve well as his 35-ball unbeaten 31, ensured that the MI Emirates’ innings got the late flourish by adding 48 runs in the last five overs, with Jordan Thompson contributing a vital 8-ball 16.Earlier, Muhammed Waseem struck a blistering 24-ball 31, powered by a couple of boundaries and as many sixes, to help MI Emirates arrest a faulty start. Waseem got the perfect partner in Lorcan Tucker as the right-handed combo revived the MI Emirates’ innings with a 46-run third wicket stand after Jake Ball struck twice in one over to remove Andre Fletcher (9) and Bas de Leede (2) in a span of three deliveries.Commenting on his batting form, Waseem, who’s the only UAE player to be in the list of the top three run-getters, said, “I always prioritise the team’s performance, and try to contribute as much as I can with my batting to help the team win. If I contribute to the team’s performance, my name will automatically be in the list of top run-getters.”“I look forward to continue in the same vein and contribute to the best of my abilities to help the team win the next three games in the play-offs and win the title,” he added.However, the flourishing partnership was clipped by Sikandar Raza on the last ball of the powerplay, reducing the MI Emirates to 58/3 before Pooran arrived. Waseem’s knock was a perfect mix of caution and aggression, as he showed great maturity in holding one end with wickets falling at the other, and switching roles once Pooran joined him in the middle.Waseem also said that he plans to take the learnings from the experience of rubbing shoulders with the likes of Pollard, and the other seasoned campaigners in the MI Emirates’ set-up to good use when he represents the national side.“I have learnt a lot from this tournament, and would look forward to imbibe more during the playoffs from the senior players like Bravo, Pollard, Pooran and Imran Tahir, and try to pass those when I play for my national team,” he said.In their defence of 164, Afghanistan left-arm wrist spinner Zahir Khan produced a spectacular show in his very first over, that ended up as a double-wicket maiden.“I feel 164 was a fighting total, our bowling was also decent enough but we must give credit to the opposition for the way they batted,” Waseem said at the post-match presser.Playing his first match of the tournament, Zahir’s fiery spell did apply the brakes on the Capitals’ scoring as he retained the pressure exerted by Craig Overton at the other end by getting the first breakthrough for the Emirates with the wicket of Robin Uthappa (29). In the very next over, the Afghan chinaman removed the other opener George Munsey (14) and Rovman Powell for nought in a span of three deliveries to reduce the opponents to 44/3.With dew playing a role in the second innings, the MI Emirates bowlers had to deal with the challenge, and the duo of Dasun Shanaka (58 not out) and Raza (56 not out) took full advantage of it by forging together a 122-run unbeaten partnership to eventually help the Capitals get over the line and keep themselves in the hunt for a place in the play-offs.

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Debutants Zahir, Craig impress but the Capitals edge home

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First things first: We are through to the play-offs. And thus, this final group stage game, is more of a formality. Not for the Dubai Capitals though. They have to win this game to stay in contention of making it through, and would understandably be coming out all guns blazing. We, meanwhile, can relax a bit, experiment around, give some of the guys on the bench a go, preserve some of our otherwise-regulars.&nbsp;There’s a fine line we have to toe though. In the quest for experimenting, we need to ensure we do not give up on our winning momentum. Also, there is enough reward in this ILT20 to finish in the top two and have a second bite at the cherry. And for that, we have to win.&nbsp;The Abu Dhabi leg is done, and the action now moves to Dubai. Also, in terms of some head-to-head news, the last time these two teams met, 428 runs were scored in the day. We ended up on the wrong side of the result though. It’s time to avenge!&nbsp;&nbsp;What: Dubai Capitals vs MI Cape Town&nbsp;When: Sunday (February 5, 2023)Where: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, DubaiWhat to expect: Plenty of runs, plenty of drama, and plenty of excitement&nbsp;What they said: “We need our fans in Dubai now. We are no longer going to be playing in Abu Dhabi. Great to see the fans coming out in numbers tonight. It is just an hour’s drive, so please make your way to Dubai. We need your support. This is the business end of the tournament. Go MI!” – DJ Bravo

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Match 10 preview: Time to tighten up the screws against the Capitals

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The old warhorse was at it again. The entire skillset was out there for everyone to see, and the ADKR batters were deceived, just like thousands around the globe have been over the last 18 years that DJ Bravo has been around for. At the end of the game, he spoke to the ILT20 crew, and here are some excerpts ..&nbsp;&nbsp;On getting over the lineThis is the first phase we wanted. We wanted to make sure we qualified. Great game. Congratulations to the entire team. Well-deserved victory.&nbsp;&nbsp;On his experience so far in the leagueEvery team that I play in, I give my 100%. It’s always good when I can contribute to the team’s success. We have a well-balanced team with youth and experience. For me it is just about staying healthy. We have a very good medical staff. I still enjoy my cricket, enjoy competing and this is a tournament I look forward to. The quality of players here and playing in the UAE is also special.&nbsp;&nbsp;On his practice drillsI have been doing it for the last 18 years. In practice I keep working on my different deliveries because I know in game time I need to call upon them. Preparation is key for me. In the nets I feel good working on the wide Yorkers, slower balls, dipping deliveries and using my variations. In the game scenario, I decide which is the right delivery to bowl at that point of time.&nbsp;&nbsp;On Muhammad Waseem’s brilliant formHaving him up the order is a bonus for us. In every tournament, not just here, you need good local players, and he is one of the best. Easily, he can be one of the best international players as well, not just in the UAE. He has the ability to play spin, play fast bowling. He is dangerous. Happy that he has scored big runs. Zahoor had a very brilliant game as well with his skills. All in all, it is good to have contributions from the UAE players, it makes our team strong.&nbsp;&nbsp;A message for the MI Emirates fansWe need our fans in Dubai now. We are no longer going to be playing in Abu Dhabi. Great to see the fans coming out in numbers tonight. It is just an hour’s drive, so please make your way to Dubai. We need your support. This is the business end of the tournament. Go MI!&nbsp;

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“We wanted to make sure we qualified today”: Champion DJ Bravo

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MI Emirates have officially sealed their place in the play-offs of the ILT20, with a game to spare,&nbsp; after a 18-run victory over the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in their penultimate league stage game, played at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium here on Friday.Commenting on the clinical performance of the side, MI Emirates head coach Shane Bond said, “We sort of felt we’ll qualify as our run-rate was already high. There wasn’t too much pressure, we were pretty comfortable with where we were. The big one is taking a step forward to take one of the top two spots.”Put in to bat, MI Emirates came out to bat with a different approach seen from the earlier games, as they preferred to stay calm and save their wickets till the 10th over of the innings before the ever dependable Muhammed Waseem (60 off 44 balls) broke the shackles, and in a way laid the platform for skipper Kieron Pollard (43 off 17 balls) to ensure a turbo-charged finish to the innings and eventually post a competitive 180/4.The mighty Trinidadian right-hander consumed just six deliveries to get his eyes in before taking on Andre Russell for 26 runs off the 18th over of the innings, that included three fours and two sixes. With Nicholas Pooran (10) in company, Pollard knew he had the license to go all out and went after Sabir Ali for another six before the young UAE bowler got the better of Pollard, but by then the damage was mostly done. Pollard is now in the second spot among the highest run getters in the tournament with 337 runs.But it was Waseem, who not only took full advantage of the three dropped chances, but set the tone with yet another classy half century that came off a mighty slog-sweep over square. Waseem, who had started his innings on a sedate note, changed gears after the 12th over of the innings, in which he slammed as many as four sixes and a boundary to step on the gas.“We know what a destructive and fine player he (Waseem) is, we wanted him to get the runs at the back end even after the slow start. Our batting group has done a great job throughout the tournament,” the former Kiwi pacer said.Bond is happy to see the four UAE boys (Muhammed Waseem, Zahoor Khan, Vriitya Aravind and&nbsp; Basil Hameed) in the MI Emirates squad making vital contributions throughout the competition, and raising their hands whenever the situation demanded.&nbsp;“This is ILT20, and we have four very fine local players in the squad, and all four have got an opportunity to play which is pretty pleasing from MI Emirates’ perspective. It’s always nice to have your local player as one of your star performers and really leading from the front, that means a lot to us and we hope he (Waseem) continues to do that in the tournament,” Bond added.&nbsp;Waseem, who vaulted to the fourth spot among the highest run-getters with 303 runs, found the perfect partner in Ireland’s Lorcan Tucker, slamming a 23-ball 33, inclusive of three fours and a six, and more importantly forged a 87-run second wicket partnership that propelled the MI Emirates to 122 off 14 overs.Playing his second match of the ILT20, the Irish wicketkeeper-batter provided the much needed impetus to the MI Emirates innings once Andre Fletcher’s (22 off 25 balls) departed following a decent 35-run opening start.In response, Dwayne Bravo starred for the MI Emirates with three wickets after Trent Boult’s started off with a wicket maiden and jolted the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders with the scalp of opener Paul Sterling for a duck and the seasoned leg-spinner Imran Tahir got Brandon King (20) walking off, with the scoreboard reading 25/2.&nbsp;And by the time, things started settling for the batting side, Tahir inflicted further damage by trapping Charith Asalanka (14) in front. Zahoor Khan then got the prized scalps of Andre Russell (42) and Connor Esterhuizen (17) to bury their hopes of a turnaround, even as his UAE teammate Fazalhaq Farooqi completed the rest of the formalities to seal MI Emirates berth in the playoffs.“I hope from here on we can have a settled line-up and remain injury-free and we can challenge for the trophy,” an optimistic Bond commented.

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And we're into the play-offs! 

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Seasoned South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir on Thursday said that the MI Emirates will take a lot of heart from the daredevil performance the team displayed against the Gulf Giants on Wednesday. Speaking on the eve as MI Emirates take on Abu Dhabi Knight Riders here on Friday, he mentioned that the team will take forward this confidence into the remaining two games of the ILT20 tournament.The India FactorOn his experiences of playing in Indian conditions, Tahir said it is the passion for the sport in the country that a cricketer doesn’t need much exposure to shine in the country.&nbsp;“If you are a cricketer, you don’t need exposure of playing in India. The love and support of fans and the passion for cricket in India is unmatched. For me, it has been an amazing experience of playing the world’s biggest league for seven years. It’s an honour for me,” he said.“It’s not that all pitches in India are spin-friendly, especially if I speak about the pitches used in IPL, so it’s a good challenge of bowling in batting-friendly conditions,” he further said.&nbsp;The Young Guns&nbsp;Sharing his personal tale of picking variations of leg-spin after spending 13 years on the field, the 43-year-old said he’s happy that the youngsters in modern-day cricket don’t have to wait for such long.“It’s our duty as seniors to motivate the youngsters, which I lacked during my initial days as a cricketer. MI Emirates has given a very good opportunity for the youngsters to share the dressing room with the experienced guys. It took me 13 years to learn another variation of leg spin bowling, but I’m happy that the youngsters today won’t have to wait for so long,” he said.The MI Emirates put up a spirited performance at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Wednesday to drag the Giants’ chase of 139 to the final ball of the match, thanks to the efforts of the bowling group, led by Trent Boult, Dwayne Bravo and Tahir.&nbsp;“Our bowling department has been remarkable right from the first game. In the last match, our bowlers had to put in extra effort as the ball was wet due to dew, but the manner in which the boys fought back speaks volumes on the confidence of the bowling group,” he said.&nbsp;Placed third in the ILT20 points table, MI Emirates will take on Abu Dhabi Knight Riders here on Friday before locking horns with the Dubai Capitals on Sunday in Dubai.

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"The way we fought speaks volumes of our confidence in the bowling group": Imran Tahir ahead of ADKR clash

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In a low-scoring thriller, it was down to the debutant Jordan Thompson to defend 11 in the final over. And although he tried his absolute best to take the game deep, one bad ball right at the end saw the Gulf Giants clinch the victory. Here’s the leader of our pace attack, talking about how the bowlers combined to drag what looked like an easy chase of 140 on a flat wicket right to the 120th ball. Trent Boult, in the post-match press conference. Excerpts ..&nbsp;&nbsp;Whether the batting unit fell shortI’m sure the batting group would have hoped for 15-20 more runs. It’s a high scoring ground and a good wicket. There aren’t too many demons in it. Credit to the Giants. All their seamers bowled nicely and made us take tough options. The wickets kept falling. It is what it is. The spirit of the bowling unit showed. We remained aggressive. T20 cricket is something where you take things deep and take it to the last over. With JT (Jordan Thompson), I thought he bowled five good balls and then I’m sure he would have liked to have gone wider and created opportunities with the wide line. Great lessons, that’s what we’re here to learn and go forward.&nbsp;On him not bowling the final overIt’s the captain’s decision. His theory is that the more experienced bowlers bowl earlier. No regrets with that. I thought the way all the bowlers contributed by being nice and simple made the opposition take high chances. Unfortunate to come out on the wrong side.&nbsp;&nbsp;Chances of MI Emirates making it to the play-offs100% chance. It’s exciting. That’s why you want to come to these tournaments: to play the big games. One more game here, one more in Dubai. We won’t get too far ahead of ourselves. We’ve still got some good cricket to play.&nbsp;&nbsp;On the pitches being dished outI don’t think the wickets have changed. Here, generally, it is a hard surface. It is nice and flat and skids through nicely. It’s just the way in this tournament that guys get to look at guys and understand teams, how they are made up and stuff. It’s how tournaments go I guess. We are racing through. We are hitting the crunch end and it is very exciting. Can’t wait to take it a little bit further.&nbsp;

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“We are in the hunt for the play-offs, 100%”: Trent Boult

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MI Emirates’ bowlers put on a spectacular performance to almost clinch victory before Shimron Hetmyer’s last ball six took Gulf Giants’ over the line, with a five-wicket win at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium here on Wednesday.Despite the loss, the MI Emirates are still third on the ILT20 points table, and will look to win their remaining two games for a shot at the play-offs.&nbsp;Exuding confidence on the MI Emirates’ prospects, pace spearhead Trent Boult said, “100 per cent. It’s exciting why you want to play such tournaments, and play the big games. One more game here and another game in Dubai, we need to win the two games and we are in the play-offs.”Put into bat on a track that promised good bounce and spin, MI Emirates needed some solidity in the middle after losing Andre Fletcher (4) and Basil Hameed (9) with just 27 runs on the board.&nbsp;And with Nicholas Pooran and Muhammed Waseem got together for the fight back, to get MI Emirates to a competitive score. The left-right combo provided the right impetus to the MI Emirates’ innings with a solid 61-run third wicket partnership.Waseem, who got a reprieve on 7 after being dropped by Rehan Khan at point, went on to score 29 off 25 deliveries, and more importantly ensured that MI Emirates continued to dominate the proceedings, in a&nbsp; knock containing a couple of fours and sixes.Pooran, who came up with a crucial 42 off 29 balls, showed why he’s such a valuable asset in the MI Emirates’ line-up, depositing Rehan for three sixes, in a knock that included three fours as well, before eventually falling to the same bowler.Skipper Kieron Pollard chipped in with a 7-ball 19, thanks to consecutive sixes off Rehan, who once again struck with the wicket of the giant Trinidadian to leave MI Emirates at 120/5 by the 15th over.With a final flourish from Imran Tahir, (5-ball 10) helped MI Emirates post 139.In response, Jordan Thompson and Bravo picked up wickets of the Giants’ openers James Vince (25) and Tom Banton (45), and later the rest of the MI Emirates bowling stuck to a disciplined line to stifle the flow of runs. And the ploy did pay off as Fazalhaq Farooqi and Bravo struck with the wickets of the set batters — Gerhard Erasmus&nbsp;(20) and Chris Lynn (28) mounting further pressure on the Giants.&nbsp;“The spirit that the bowling unit had shown was remarkable. T20 cricket is all about being aggressive, taking it down to the last over. I feel for Jordan Thompson, he bowled pretty good spell. It’s a good learning curve for him,” said Boult, who led the pace attack brilliantly with a miserly spell, giving only 14 from his quota of four overs.In the penultimate over, the experienced and seasoned Bravo displayed his athleticism to perfection by running out David Wiese (5) off his own follow-through leaving the equation down to 11 off 6 balls.&nbsp;The MI Emirates bowlers kept the pressure till the very last delivery until Hetmyer (13) slammed a six on the last ball to guide the team get over the line and qualify for the play-offs.

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We go down narrowly in last-ball thriller! 

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MI Emirates head coach Shane Bond is happy that his philosophy of coaching is working well for the team, which is set to take the positives from Sunday night’s convincing victory to their next match against the Gulf Giants in Abu Dhabi on 1st February, 2023, Wednesday.The MI Emirates recorded a brilliant 157-run win over Desert Vipers on Sunday, to find themselves leading the stats board on the highest margin of victory by runs. Appreciating the effort of the boys, Bond said they need to play with the same amount of consistency in the remaining three games to stay in the hunt for the title race.“It was a great performance against Desert Vipers, and especially from the start of the tournament I have been mentioning that the team is capable of winning the tournament. We just need to turn up the heat, and win the big moments, make some good decisions and execute them. We played the top team, put in our best performance, and we are playing the team second on the competition list next, and then if we win that game, we are decently in for a top-2 finish,” Bond said.Elaborating on his philosophy of coaching, the 47-year-old Kiwi said he always tries to bring the best out of his players besides trying to get an honest feedback from the players regarding his style of coaching.“My job is always to bring the best out of the players, to be consistent and get better in each game. Those things never change, and has remained the same from Day 1. In terms of the players, the hardest thing for them is to get an honest feedback. It can be tough for a coach, so, the only way to get better as a coach is to go to the players during any competition and get the conversation started on what I can do to get better,” he said.Heaping praises on MI Emirates skipper Kieron Pollard, who has been in red-hot form with the bat throughout the tournament, Bond said the best part about having someone like Pollard as the leader of the side is he also understands the role of a coach as the Trinidadian is on a transition phase.“Playing and coaching is very different. The playing career behind you gives you a level of respect from the younger players of the kind of player you have been but as a coach my job is to make my player a better.”&nbsp;“It’s no more about me but about how you get the best out of your player. You have Dwayne (Bravo) and (Kieron) Pollard, who are in the phase of transition and they understand their roles clearly. Polly has played a massive part in the team’s success,” he reckoned.Bond is also happy to see the talent pool in associate nations is growing, thanks to such T20 leagues, and as a result the associate nations have been able to create major upsets at the World Cup.&nbsp;“This tournament is great with the Associate and local players getting to play a part in it. Being part of the squads, so you are getting to build the depth of those small nations,” he said.“We have got four very good players who have been well in franchise cricket. Muhammed Waseem is a very good player, Zahoor Khan, who’s been a mainstay of the UAE national team, and he is bowling well for us. We’re lucky to have Robin Singh, who works with the UAE team, and has that relationship that makes it easier for us. It’s great for them to get the opportunity to bat alongside a Kieron Pollard or a Nicholas Pooran, or opening the bowling with a Trent Boult,” Bond said before signing off.

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My job is to bring the best out of the players: MI Emirates Head Coach, Shane Bond

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It’s not every day that 152-run victories are achieved. But when your batters amass 241 on the board, the opposition naturally tend to go hard after everything, and often get bundled out cheaply. That’s exactly what happened today at Sharjah, and Zahoor Khan, in the one over he got to bowl, got the key wickets of Sam Billings and Sherfane Rutherford to break the back of the Desert Vipers’ middle order and pocket the game firmly. Here he is, talking in the post-match press conference. Excerpts ..&nbsp;&nbsp;On MI Emirates bouncing backWould like to thank the Almighty for this win. We lost the last two league games, and everyone had just thing in our minds: to win the next game. One good thing about our side is that we all just want to win this tournament. We treat every match like a final. After the last game was washed out, we were all working hard for the last two days to try and win this game. Even I bowled well and got two wickets.&nbsp;&nbsp;Difference between defending 240 and 150When 240 was on the board, we were mentally relaxed. While defending 150, if someone gets hit for 20 runs in an over, you go back in the game. In this game, the wicket was very good. Our captain told us that you could get hit, but stick to your plans.&nbsp;&nbsp;On the conditions in the second inningsThere was a bit of dew because of which the ball was skidding on and staying low. We hit our lengths and that helped us.&nbsp;&nbsp;On the effects of dew while bowlingWhen there is dew, it helps the batting side. But given the way our batters batted, we already had the confidence with us. They (DV) bowled waywardly in the first innings. We just looked to hit hard lengths and that helped us get the result in our favour.&nbsp;&nbsp;What went well for us in this gameIn the last game, we gave away 222 runs. That match was very close as well. But we lost the game in the first six overs because we lost three wickets for 25 runs. But the thing in the UAE is that is the first three overs are very good for bowling. But after that the wicket becomes flat and you can score. It was the same in the last game as well. We played well in the powerplay here and that helped us.&nbsp;

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We treat every game like a final: Zahoor Khan 

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MI Emirates came up with a dominating performance in both bat and ball in the ILT20 as they notched up their fourth win of the tournament with a big 157-run win over the Desert Vipers at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium here.“After losing the last two games, everyone in the team had one thing in mind over the past 4-5 days, to win the next match. Our focus remains the title, so we take each match as the final,” pacer Zahoor Khan said at the post-match presser.“It is good to be back on winning ways, and happy that I could also play a part in the team’s win with two wickets,” he added.The match witnessed a series of team and individual records broken from the MI Emirates side. To begin with, MI Emirates total of 241/3 was the highest by any team in the tournament so far, and so was their margin of victory in terms of runs. Also the opening partnership of 141 from MI Emirates’ combo of Muhammed Waseem and Andre Fletcher put them on top of the table.For MI Emirates, skipper Kieron Pollard, who has hit a purple patch with the bat, the Trinidadian giant vaulted to the second spot among the highest run-getters with 275 runs from six outings at a commanding average of 91.66. He also leads the pack of six-hitters with 20 towering hits out of the park so far in the tournament. Not only that, Pollard’s 50 off 19 balls, laced with four boundaries and as many sixes, against the Vipers’ made him the joint fastest to score a half century.Put in to bat, MI Emirates came up all guns blazing with the new opening duo Waseem and Fletcher getting the side to a flying 141-run start. Waseem, who received a reprieve on 1, took full advantage of the let-off, and enthralled the MI Emirates fans with an exquisite range of power-hitting to record his second fifty off mere 24 deliveries, even as Fletcher complimented his younger partner playing the perfect second fiddle with a 39-ball 50, containing four fours and a couple of sixes before departing in the 13th over.Waseem, however, looked in ominous form, and went on to smash the ball out of the boundary line for 15 times in his 44-ball 86, which included depositing the ball on the roof, a couple of times. And with Pollard joining him in the middle, the confidence showed in his batting, as the skipper ensured that the flow of runs continued. The skipper got the long handle to great effect with a flashy half century before debutant Dan Mousley (31 off 17 balls) joined him for providing the finishing touches to the flourishing total. Pollard and Mousley ensured MI Emirates put on a record total with a 89-run fourth wicket partnership before heading back undefeated.In reply, the Desert Vipers never found themselves in contention, after losing wickets at regular intervals. Left-arm seamer Fazalhaq Farooqi started the onslaught with the big wickets of Rohan Mustafa, skipper Colin Munro and Benny Howell before Trent Bolt got the prized scalp of Alex Hales for 4 runs. Zahoor Khan and Imran Tahir, who came back after a break, joined the party with a couple of wickets each, while Mousley and the seasoned Dwayne Bravo chipped in with one wicket apiece to ensure that the Vipers’ are restricted to 84 in 12.1 overs.“We were mentally relaxed after getting 240 on the board. But since the wicket was good for batting, our captain advised us to stick to the plans and not take things lightly. It was important to hit the deck hard on this wicket and we got the result for sticking to the ploy,” Zahoor said.

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Back on winning track: 241/3 with the bat, and skittled the opposition out for 84!

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MI Emirates will be looking to register their fourth win in the ILT20 when they take on the Desert Vipers in a crucial game here on Sunday.The last time the two teams met, MI Emirates had lost out despite an extremely brave fight at the&nbsp; Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.&nbsp;&nbsp;Afghan star Najibullah Zadran is confident that MI Emirates have learnt from that loss and are ready for the return fixture on Sunday.“All matches are important. The target is to reach the top 2 at the moment. The focus remains on winning all the games from here on. I am confident of the team getting over the line,” he said.Zadran had created quite a sensation at the ILT20 when he came in at number 6 to smash 30 runs off just 9 balls against Dubai Capitals on January 22. Although in a losing cause, that exciting innings established Zadran as one of the stars of the tournament.Back to his happy hunting ground in Sharjah, Zadran is looking forward to using his vast knowledge of the pitches at the venue.&nbsp;“I love playing in Sharjah, it’s our home ground. I have played a lot in Sharjah, where you have two kinds of pitches. The ball stays low on one of the pitches but in the other, you have the license to play your shots, also with shorter boundaries, it’s a delight playing in Sharjah,” he said.The 29 year old all-rounder, regards the legendary MS Dhoni as his idol, and has put insights learnt from MS Dhoni into his game and is confident of producing similar efforts consistently.“I regard Dhoni as my idol. No one can finish an innings like he used to do. I learnt from him. I spoke to Dhoni at the 2015 World Cup, where he told me to just keep calm and believe in myself even in high-pressure situations. I still believe and follow that advice.”MI Emirates are currently third in the table with 7 points from 6 matches. The MI Emirates have won three of those matches and another victory on Sunday will see then leapfrog the Vipers to second place.

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“MS Dhoni advised me to always stay calm and believe in myself: Najibullah Zadran ahead of DV clash

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Who’d have thought. Three consecutive games, three consecutive washouts. In the desert of all places. But that was the case today as well, with our match against the Gulf Giants getting washed out within two hours.With some massive puddles around in the outfield, and the rain showing no signs of stopping, the umpires saw no point in waiting until the stipulated close of play time in trying to get a game. Both teams ended up sharing one point each, and we now sit on third spot with four games still remaining.&nbsp;Our hopes of getting our campaign back onto winning tracks is going to take just that slight bit longer. The good news though is that the weather is improve over the next few days, and by the time Sunday (January 29) arrives with our clash against the Desert Vipers in Sharjah, things should start looking up. Brighter times await, literally!&nbsp;

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Match 6: Well, it rained, rained some more, and just didn’t stop

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MI Emirates will be up against table toppers Gulf Giants on Friday, 27 January and the match promises to be another cracker of an encounter, considering the good form both the sides have displayed in the tournament so far.Exuding confidence on the side, MI Emirates pacer Zahoor Khan emphasised that the team will make an extra effort to win the next game and take the confidence into the other four remaining games as they expect to stay in the race for the top-two in the table.&nbsp;“We need to win most of our next five games to stay in the top two. Tomorrow’s match will be very crucial and if we manage to win that we’ll gain a lot of confidence going forward,” he said.The 33-year-old, who has chipped in with valuable contributions with the ball, isn’t worried about the opposition’s reputation, and said that he is happy at the pace MI Emirates are performing.&nbsp;“They are a top team, but our team’s performance is also going great. The best part about our team is all our main players are in great form, so the focus is fully on winning the next game.&nbsp;We will make an extra effort to win the next few games, it will also help us build a momentum and can take forward the confidence into the next match,” he said.Placed 3rd in the table, MI Emirates lost a couple of games after a brilliant start and is expected to bounce back hard when they take the ground after a short breather.&nbsp;MI Emirates will be playing their first match of the tournament in Dubai. Zahoor isn’t worried as he has played on those tracks throughout his career.&nbsp;“It will be our first match in Dubai, but the venue doesn’t make much of a difference when you’re playing professional cricket. It’s all about how you perform as a team,” the UAE pacer said.

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Focus is to win the next few games: MI Emirates pacer Zahoor Khan

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MI Emirates skipper Kieron Pollard continued from where he left on Sunday night at the Zayed Cricket Stadium here, as he came up with another blazing half century, his second of the tournament in a row, but ended up on the losing side after Alex Hales and Sherfane Rutherford came together to power the Desert Vipers to a seven-wicket win on Tuesday.&nbsp;Not only by his batting, Pollard also lifted the morale of the side by plucking a one-handed blinder on the ropes to get the prized scalp of his opposite number Colin Munro, who looked threatening with his 22-ball 41. And two balls later, Samit Patel struck again removing Sam Billings (1) to apply the brakes on the Vipers’ chase before Hales (62 off 44 balls) and Rutherford (56 off 29 balls) got them over the line with a 94-run fourth wicket partnership.&nbsp;Earlier, joining forces as early as the ninth over of the innings with the MI Emirates’ scoreboard reading 53/3, the Trinidadian pair forged a sublime 116-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Pollard finished unbeaten 67 off 39 balls, laced with a boundary and six mighty sixes, while Pooran scored&nbsp; a 49-ball 57, powered by four hits to the fence and twice over it.&nbsp; MI Emirates finished with 169/5 on the scoreboard.&nbsp;Pooran was also instrumental in helping the MI Emirates build the innings with Jamaican Andre Fletcher (21 off 18 balls) with a 43-run third wicket stand after being asked to bat by the Desert Vipers. The duo looked good for a long innings together before Fletcher, who added 15 runs after receiving a reprieve on 6, was run out while attempting to sneak in a single.&nbsp;Reflecting on the loss, MI Emirates pace spearhead Trent Boult said, “Not to use it as an excuse, but generally the wickets in the second innings do become a little more friendlier to bat on. I definitely think it was a different surface, probably a bit drier than the one during our batting innings.”“We have been a part of some great games, the batters have done a fantastic job for us. As a bowling group, we probably haven’t been able to match the standards we have set but those couple of things we need to work on and that’s T20 cricket where we need to set small targets and hopefully we can tighten them soon,” he added.“Exciting to play with the local players, skill can take them far, they have the chances of learning a lot from the likes of Pollard, Bravo, and the other senior guys in the dressing room. It’s great to be paying along side them,” he added on being asked about the contribution of the local players in the side.

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Match 5 report: MI Emirates go down fighting against Desert Vipers

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Former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel is excited to learn from the experience of the MI Emirates coaching team during his maiden coaching stint as batting coach.&nbsp;&nbsp;Describing his experience, Parthiv said, “This is my first stint as a coach, so I’m also learning the language of a coach from Shane Bond, who’s been around for years. Robin (Singh) has his style of mentoring, James Franklin has also been a very senior coach in county cricket, so I’m trying to learn a few things, how to speak to players, how we can motivate them, keep them in the right spirits especially in a shorter tournament like this. So, for me it’s been a learning curve and a great experience,” he said.Parthiv, who is the batting coach of the side is very impressed with the way the young guns in the team, Muhammad Waseem, Will Smeed and Najibullah Zadran, have performed and complimented the seasoned campaigners in the Kieron Pollard-led side.“They have been fantastic, these are not the easiest wickets to bat on with the new ball. If you look at the powerplay scores in all three matches except yesterday, we have got off to a good start even after losing a wicket. The great thing about all of them is they want to learn, their work ethics are brilliant, and they make sure to come well prepared before the game. As a young player, that’s what you can do, put in your hard work before the game, and all three (Smeed, Waseem and Najibullah) want to win games for MI Emirates,” Patel said.“As far as the younger players are concerned, I can totally relate with them because I know how it is to be part of a successful franchise like MI. There’s always hype about it, and to be a part of it is not easy. I’m trying to make them at ease and tell them that it’s okay to be nervous and feel that pressure, but they have to be in their right spirits and make sure that they are prepared,” he explained.MI Emirates have started the season on a positive note, winning three of their four games so far, and are all set to take on the Desert Vipers in their fifth encounter in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday January 24th, 2023Commenting on the team’s performance, Patel said, “It’s been good so far, we have played four games, won three and lost a very tight game yesterday. They (Dubai Capitals) scored 222, we lost only by 16 runs, so we can’t complain anything. The way we started (the tournament), playing 10 games, obviously you can’t expect to win everything. So far the season started on a very good note.”Patel mentioned that the team will look to execute their plans without worrying about the form of the opposition. MI Emirates and Desert Vipers are currently locked at six points each, with three wins from four outings, but a superior run-rate of the Vipers help them stay at second while the MI Emirates occupy the third spot in the table.“When you are playing against any opposition, it’s not about how they are playing, it’s about how we are doing our job. I believe we have a side with which if we continue to execute our plans we will not have to worry about what other teams are doing. Desert Vipers are a good side, they are having a good season but what we will be focusing is to try and execute our plans to the best of our abilities,” he said.

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