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Bring out those calendars, pin the dates, bring out that jersey. It’s time to start counting down to the ultimate desert extravaganza, the ILT20 Season 5.&nbsp;The window: 22nd November, 2026 to 20th December, 2026Six teams, 34 matches and a month-long party with the final set to be played at the magnificent Dubai International Stadium. MI Emirates are all set to start afresh and put the heartbreak suffered in the final of the fourth edition behind them. The winners of ILT20 Season 2, we are all set to put on a show for our fans with our star-studded lineup.&nbsp;“We are pleased to confirm the DP World International League T20 Season 5 window. The biggest cricketing spectacle in the Gulf region will be played from Sunday, 22 November to Sunday, 20 December 2026. We are delighted with Season 4’s success. The broadcast numbers, spectators’ interest and the participation of the biggest T20 stars made the tournament a remarkable success as the quality of the league grew further,” said David White, CEO of the DP World ILT20.&nbsp;“The DP World ILT20 continues to make massive strides and our strategic partnerships with Saudi Arabia Cricket Federation and Kuwait Cricket are already making a big impact. This year, these partnerships will be consolidated further through our development tournaments which will be played in both countries prior to Season 5.“The DP World ILT20 Season 4 Player Auction was a great success as well and we are already gearing up for this year’s auction. There are a number of exciting announcements and initiatives that will be revealed in the coming days.”Fasten those seat belts, the ball has been set into motion. Retentions, Auction, jersey launches, arrivals, trainings, and before you know it, it will be time for the first ball of Season 5!&nbsp;

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** Woohooo ** 22nd Nov to 20th Dec – ILT20 Season 5 is here!

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From excitement to hope to belief to disappointment, the last few hours have been a rollercoaster, but what remains at the end of it all is our pride in this team. The MI Emirates gave it their all, fought with all their might, but fell just short of the final hurdle.&nbsp;“It was pretty good. We started off not so well, but in the last five games we turned it up. We lost in one of the playoffs and then the best game we played was in the second Qualifier. But over here, unfortunately we fielded really badly at the start of the game, which cost us around 25 runs. The par score here was about 175. The wicket was very good. I think it was probably the best wicket we played on in Dubai… There is no excuse here. We lost, we lost. We lost to a better team today,” said Head Coach, Robin Singh.&nbsp;It caps off what has been a month of breakneck cricket in the desert. From a up and down start to the season to getting on a roll, it’s been one that the MIE fam will cherish. Winning games from the jaws of defeat, spinning a web and defending low totals, pulling off some clinical wins, the season had it all.&nbsp;The feeling of being at home and playing for a team you care about is what makes the MI Family special. Robin spoke about the core ethics and culture that make the franchise stand out.&nbsp;“It's about having a really strong foundation. They scout around for players, believe in players, trust players, they look after players, injuries. Not many people know that. They are willing to go that extra mile to support a player. Not many franchises don’t do that. It doesn’t matter if the player is from a different country. As long as you are part of the team, they feel responsible for all these things. This is the sort of culture they have set,” he said.&nbsp;“Apart from that they have the facilities to practice. They are always in touch with players who play for us. They are in touch with players who play in different franchises. It is all about the environment in sport. You want to play for a very good environment in sport. If the environment is good, it is easy to perform when things are taken care of. Everything is looked after.”That would be it then for season four. Some wonderful memories, some heartbreaks. But a fight to be proud of throughout.&nbsp;This is MI Family. This is MI Team. This is MI Pride. We are MI Emirates.&nbsp;

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MI Family, MI Team, MI Pride, MI Emirates 

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This is not how it was supposed to end. This is not what we had manifested. But what a wonderful season this was. Sometimes wonderful things don’t have the end you’d hoped for. Sometimes they end in heartbreaks. Sometimes we just have to doff our hat to the opposition for playing better cricket on the night.&nbsp;Congratulations, Desert VipersMI Emirates, in fact, did a good job restricting the Vipers to 182/4 with some tight final overs. Our batters kept us in the hunt until the end too. We had hope and reason to believe. But it wasn’t to be. With regular wickets, the Vipers derailed our chase and got home to win their maiden trophy.&nbsp;Farooqi’s double strikesOne big moment of cheer for MIE came in Fazalhaq Farooqi’s first over, where he dismissed the dangerous openers, Jason Roy and Fakhar Zaman, who were off to a flier. Although Sam Curran and Max Holden, and then Dan Lawrence, got big partnerships, our bowlers kept the asking rate in check all through.&nbsp;The Waseem kind of a startMuhammad Waseem did Muhammad Waseem things, getting the team off to a flier with his 13-ball 26. But after he fell in the sixth over, and the MIE were down at 54/4, the middle order had a lot to rebuild, and that meant taking the foot off the gas leading to the asking rate going up. They fought, hard, but it simply wasn’t out night.MIE Fam, we know this hurts. But we are proud of our boys for carrying us this far. For all the entertainment and the good memories over the last month, let’s give them a loud shoutout!&nbsp;

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The Final report: We give it our all, put up a brave fight, alas, it isn’t to be :(

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And this is how it begins. Let’s keep the cabinet ready, title #2 is all set to come home!&nbsp;Oh what a season it has been. A win follows a loss and a loss follows a win in the first half of the tournament, five wins on the bounce in the second half, a loss in the first Qualifier meaning a longer route to get into the final, a thumping win in the Eliminator, and now, a chance at becoming the first team to win two ILT20 titles.&nbsp;It had everything typical of a season an MI team has anywhere around the world. They may be slow starters, but the dominance is certain. “I guess it has been a typical MI performance, not starting off too well. Not something we actually like, but that has followed us all around. Having said that, the guys have really rallied around what we needed to do and they have done well. We have had a lot of misses, guys going out, injuries, but we have put all of that behind us and delivered some good cricket. We are deserving finalists, coming up against the best team in the tournament so far. It’s going to be a tough encounter,” said skipper Kieron Pollard in the Pre-Final Captains’ press conference.The Desert Vipers have been the team to beat – topping the table in the league stage and then kind of comprehensively beating us in the Qualifier as well. We have some redemption at stake as well. With both teams in top form, it promises to be one high quality contest. And by the end of the night, we are all set to paint Dubai in our Blue and Gold!What: THE GRAND FINAL&nbsp;| Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates&nbsp;When: January 4, 2026 | 6:30pm local time, 8:00pm ISTWhere: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai&nbsp;What to expect: An MI team knows what it takes to win tournaments. MI Emirates have been there, done that. We know how to build momentum leading into the final. We know to win the big moments. MIE Fam, title #2 is all decked up. Let’s bring it home!&nbsp;

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THE GRAND FINAL | DVvMIE: This looks like a typical MI team season, reckons Kieron Pollard

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The message is simple – to keep it simple. The MI Family knows what it takes to win the big moments. And Bowling Coach, Vinay Kumar, has been part of many such moments himself. Here he is, looking back and forward in the post-match press conference. Excerpts..&nbsp;On Rohid Bangash’s bowling performance&nbsp;He bowled really well. It wasn’t easy at all because Zahoor was supposed to play in this game. Before the toss he got injured and Rohid came in. Credit goes to him for the way he performed. It isn’t easy for any player to prepare in 10 minutes. That is why we bought him at the Auction. He was our main player in the last season. Really happy. The Sharjah wickets skids on and the areas he bowled was really good and the temperament was top class.&nbsp;Message to the team for the FinalKeep it simple. Yes, it is the final, but at the end of the day, it is just another cricket game. You need to be focused. You need to be calm, relaxed, understand the conditions and play good cricket.&nbsp;A look back at MI Emirates’ campaign&nbsp;If you look back, we won five out of five in the league stage. Yes, we lost in the first qualifier, but credit has to be given to the captain and the coaching staff for keeping everyone in the loop. It’s important to make sure the players remain in the middle path, not go too high or too low. That is the biggest strength in MIE where they back the players. When it comes to crunch situations, the seniors step up and perform for the team. If you look at Shakib, he didn’t get an opportunity initially when Rashid Khan was there and this was the first time he went out to bat at number four, and the way he performed was outstanding. They all feel like this is home. Only then can they come up with such a performance.On Kieron Pollard’s captaincy&nbsp;He has played a lot of cricket. In T20 cricket, he is a legend. He understands the game really well. When a batter is under pressure he himself comes and stands at short leg or silly point where he puts more pressure on batters to go for big shots. He is looking much fitter and leaner and he mentioned that he would love to play for a few more years. He is working really hard and it is paying off nicely.&nbsp;On input of other coaches in the MI universe&nbsp;We have worked as a team. Everyone will be very happy with the way the team has performed. There is another game happening in South Africa today and everyone is very keenly watching that game. It is a one family and everyone will be very happy. If required, they will chip in with their inputs and we will be very happy to take that and move forward.&nbsp;Thoughts on the wicketThe wicket was very skiddy. When you come to Sharjah, we expect this kind of a track. We’ve always mentioned to batters playing here to look to play straight, and not go for the horizontal shorts. That was very visible. When a batter played straight, they got runs, whenever they played across, they struggled. That’s how the wicket played. &nbsp;&nbsp;

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“Yes, it is a final, but it is just another cricket game”: Vinay Kumar

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Yes, yes, yes. That’s how we come back. That’s the MI Emirates we know. That’s how we put the first Eliminator behind us. That’s how we make it 3-0 over the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. THAT’S HOW WE STORM INTO THE FINAL!&nbsp;“See you on the 4th of January,” was what Kieron Pollard said in the pre-season captains’ meet. He knew the fight this team had in them. He knew the effort the entire coaching ecosystem would put in. He knew the tactical genius he was. He knew the MI Family Spirit.Just simply too clinical&nbsp;Our bowlers never allowed the ADKR batters to cut loose. Opting to bowl first after the winning the toss, it was the spinners who started proceedings, and both Shakib Al Hasan and Allah Ghazanfar were just couldn’t be put away. Ghazanfar, in fact, through his spell of 3/24, ensured the Knight Riders didn’t have an escape at the death as well.&nbsp;Muhammad Rohid and Fazalhaq Farooqi chipped in with a couple of wickets each as well to tighten the screws, keeping them to an under-par 120/8 in their 20 overs on a good batting track.Banton, Shakib ensure no-fuss chase&nbsp;At 36/2 with both openers dismissed, it might have looked nervy. Nah. Not if you were MIE and had Shakib and Tom Banton out there. Shakib was the aggressor, Banton, the anchor. With an 82-run stand, they made sure we were home, easily, with nearly four overs to spare.So we meet again, Desert Vipers! Sunday, 4th of Jan, Dubai. Save the date. #2 is coming home!

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Qualifier 2 report: WE ARE INTO THE FINAL!!! Let’s tell the world…

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This is it. This is what we have been playing for over the last month. This is what matters. This is the knockout. There is no coming back. There are no extra lives. MI Emirates are ready, raring to go, and desperate to bring it home!&nbsp;We’ve forgotten the minor blip we had in the previous game. We are coming on the back of five back to back wins in the second half of the league stage in different conditions and despite losing a few of our players. That’s the momentum and confidence we aim to carry going into this all-important second Qualifier. A win here will book us a date for the grand finale.&nbsp;The Abu Dhabi Knight Riders are a side we have fond memories against in the two league games, beating them rather comfortably. It’s a nice starting point as we take the field in an Abu Dhabi derby. These are two proud franchises with a rich cricketing history globally. It’s always an iconic clash when these sides meet. You couldn’t have asked for a better way to begin 2026!&nbsp;What: MI Emirates vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders&nbsp;When: January 2, 2026 | 6:30pm local time, 8:00pm IST&nbsp;Where: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah&nbsp;What to expect: Trust the Sharjah pitch to be at its run-fest best. The trend here has been to chase even in the latter half of the tournament, and expect this Friday to be nothing different. The stakes are high, and we are ready!&nbsp;

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Qualifier 2 | MIEvADKR preview: Mission Abu Dhabi derby in Sharjah for Dubai date 

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It might not have been the result or the performance we were after, but in true MIE fashion, we didn’t go down without a fight. One of the major positives to come out of this was 81-run stand for the second wicket stand between Muhammad Waseem and Tom Banton that kept MI Emirates in the hunt. We had one half of that partnership, Waseem, at the post-match press conference. Excerpts..&nbsp;On the pitch and the team’s performance&nbsp;We are a bit disappointed because of our bowling performance, but it’s fine, it’s part and parcel of the game. Throughout the tournament we have bowled superbly but today wasn’t our day. We have one more chance and we will come back strongly. I think this was the best wicket of the tournament.&nbsp;On the team’s batting approach chasing a big targetWe started well today. We were chasing a big total and we were just looking to get as many runs as possible in each over. In such cases, you get mis-hits, dot balls, lose wickets. But our approach was to go for the chase. But we were unlucky to not chase it.&nbsp;Positives of the ILT20 for UAE players&nbsp;This is a big opportunity for the UAE players. The ILT20 is one of the big leagues in the world and all international players play in it. We can learn a lot and try and apply it in UAE cricket to do well.&nbsp;Thoughts on the second Qualifier&nbsp;Different ground, different pitch. We’ll play on that day depending on the ground and the pitch. We would only take the positives from this match. We’ll back our bowlers and batters and hopefully qualify for the final.&nbsp;

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“We’ll take the positives and back our players for the next game”: Muhammad Waseem 

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Okay, let’s forget this ever happened. Let’s just debrief and move on. It wasn’t our best night, and although we might be taking the longer route to get to the final, make no mistake, we will get there.&nbsp;A tough night with the ballNothing really went our way right from the start. Our bowlers couldn’t quite hit their marks, with both the Desert Vipers openers, Fakhar Zaman (69 off 50) and Andries Gous, who smashed a superb century (120 off 58), got them off to a flier. And then skipper Sam Curran produced a 12-ball 38 to lift them to a big 233/1 in their 20 overs. It really needed some chasing..&nbsp;The Waseem-Banton hopeMuhammad Waseem (41 off 32) and Tom Banton (63 off 27) got the team off to the perfect start in the chase, with over 100 runs coming in the first ten overs. Banton, with six fours and four sixes in his knock, did superbly to have DV’s bowlers under the pump. This was just what we needed in the big chase – a platform with wickets in hand. Sadly, both of them fell in quick succession, and it was tough for the rest of the batters to keep up with the tempo.&nbsp;It’s in the MI Emirates blood to fight until the end, something Romario Shepherd did. Alas, it was a touch too late.&nbsp;MIE Fam, we have played some amazing cricket over the second half of the tournament to finish in the top two, thereby earning another bite at the cherry. It might not have been the perfect end to 2025, but it sets 2026 up beautifully. 2nd Jan, after welcoming the new year, we will be in Sharjah, all geared up for the second Qualifier!&nbsp;

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Qualifier 1 report: A night to put behind us, quickly, and build up to Qualifier 2 

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Surely there aren’t many better ways than to spend this festive week than at the cricket. 2025 has been a solid year for the MI Family, having won three titles, and the icing on the cake would be marching into 2026 with a date for the 4th of January.&nbsp;MI Emirates are on a five-match winning streak. Surfaces, conditions, match situations, new players coming in, the team has dealt with everything seamlessly, making sure the victory roll doesn’t stop. Right, this is the first Qualifier, the game that gives both teams an opportunity to jump directly into the Final. The Desert Vipers have had an equally dominant league stage, having lost just two games along the way. It stands 1-1 in the head-to-head encounters, with the Vipers pulling off a one-run win in the first game, and then MI Emirates bouncing back hard with an easy chase in the second.&nbsp;We are in Abu Dhabi. This is our backyard. This is our territory. This is our zone of mastery. The Blue and Gold know what it takes to win these big moments. 2025, let’s cap it off in style!&nbsp;What: Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates&nbsp;When: December 30, 2025 | 6:30pm local time, 8:00pm IST&nbsp;Where; Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi&nbsp;What to expect: This rivalry has produced some absolute nail-biters over the last four seasons. With everything to play for now and stakes at an all-time high, we should be in for some cracking action!&nbsp;&nbsp;

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QUALIFIER 1 | DVvMIE preview: Let’s say goodbye to 2025 with a direct Final entry

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Trust the Spiceman to have an instant impact. Playing his first game of the season, he was impressive with his measured knock at the top of the order. Here he is, speaking at the post-match press conference. Excerpts..&nbsp;On making it to the first Qualifier&nbsp;Any team in that position would be pumped and raring to go. Everything has been great. Everyone has been gelling really well. As we say, this is the MIE Family. Every single person feels at home and it is for us to continue that momentum. The job isn’t done yet. We just want to make sure we get into the final and lift that trophy.&nbsp;Impact of MIE’s spinnersThey have been really good. It is something that we talk about a lot in team meetings. I believe what’s working for them is that they aren’t trying anything. They give the wicket time to do what it can do. It’s about them putting balls in the right areas. Once they do that, we know how deadly they can be.&nbsp;On wining five games in a row&nbsp;I don’t want to think too far ahead, but our performance has been great. It is just about taking one game at a time. We have the first Qualifier. I would love for us to play just two games, the Qualifier and the Final. Just want to continue doing the basics as long as possible. As long as we back our abilities, I don’t see any team beating us.&nbsp;Thoughts on his own batting&nbsp;The wicket is pretty good. The ball was coming on nicely for the fast bowlers. Once you give yourself time to apply, the runs are there. We know for a&nbsp; fact that the ball does a bit for the first three overs, and then it gets a bit easier. As a batter, it is just about trying to maneuver the first two-three overs, and hopefully I can carry on and give a good start to my team.

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“Just want to make sure we get into the final and lift that trophy”: Andre Fletcher 

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It was W, W, W, W when it started. It is W, W, W, W, W when it is over. MI Emirates have capped off an absolutely dominant second half of the league stage with a win just as dominant. The bowlers set it up, the batters knocked it down. No fuss. No stress.&nbsp;The Polly touchAlthough MI Emirates weren’t chasing a massive target, the game seemed headed in the direction of a low-scoring thriller at the tenth over stage. 59/2, with Kieron Pollard just having walked out to join Tom Banton, who was relatively new to the crease as well. Polly took his time, was on three runs off 14 balls at one stage too. But then broke the shackles in typical KP fashion with a six. Poor Waqar Salamkheil was at the receiving end then of the assault that was to follow in the 15th over.&nbsp;14.1: SIX14.2: FOUR14.3: 2 runs14.4: SIX14.5: SIX14.6: SIX30 runs came off the over, and just like that, the game was sealed. All thoughts the Capitals might have had of taking this deep were gone. Woosh. Pollard finished with a 31-ball 44, and MI Emirates were home with 20 balls to spare.&nbsp;The Waseem startHe is knocking on the doors of the Green Belt, and once again, did what he’s been doing all season: get us off to a quick start. The new ball was the best time to bat given how difficult scoring became with the softer ball, Muhammad Waseem wasted no time to get going. A 19-ball 28 to set up the chase and give the other batters some time to settle in.&nbsp;The Ghazanfar wizardry&nbsp;3/28 in four overs despite bowling in the powerplay. Allah Ghazanfar was at his unplayable best on the night, getting rid of fellow countryman, Sediqullah Atah, in the sixth over, before returning in the 14th over with two more strikes to derail Dubai’s innings as they folded out for an underpar 122/8 in their 20 overs.&nbsp;Right then, we now are officially in the top two, and will face the Gulf Giants in the first Qualifier in Abu Dhabi on December 30. At home, playing the final match of the year, how’s fun a setting is that to seal a date for the 4th of January!&nbsp;

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MIEvDC report: No fuss! Captain Polly carries us to TOP-TWO FINISH

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The big-hitting all-rounder from Barbados, Kadeem Alleyne is all set to join the MI Emirates as a replacement for Jonny Bairstow. A right-handed top-order batter and a medium pacer, he is coming off a pretty impressive season in the Caribbean Premier League. Welcome to the Blue and Gold, Kadeem!&nbsp;Jonny B, the smasher at the top of the order, who formed a wonderful opening partnership with Muhammad Waseem, scored 246 runs in nine innings at a strike-rate of over 145. The stands will miss those sixes, JB!&nbsp;MI Emirates have already made it to the playoffs of the fourth season of the ILT20. They gear up to play their final league game with the Dubai Capitals on Saturday (December 27), which is set to be a direct shootout for a spot in the top two on the points table. &nbsp;

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Kadeem Alleyne replaces Jonny Bairstow ahead of playoffs 

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The equation is simple. MI Emirates and the Dubai Capitals have both qualified for the playoffs. Both teams are on ten points. This is the last league game. It’s all about finishing in the top two now to have that extra bite at the cherry through the first qualifier. You win, you bag a top-two spot.&nbsp;We are coming in on the back of a W, W, W, W streak that started against the Dubai Capitals in the form of a superb defence of 137. The Capitals are on a three-match winning streak of their own. With everything to play for, it’s just the perfect must-win-everything injection we need. There’s been a new hero stepping up in every game to carry us through, and that’s been the most heartwarming part of this year’s ILT20 campaign. 2024 memories, anyone?&nbsp;What: MI Emirates vs Dubai Capitals&nbsp;When: December 27, 2025 | 6:30pm local time, 8:00pm IST&nbsp;Where: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi&nbsp;What to expect: Again, pitch talk. It’s been getting slower by the game, and captains are moving towards batting first. Dew remains an uncertainty. But these are two gun teams and we should be in for a cracker.&nbsp;

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Match 10 | MIEvDC preview: Q secured, it’s now the battle for Q1 

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From 2/2 to 144/2. It was some recovery. One of the architects of that 142-run partnership for MI Emirates, Muhammad Waseem, who bagged the Green Belt (Highest run-scorer in the season) during his knock of 59 off 42 balls, was at the post-match press conference dissecting this win. Excerpts..&nbsp;Discussion with Pooran while batting&nbsp;We lost two wickets inside the first two overs itself. But then (Nicholas) Pooran and me spoke that we aren’t chasing a big total. The ball was swinging too in the first few overs. We decided to play carefully in the first three-four overs with discipline, we could wait for the bad balls and hit boundaries on them. It got easier for us with that one partnership.&nbsp;On his form in the tournament&nbsp;In cricket, you sometimes score, and sometimes you get out. Glad that I could score today. It is my natural game to play attacking cricket. The way we played today, it was probably our best innings. Had we played shots then, we could have gotten out and the team could have been in trouble. Glad we played sensibly. Happy on getting the Green Belt as well. Hopefully I keep scoring runs for my team and keep the belt on my shoulder.&nbsp;On winning the Green BeltThe way the team is playing at the moment and the way we have momentum with us in the team, we will try our best to win the title. I will try my best to win the Green and the Blue Belts.&nbsp;

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“Pooran and I just looked to play carefully early on and wait for bad balls”: Muhammad Waseem

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Absolutely clinical stuff this. At 2/2 there was a bit of a scare, but a 140-run stand between Muhammad Waseem and Nicholas Pooran made sure there were no surprises in store as MI Emirates chased down the target of 142 easily with 21 balls to spare. This now means the MI Emirates have stamped their boarding pass for the playoffs. YEP, THE Q IS OFFICIAL!&nbsp;W, W, W, WTalk about winning when it matters. Come the business end, trust MI Emirates to bring out their A game and go on a victory run. The last two games might have been close wins, but this was pretty authoritative. The seamers did their job first up to keep the Gulf Giants to an under-par total of 142, and then one big stand for the third wicket was good enough.&nbsp;The Waseem-Pooran showMuhammad Waseem: 59 runs | 42 balls | 3 fours | 3 sixes&nbsp;Nicholas Pooran: 69 runs | 49 balls | 6 fours | 3 sixes&nbsp;Coming together with Jonny Bairstow and Tom Banton falling cheaply, the duo were watchful in the beginning, taking their time to find their timing. It was in the eighth over that Waseem first cut loose, smacking two boundaries off Kyle Mayers. Pooran, for a large part of his innings, was batting at under a run a ball. But then in no time stuck a few big ones, brought the asking rate well within control, and then even overtook Waseem to bring up his fifty.&nbsp;Advantage seized in the bowling powerplayThe game was won with the ball. And more precisely, in the powerplay, with Romario Shepherd and Fazalhaq Farooqi sending back the top three batters inside the first four overs. Although Moeen Ali got a fifty, he was always playing catchup.&nbsp;Woohoo. We are into the playoffs. We are firmly in the top two on the points table. We have the rhythm. Let’s bring it home!&nbsp;

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MIEvGG report: Thumping win to jump the queue and bag the ‘Q’

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Rashid Khan, after playing a huge role in MI Emirates’ campaign so far, is set to leave to join the MI Cape Town pre-season camp ahead of the fourth season of the SA20. We also say goodbye to Kamindu Mendis, who would be leaving to join the Sri Lankan squad. &nbsp;Replacing Rashid Khan is Sunny Patel, who has been part of MI New York for the last two seasons. Dan Mousley, who again is no stranger to the Blue and Gold, having represented MI Emirates last year, would be coming in for Kamindu Mendis.&nbsp;MIE fam, let’s wish the duo of Rashid and Kamindu the best! And then say a massive hello to Sunny and Dan!&nbsp;

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Dan Mousley and Sunny Patel set to join MI Emirates

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The pieces of the puzzle are falling&nbsp;in place. Three wins in a row in the second half of the tournament, a steady rise to the second spot on the points table, winning games from difficult situations, every player stepping up with useful performances, all the ingredients in this year’s ILT20 campaign are slowly but surely being checked.&nbsp;MI Emirates are back home as well, with two matches in front of a vocal Abu Dhabi crowd. The last time these two teams met, the Giants had a fairly one-sided win, making this contest all the more spicy for us to try and get one over them in our momentum surge. A win here for us will secure an official playoff confirmation, further cementing a top two spot as well.&nbsp;What: MI Emirates vs Gulf Giants&nbsp;When: December 23, 2025 | 6:30pm local time, 8:00pm IST&nbsp;Where: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu DhabiWhat to expect: The Gulf Giants, with six points, are in that must-win territory. Although they are coming off three consecutive losses, there’s no taking them lightly. With the pitches getting slower and the average scores dipping, expect spin to play a major role once again.&nbsp;

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Match 9 | MIEvGG preview: Let’s grab the ‘Q’

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A chase of 125 done in 17.3 overs is what the scorecard would tell you, but boy, it was tense! On a tricky pitch, with not a lot of dew either, the batters were struggling to get on with the scoring. But in the end, it was down to the experience of our senior pros that ensured panic didn’t set in and MI Emirates got home the two points to inch closer to a Q.Our true heroes, our bowlers&nbsp;Nobody took a three-fer or ran through the Desert Vipers’ batting lineup, but it was the bowlers who set this win up, ensuring none of their batters got going and plucking regular wickets to keep them to 124/7 in their 20 overs. Shakib Al Hasan was at his miserly best, giving away just 14 runs in his four overs, picking two wickets along the way. Just unplayable stuff!&nbsp;Welcome to the party, Sanjay Krishnamurthi&nbsp;He got a chance to bat tonight at 51/3, and with Shakib not quite getting going at the other end, he reversed the pressure with a two huge sixes in his crucial 18-ball knock of 21.&nbsp;And then Polly does Polly things&nbsp;He didn’t waste time getting his eye in. Walking in to bat at 79/5 and the team in a spot of bother with the asking rate over six an over, Kieron Pollard decided to take down leggie Qais Ahmad, smashing him for 18 runs in the 15th over and virtually killing the game in the process. Here’s how it went:&nbsp;Ball 1: DOT – defended&nbsp;Ball 2: SIX – full toss, smoked over deep mid-wicket&nbsp;Ball 3: SIX – another full toss, another hoick over deep mid-wicket&nbsp;Ball 4: DOT – appeal for LBW, but saved by the inside-edge&nbsp;Ball 5: FOUR – flat ball, slapped just past a diving fielder down the ground&nbsp;Ball 6: 2 RUNS – edged through the slipsThe game was sealed. This was experience coming to the fore, making sure it didn’t go down to the last over, also making sure MI Emirates solidified their top two spot on the points table.&nbsp;

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DVvMIE report: Low-scoring thriller sealed, ft. Polly power

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The big moments need the big guys to step up. And Shakib Al Hasan did just that, first with his superb spell of 2/14 in four overs and then with what might have looked like a scratchy effort, but was a vital stay at the crease with the bat, hitting the winning runs in the process to help MI Emirates seal their third game in a row. Here are the excerpts from his post-match chat..&nbsp;Thoughts on the game&nbsp;We played professionally. It was a tough place to come and play. Happy with the way I contributed. We are sitting nicely on the second spot and have two more matches. This is the important stage of this tournament and this momentum will help us leading up to the playoffs and the final.&nbsp;On Arab Gul’s impressive bowling performance&nbsp;As a newcomer, he is bowling really well. He bowled brilliantly yesterday as well. He didn’t show any panic. Normally newcomers show panic when they come into situations like this but it shows a lot about his character. He can only grow from here.&nbsp;On MI Emirates’ team combination&nbsp;I think we’ve got a very good combination of spinners and fast bowlers. We can use the seamers or the spinners depending on the situation. We’ve got a very good combination at the moment and it is working.&nbsp;On the strategy in the chase&nbsp;We had to bat twenty overs. We knew that if we have wickets in hand, we would win because of the batting lineup we have. That’s exactly what we did.&nbsp;What he reckoned was the turning point in the game&nbsp;As a newcomer, Sanjay (Krishnamurthi), playing only his second game, him hitting those two boundaries took a lot of pressure off the team. Then Pollard came in and took Qais Ahmad on, which was the turning point of the game.&nbsp;

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“This momentum will help us leading into the playoffs”: Shakib Al Hasan 

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The stakes don’t get any bigger. The top two teams on the points table are all set to go head to head, with the MI Emirates riding their momentum wave and also looking to avenge that one-run last ball heartbreak. We’ve managed to turn our win-follows-a-loss-follows-a-win syndrome with two back to back wins. The third one’s calling!&nbsp;As our Bowing Coach, Paras Mhambrey said after the previous game, the team is ticking the right boxes leading into the tail-end of the tournament. This is where the Blue and Gold peak. This is where the #OneFamily’s killer instinct comes to the fore. Both the Vipers and MIE have a quick turnaround here, each having played a game the previous day. Tired? Nah! Excited? Oh yes!&nbsp;What: Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates&nbsp;When: December 21, 2025 | 6:30pm local time, 8:00pm IST&nbsp;Where: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, DubaiWhat to expect: With the winter setting in and the dew not quite, the trend of chasing in this tournament seems to have ease out, with teams batting first winning a majority of the games over the last week. Just pure skill now is precisely what this clash of the table toppers demands!&nbsp;

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Match 8 | DVvMIE preview: A mouth-watering #1 versus #2 clash

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In a tournament where defending targets has been a nightmare, MI Emirates have managed to pull off three out of their four wins in such defences. And this one followed a very similar template: pulling the game back from a point where the opposition had their noses well ahead in the chase. The MIE Spirit of never giving up and constantly keeping the fight on saw another two points come home in this Abu Dhabi derby!&nbsp;Proper team effort with the batWaseem: 37(36)Bairstow: 38(16)Banton: 38(28)Pooran: 40(24)Pollard: 28(16)Everybody chipped in and made sure the scoring rate never dipped as MI Emirates finished on a strong 187/4 in their 20 overs.&nbsp;Pulling it back from 96/1 in the 10th overThat’s where ADKR were at the halfway stage. With the asking rate nicely under control and nine wickets in hand, we needed something special to bring us back. And it came via Arab Gul, whose short delivery got the better of the set Alex Hales who holed out to long-on. The twist was enabled.&nbsp;And Zahoor triggers the collapse&nbsp;Just 56 runs came off the last ten overs in the ADKR innings. That’s the level of top bowling we are talking about here. Using the older ball to good effect, Zahoor Khan was the chief destructor, mixing up his change-of-pace deliveries perfectly, getting three big wickets – Sherfane Rutherford, Liam Livingstone and Sunil Narine – to carry us home comfortably in the end.&nbsp;

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ADKRvMIE report: Mission 2-0 in the Abu Dhabi derby – ACCOMPLISHED

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MI Emirates might have jumped to the second spot on the points table and this is the first time in this season that the team has won two games in a row, but Bowling Coach, Parash Mhambrey, insisted on taking one game at a time and building on the momentum. He speaks to the media at the post-match press conference, dissecting the win. Excerpts..Thoughts on the matchExcellent match. A much needed win for us in the tail-end of the tournament, and it’s good to see us tick a lot of the boxes, not only in the bowling but in the batting as well. It is important to give a total to the bowlers. The discussion has been around areas where we can improve and batting is one of it. Just the way we applied ourselves, reading the situation and pulling it through and posting a wonderful score, we’ve done well.&nbsp;On the team peaking at the right timeOne game at a time, that’s the only discussion we have had. Not think too forward and take one game at a time. If you look a few games ago, the way we are now, we are ticking the right boxes. The momentum is something we want to take forward.&nbsp;Whether he was happy with the first innings scoreAt one stage when you are defending a big score, the powerplay is very important. We had a decent powerplay, giving 50 odd runs and picking a wicket. We knew after the powerplay with the open field and the wicket getting slower, we had the bowlers to do the job for us.&nbsp;On Zahoor Khan’s brilliant spellHe’s been chipping in. Unfortunately the last column of wickets hasn’t been filled but he has done the job for us. Especially in this game, I thought he was fabulous. Defending a big score, we knew the batters would come hard. To be able to exploit the conditions and just the way he bowled under pressure, hats off to him.&nbsp;On Arab Gul making an impact on debutArab, in his first game, you expect him to have nerves. Just the way he has bowled, plenty of positives from whatever we’ve seen in this game.&nbsp;On the team looking to build on the momentumIt is important to have momentum in your favour when you know every game matters. Having that momentum into the qualifiers and the knockout is very important.&nbsp;

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“One match at a time”: Paras Mhambrey 

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The festive season in the desert has a Christmassy feeling. We are back in Abu Dhabi on the back of one heck of a win, defending 137 like lions. We also are on the high of the thumping win over ADKR in the reverse fixture. We are currently third on the points table and with two games over the weekend, have a serious chance of cementing a spot in the top two.&nbsp;It’s also the perfect opportunity for us to end this loss s follows a win, win follows a loss syndrome that has bugged us in our seven six games so far. It’s time to add a W to the W. With the pitches getting slower as the season goes on, our spinners are absolutely loving it out there. Let’s bring it home!&nbsp;What: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs MI Emirates&nbsp;When: December 20, 2025 | 2:00pm local, 3:30pm ISTWhere: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi&nbsp;What to expect: The Knight Riders have managed to turn around three consecutive losses and have bounced back with two wins on the bounce. Both teams are currently on six points and with the business end approaching, should be equally desperate to ride the momentum wave. On the whole, this match could boil down to the battle between the spinners from either side.&nbsp;

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Match 7 | ADKRvMIE: Abu Dhabi derby, 2-0 beckons!

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137 runs to defend. 49 runs were needed off 44 balls at one stage with the Dubai Capitals having eight wickets in hand. And from there, Kieron Pollard and Co. tightened the screws, built pressure with close-in fields, kept chipping wickets away, and put out a masterclass in defence, something we’ve seen the Blue and Gold do a zillion times across continents!&nbsp;From 89/2 to 130 all-outEight wickets | 41 runs. Each one to the pressure built up in the field. Allah Ghazanfar and Rashid Khan kept it extremely quiet in the middle overs. Rovman Powell got itchy and was cleaned up trying to force the run-scoring. Kamindu Mendis then struck to send the DC skipper, Dasun Shanaka back, and then the pacers returned, with cutters into the pitch that forced batters to hit against the angle towards the long boundaries, to dry up the boundaries and trigger the collapse.&nbsp;89-3 | 12.594-4 | 13.695-5 | 14.4118-6 | 18.1119-7 | 18.3122-8 | 19.1124-9 | 19.4130-10 | 19.6We have to talk about brilliance of RashidoThe man’s a genius. The batters didn’t just have to figure out which way the ball was turning, they even had to deal with Rashid releasing the ball from well behind the stumps. Both his wickets came in that fashion and it was his spell of 2/14 in four overs that brought MI Emirates back in the game after the Capitals got off to a quick start and when it looked like the game was beyond us. He has officially arrived at the desert party!&nbsp;Bairstow blazes single-handedlyMI Emirates’ too had their share of collapse with the bat, from 89/2 in the eleventh over to finish at an under-par 137. Jonny Bairstow stood tall through all this, smashing a 40-ball 67 studded with eight fours and three sixes. Also, let’s not forget Romario Shepherd’s 10-ball 18-run cameo at the end that infused some much-needed momentum and got MIE past 130.&nbsp;

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