Sports

Blitz, Pearls, Thunderbolts, and Marvels triumph in ILT20 opener

Published

3 years ago

October 3, 2023

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ILT20 Blitzers, ILT20 Pearls, ILT20 Thunderbolts and ILT20 Marvels recorded impressive wins in the opening weekend of the ILT20 Development Tournament. The tournament is aimed at providing a potentially life changing opportunity to UAE players with 13 spots for UAE players still up for grabs in the DP World ILT20 Season 2.

In the tournament opener, player of the match Usman Khan’s unbeaten 68 off 52 balls (nine fours, one six) ensured a comfortable seven wicket win for the Blitzers. The 115-run chase was delivered without any major hiccups (20 balls to spare) with Usman spearheading the batting performance for his team.

Earlier, Marvels who lost opener Mayank Choudhry on the tournament’s very first ball, struggled to get going in their innings after being asked to bat first. Young all-rounder Aayan Afzal Khan top-scored with 24 runs while captain Basil Hameed scored 20. Uzair Khan and Muhammad Zubair took three wickets each as Marvels were bowled out for 114 in 18.1 overs.

Pearls recorded a 19-run win against the Dynamos in the second match on Saturday. Asked to bat first, the Pearls were well served by their opener Aryansh Sharma who scored a blazing 63 off 41 balls with the help of six fours and two sixes. All-rounder Zawar Farid (player of the match) had a memorable game as he first contributed 26 useful runs with the bat in a 42-run fifth wicket partnership with Aryansh before taking four wickets with the ball.

Pearls posted a competitive 151 for eight total in their 20 overs.

Dynamos got off to a flying start but failed to maintain the momentum as wickets fell at regular intervals. Opener Samal Udawaththa top-scored with 28, Muhammad Shahdad made a 23-run contribution. Zawar gave away a mere 20 runs in his 3.4 overs for his four wickets. Adhitya Shetty was also impressive with the ball – three for 27.

In the opening match on Sunday (third match of the tournament), Asif Khan’s 87 not out (59 balls, six fours, six sixes) went in vain as the Thunderbolts powered through the 166-run chase for the loss of five wickets.

Braves who were asked to bat first posted a competitive 165-run total on the back of Asif’s blazing innings; the opener hit some lusty blows to propel his side past the 160-run mark. Junaid Shamzu smashed 31 off 10 balls (two fours, three sixes) in an unbroken 65-run alliance with Asif.

Thunderbolts chased down the runs courtesy a smashing unbeaten 19-ball 45 by Ansh Tandon. The left-hander hit two fours and five sixes in his brilliant innings. Captain Rohan Mustafa scored 43 off 36 balls (six fours), Thunderbolts completed the chase with three balls left. Haider Ali took two wickets.

Marvels registered their first win when the defeated Pearls by seven wickets in the second match on Sunday. Batting first, Marvels could only manage a paltry 121-run total. Player of the match Muhammad Zuhaib and Aayan Afzal Khan took four and three wickets respectively as Marvels struggled to get going.

The 122-run chase was duly completed by Marvels in 17.2 overs. Opener Mayank Choudhry top-scored with 47 off 49 balls (five fours, one six). Captain Rahul Chopra scored an unbeaten 31 off 23.

Scores in Brief:

Match one – ILT20 Blitzers beat ILT20 Marvels by seven wickets
ILT20 Marvels 114 all out, 18.1 overs (Aayan Afzal Khan 24 not out, Basil Hameed 20; Uzair Khan 3-14, Muhammad Zubair 3-25).
ILT20 Blitzers 115 for 3, 16.4 overs (Usman Khan 68 not out, Ali Abid 18; Muhammad Zuhaib 1-18).

Match two – ILT20 Pearls beat ILT20 Dynamos by 19 runs
ILT20 Pearls 151 for 8, 20 overs (Aryansh Sharma 63, Zawar Farid 26; Sanchit Sharma 2-25, Vikum Sanjaya 2-35).
ILT20 Dynamos 132 all out, 19.4 overs (Samal Udawaththa 28, Muhammad Shahdad 23; Zawar Farid 4-20, Adhitya Shetty 3-27).

Match three – ILT20 Thunderbolts beat ILT20 Braves by five wickets
ILT20 Braves 165 for 4, 20 overs (Asif Khan 87 not out, Junaid Shamzu 31 not out; Shahbaz Ali 2-38).
ILT20 Thunderbolts 168 for 5, 19.3 overs (Ansh Tandon 45 not out, Rohan Mustafa 43; Haider Ali 2-31).

Match four – ILT20 Marvels beat ILT20 Pearls by seven wickets
ILT20 Pearls 121 all out, 18.2 overs (Lovepreet Singh 25, Aryansh Sharma 22, Khalid Shah 22; Muhammad Zuhaib 4-17, Aayan Afzal Khan 3-13).
ILT20 Marvels 122 for 3, 17.2 overs (Mayank Choudhry 47, Rahul Chopra 31 not out; Adhitya Shetty 1-16)

ILT20 Development Tournament Schedule (remaining games):

Monday, 2 October
4:30pm: ILT20 Braves vs ILT20 Dynamos
8:30pm ILT20 Blitzers vs ILT20 Thunderbolts

Tuesday, 3 October
4:30pm: ILT20 Dynamos vs ILT20 Marvels
8:30pm ILT20 Blitzers vs ILT20 Pearls

Wednesday, 4 October
Rest Day

Thursday, 5 October
4:30pm: ILT20 Thunderbolts vs ILT20 Pearls
8:30pm ILT20 Braves vs ILT20 Marvels

Friday, 6 October
4:30pm: ILT20 Blitzers vs ILT20 Dynamos
7:30pm: ILT20 Marvels vs ILT20 Thunderbolts

Saturday, 7 October
7:00pm: ILT20 Blitzers vs ILT20 Braves

Sunday, 8 October
4:30pm ILT20 Thunderbolts vs ILT20 Dynamos
8:30pm ILT20 Braves vs ILT20 Pearls

Monday, 9 October
4:30pm Semi-Final (1)
7:30pm Semi-Final (2)

Tuesday, 10 October
7:00pm Final
– ENDS –

FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT DP World ILT20 CONTACT
Email: Media@ilt20.ae
For sponsorships and partnerships: partnerships@ilt20.ae
VISIT www.ilt20.ae
OR FOLLOW @ILT20Official on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, SnapChat and LinkedIn.

Aman Motwani

Sports

Rio Ferdinand house for sale: Man Utd legend puts Kent mansion on market after Dubai move

Published

1 week ago

April 24, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Rio Ferdinand may be done with UK living, for now.

The former Manchester United star, 47, has listed his seven-bedroom Kent mansion for £10.5 million (Dh52 million), hinting his move to Dubai is permanent.

Set in the exclusive Farnborough Park estate, the 12,500 sq ft home features landscaped grounds, a private gym, grand reception spaces, and a luxury master suite with dual dressing rooms. He bought it in 2008 for around £2.7 million, meaning a potential £8 million profit, though tax could apply depending on residency status.

Ferdinand moved to Dubai last year with his wife Kate and their children. They are now living in a luxury villa in Al Barari.

He has been candid about the move, citing more family time, an improved lifestyle, and the appeal of a fresh start. “The lifestyle, safety and weather, it just works for us,” Ferdinand said in the report.

He’s not alone. Vincent Kompany is also reportedly selling his UK home, as more football names rethink where they’re based.

Sports

Big game tonight: Expect traffic delays around Dubai’s Al Wasl Club

Published

2 weeks ago

April 22, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has alerted motorists to expected traffic delays on key roads on Wednesday, April 22, due to the AFC Champions League 2 match taking place at Al Wasl Club.

The fixture between Qatar’s Al Ahli and Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia is part of the ongoing AFC Champions League 2, Asia’s second-tier continental competition, which has been drawing strong crowds across the region. Matches at this stage of the tournament typically attract large numbers of fans, especially when hosted in major cities like Dubai, leading to increased traffic around stadium zones.

Authorities expect congestion on roads leading to and around the stadium, particularly during pre-match and post-match hours, as supporters head to watch the game live.

Motorists are advised to plan their journeys, allow extra travel time, and consider alternative routes to avoid delays.

To help ease congestion, the RTA confirmed that additional parking spaces will be available behind the stadium, offering more options for those attending the match.

The advisory is part of ongoing efforts to manage traffic during major sporting events and ensure a smooth and comfortable travel experience for residents and visitors across Dubai.

News

Free 5KM run in Abu Ahabi, but expect road closures

Published

2 weeks ago

April 17, 2026

Michael Gomes

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If you’re driving around Abu Dhabi this weekend, you might want to plan, because several key roads are set to close.

The Run for the Nation 5km race is taking over Wahat Al Karama this Saturday, bringing together the community for a morning of fitness and fun.

But it also means temporary traffic disruptions you should know about.

Here’s what’s happening
Organised by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in partnership with the Zayed Charity Run, the event kicks off at 8am, and it’s completely free to join.

To keep runners safe, road closures will be in place from 5am to 10am around the area.
There are additional lane closures on E20 due to ongoing infrastructure works:

• Right lane towards Abu Dhabi closed from April 17 (2pm)- April 20 (5am)
• Entry & exit from Al Fursan Street closed from April 18-April 19

Expect delays around Al Fursan Street and Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street (E20).

What should motorists do
• Leave earlier than usual
• Follow diversion signs
• Avoid the area if possible during peak hours

While traffic may slow things down, the event is all about community, fitness, and bringing people together, a big win for Abu Dhabi’s active lifestyle push.

So whether you’re running or just commuting, be ready, plan smart, and stay moving.