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Chaminda Vaas, Moin Khan named amongst the coaches for Zim Afro T10 Season 2

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With the exciting and engaging season of T10 set to begin in Zimbabwe, the franchises at the Zim Afro T10 have announced their Head Coaches for the upcoming tournament. The roster of coaches includes some stalwarts from the world of cricket such as Pakistan’s Moin Khan, Sri Lankan Chaminda Vaas and Englishman Owais Shah.

The Durban Wolves have signed on the former Pakistan captain Moin Khan, who has not only coached the Pakistan national team but also has been a selector for the side. The former wicket-keeper batter has been also been heavily involved in coaching in franchise cricket, as he has been leading the way for the Quetta Gladiators since 2016. With Moin Khan calling the shots, the Gladiators have made three finals since 2016 and won the Pakistan Super League once as well.

The NYS Lagos side have also made a big signing in terms of their Head Coach, as they have brought on the dynamic Sri Lankan all-rounder Chaminda Vaas. The left-arm pacer who was well known for his abilities with the ball, has worked with a whole host of national teams in various coaching capacities. Vaas, who has been coaching since 2012, has worked with national teams of New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and Ireland.

The Bulawayo Braves Jaguars have appointed Owais Shah, who has worked not only with UAE national team but also been at the helm of affairs at the Dambulla Viiking in the Lanka Premier League.

The Cape Town Samp Army have roped in the very experienced James Foster, who has coached in franchise cricket all around the world. Foster, who began his cricketing journey in England, has plied his trade in the IPL, the T20 Blast and the Bangladesh Premier League as well.

The Jo’Burg Bangla Tigers have brought in the Englishman Julian Wood, who is well known for his work with the big hitting batters in the game. Wood, who has worked with multiple top talents from across the globe, has also had successful stints in the IPL with the Punjab Kings in 2022.
The Harare Bolts meanwhile have handed over the coaching responsibilities to Pubudu Dassanayake, the Sri Lankan coach, who has worked with the USA, Canadian and Nepal cricket teams as their Head Coach. Under his coaching, Canada was able to beat Ireland, a test playing full-member in the pool stage of T20 WC 2024.

Nawab Shaji Ul Mulk, T Ten Global Sports Founder and Chairman, said, “The second season of the Zim Afro T10 promises to be a special one, and with the calibre of coaches present, I am sure plenty of Zimbabwean players will also benefit from this outing. There is a fair amount of brilliance in the mix, amongst the coaches, and we are confident that this will result in very closely fought games in Harare.”

The second season of the Zim Afro T10 is scheduled to be played in Harare and will kick off from September 21 and end on the 29th with a grand finale.

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We’re on par with ICC elite panel standards: Simon Taufel on DP World ILT20 officiating excellence

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The DP World ILT20 continues to grow as the region’s premier tournament, not just for players but also for match officials. With the competition bringing together top-tier talent from around the world, ensuring high-quality officiating is just as crucial as the performances on the field. Australian umpire Simon Taufel, a five-time ICC Umpire of the Year, led the DP World ILT20 Season 3 match officials panel. Taufel has been instrumental in mentoring and guiding the officiating team with an aim of raising the standard of umpiring within the tournament.

Highlighting the significance of the DP World ILT20 and his role within, Taufel said, “This tournament is about growing cricket in the United Arab Emirates, and officiating is part of that objective. My role is to support the umpires, referees, and the officiating landscape here by helping create a pathway for their development and giving them access to international standards, just like the players.”

Officiating Standards at DP World ILT20

Ensuring high-quality officiating requires constant evaluation and benchmarking against global standards. Taufel provided insight into how the umpires have performed in the tournament, revealing impressive accuracy rates. “On average in this tournament, umpires have gotten 92% of their decisions right. Players only get their reviews right 22% of the time, while umpires make the correct initial decision 92% of the time. If you asked coaches and players whether they’d be happy with 9 out of 10 correct decisions, most would say yes. The ICC elite panel average is around 92-93%, which shows we are on par with that standard”, he concluded.

The Passion of UAE Officials

Match officials from the UAE, including the likes of Shiju Mannil, Akbar Khan, and Asif Iqbal played a crucial role in the tournament. Taufel was particularly impressed by their eagerness to develop their skills and adapt to the high standards of international officiating.

He said, “The passion of the officials here is like that across the subcontinent—they are incredibly enthusiastic and eager to learn. They aspire to officiate on television at the international level, and they are extremely coachable. One of our key efforts this year is to provide them with more resources to support their development. It requires significant investment and effort, particularly in performance management.”

Building on this, he explained the structured approach taken to ensure the progress and assessment of umpires, “We provide all our match officials with match-day reports for every game. I did 17 matches, and Roshan Mahanama also did 17. After each match, we compiled reports on the two on-field umpires and the third umpire—that’s a substantial amount of feedback and information.”

He further added, “We also created a development structure around the pre-tournament phase. We have a preparation day with the officials, covering playing regulations, interpretations, culture development, teamwork, and support on and off the field. It’s a lot of work, and most people don’t see that. But it’s what you do when no one is watching that makes you successful.”

The Role of Specialist TV Umpires and DRS

The DP World ILT20 has embraced the Decision Review System (DRS) to assist in ensuring accurate decision-making. For the second consecutive season, specialist TV umpires, including Paul Wilson and Leslie Reifer, were assigned to process reviews efficiently. Speaking on the significance of this role and the pressures that it brings on on-field umpires as well, Taufel remarked, “I think we all enjoy the theatre and drama of seeing a decision reviewed on the big screen. One of the key aspects we’ve introduced in this competition is specialist TV umpires who can process DRS reviews quickly and efficiently. For an umpire, having a decision dissected in front of thousands at the venue and millions watching at home can be an embarrassing experience. They have to process that instant feedback and refocus immediately, which requires immense mental strength. In fact, most of our game is mental, 99% of it.”

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Abu Dhabi T10 confirms 2025 dates for ninth edition

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The Abu Dhabi T10 will return to the majestic Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi for its seventh season in the emirate on Tuesday 18 November – Sunday 30 November 2025.

The announcement comes just two months after the thrilling conclusion of the 2024 tournament, where Jos Buttler and the Deccan Gladiators triumphed in a dramatic eight-wicket victory over Morrisville Samp Army to claim their third title, cementing their position as the most successful team in T10 history.

“We are thrilled to confirm the dates for the 2025 edition of the Abu Dhabi T10,” said Matt Boucher, CEO of Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub. “Together with our strategic partners at Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, we made a strategic commitment in 2019 to develop this international cricket event and showcase the emirate of Abu Dhabi to the wider world. The 2024 edition delivered our strongest player field to date and another impressive season of domestic and international spectator and viewership interest.”

He continued, “As we move forward, we are focused on bringing even more innovation and creativity to the tournament, while further establishing Abu Dhabi’s reputation as a world-class destination for international sport.”

“Last year’s Abu Dhabi T10 was a wonderful blend of cricket and entertainment,” said T10 Global Chairman Shaji Ul Mulk.

“That came on the back of yet more expansion for the tournament to ten teams. The Abu Dhabi T10 has established itself as an important fixture on the UAE Cricket calendar, one that provides the UAE players with a fantastic opportunity to continue growing their skill set. With the announcement of the upcoming dates for 2025, we look forward to another world-class, highly engaging 12-day tournament.”

Since its inception in Abu Dhabi, the T10 has become a flagship event, firmly establishing itself as a standout fixture on both the UAE’s sporting calendar and the global cricket schedule. The 2025 edition will once again showcase the dynamic nature of cricket’s fastest format and provide UAE players with an invaluable platform to further develop their skills.

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Elon Musk joins forces with Dubai for revolutionary loop project

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Dubai has unveiled a groundbreaking collaboration with Elon Musk’s Boring Company to develop the ‘Dubai Loop,’ an advanced underground transportation system designed to seamlessly connect the city’s most densely populated areas.

The announcement was made by Omar Sultan Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, and Vice Chair of the World Governments Summit, during a plenary session with Musk at the World Governments Summit (WGS).

“Today, we announce the joint project of Dubai Loop, a high-speed underground system that will connect Dubai’s most crowded districts, allowing people to travel seamlessly from point to point. We aim to transform the way people move,” said Al Olama.

A Wormhole-Like Experience

Elon Musk, who addressed WGS virtually during a session titled ‘Boring Cities, AI, and DOGE’, described the Dubai Loop as a wormhole-like transit system that will revolutionize urban mobility.

“It’ll be like a wormhole—you enter one part of the city, and boom, you emerge in another spot. It’s going to be amazing! I think once people try it, they’ll be blown away. It will seem obvious in hindsight, but until it exists, you don’t realize how transformative it is,” Musk said.

The Boring Company’s Vision

Founded by Musk in 2016, The Boring Company specializes in developing low-cost, high-speed underground tunnels to alleviate urban congestion. The company is known for its innovative approach to tunnel construction, focusing on fast, cost-efficient solutions for vehicles, freight, and high-speed transit.

The Dubai Loop marks a major step in integrating futuristic transportation into the city’s infrastructure, promising a fast, efficient, and seamless commuting experience.

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