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“Team environment key for success”,says Gulf Giants’ Sanchit Sharma ahead of  DP World ILT20

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Young UAE pacer Sanchit Sharma was a key player for the Adani Sportsline-owned Gulf Giants, who went on to win the inaugural edition of the International League T20 in 2022, under the coaching of Zimbabwean legend Andy Flower. He took seven wickets in nine matches and was integral to the side during the run in to the trophy.

The Adani Sportsline-owned Giants were brilliant in the inaugural season of the ILT20 and secured the trophy with a tough fight. Sharing his thoughts on what took them the distance, Sanchit said, “When I got selected for the Gulf Giants, all my fellow UAE teammates, all the players that got selected from UAE, and everyone agreed that for us to even qualify for the eliminators, let alone winning the tournament, looked tough.

“But, in terms of the environment, we have the best environment. Players understood each other very well, and their capabilities, which led us to the title,” he added.

However, this victory and the career that Sanchit has had till now was almost not meant to be. He met with an accident just before Diwali in 2021, but his resilience, and the help of the doctors, revived his fledgling career. “I can still remember it was two years ago on the eve of Diwali. I had instructions from home ‘Please don’t go on a festival day’, mom was insisting. I told her, ‘I’ll just go for a couple of hours, I’ll train and come back’. Just as I was about to reach the training centre when the accident happened. I was hurt pretty badly.”

“I just got into the UAE men’s side, and I thought everything would go away. And that’s when I thought, ‘You got to be stronger mentally.’ It took me four or five months to get off my bed. God gave me a second chance, I always tell this to myself,” he recalled.

Now having been retained by the Adani Sportsline-owned Gulf Giants, Sanchit revealed the reason behind his team’s form and what makes them tick. “The management is brilliant with us. Maybe that’s what has led to the environment to be nice. Coming in, I’ve always seen all these players on TV and always wanted to play against them. I had this feeling that I wouldn’t get any better with them because they’re big stars. But then the way they welcomed all the UAE players, that is what I meant by the environment is very good.”

“We have the best environment, which is very important for any team,” added Sanchit. “That is what will help us hopefully win the title again. And being a T20 bowler, the pitches are a lot flatter comparatively. We just need to level up our games. We just have to get on with our game and try to make the most of whatever opportunities we get,” concluded the young pace icon.

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Canada Super 60 picks BC Place for groundbreaking cricket debut

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In a landmark development for cricket in North America, the newly launched Canada Super 60 has announced Vancouver’s BC Place as the official venue for its inaugural men’s and women’s tournaments. The move marks a historic moment for the sport in Canada, with the iconic stadium set to become the first indoor venue globally to host a 10-over-a-side cricket league.

BC Place, a Canadian sporting landmark located in downtown Vancouver, has long been a stage for world-class events — from the 2010 Winter Olympics to the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2015, and most recently, one of the host venues for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in 2026. With its state-of-the-art infrastructure, retractable roof, and seating capacity of over 50,000, the stadium is now preparing to add cricket to its multi-sport repertoire.

“BC Place is not just a stadium; it’s a theatre of dreams,” said former India international and Canada Super 60’s strategic partner Yuvraj Singh. “The grandeur of this venue will inspire players and fans alike. Vancouver’s spirit of diversity, nature, and culture makes it the perfect backdrop for cricket’s next big chapter on the West Coast.”

Set to launch in 2025, the Canada Super 60 is a pioneering cricket league featuring both men’s and women’s teams in a 10-over format — a first-of-its-kind initiative aiming to elevate the profile of Canadian cricket on the world stage. The league is being organized with the backing of Cricket Canada.

Amjad Bajwa, President of Cricket Canada, called the partnership with BC Place a “bold and proud step” in the growth of the sport. “This is a significant milestone not just for the Canada Super 60, but for cricket in the country. We’re committed to creating world-class opportunities for Canadian talent as we gear up for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2026.”

Chris May, General Manager of BC Place, echoed the sentiment. “Hosting Canada Super 60 allows us to bring the world’s second most-watched sport into our venue and celebrate the diversity of British Columbia in a powerful new way. It’s a unique opportunity to build a more inclusive sporting culture.”

The official match dates and ticketing details are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Organizers promise an electrifying blend of cricketing action and cultural celebration — with Vancouver’s passionate sports community playing a central role in the spectacle.

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DP World ILT20 Season 4 player auction set for September 30

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The DP World International League T20 Player Auction for Season 4 will be held on Tuesday, 30 September in Dubai. The six tournament teams will each get the opportunity of adding 13 players each (a total of 78 players) to their Season 4 squads at the auction. Players interested in appearing for the Player Auction can register here. The last date of registration is Wednesday, 10 September.

The six franchises will have a combined purse of USD 4.8 million to spend at the Player Auction. Details about the available budgets for the teams (including the remaining budgets from their direct signing allotment which can be used in the Player Auction), the auction order and the players list will be shared in due course.

DP World ILT20 CEO David White: “We are delighted to confirm the DP World International League Season 4 Player Auction date – Tuesday, 30 September. The auction is a big milestone for the league as we continue to grow as a world-class T20 tournament. The auction will be a great opportunity for our franchises to add local and international firepower to their Season 4 squads.

“For the UAE players, the ACC Asia Cup 2025 – September 9-28 in the UAE – is a massive opportunity for making a global impression ahead of the Player Auction. The players will have incredible exposure in the continental championship where they will be pitted against some of the top-ranked T20 teams.
“We are also set to play the third edition of the DP World ILT20 Development Tournament from later this month which – alongside the Asia Cup – is another platform for the local players to impress ahead of the Player Auction.” The DP World ILT20 Player Auction is the second phase of squads’ selection for Season 4. Earlier this month, the teams completed their new signings and retentions – a total of eight players per team. The list of those selections is available below.

DP World ILT20 Season 4 – Season 4 squads so far:

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: Alex Hales, Alishan Sharafu, Andre Russell, Charith Asalanka, Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt, Sherfane Rutherford and Sunil Narine

Desert Vipers: Andries Gous, Dan Lawrence, David Payne, Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Lockie Ferguson, Max Holden, Sam Curran and Wanindu Hasaranga

Dubai Capitals: Dasun Shanaka, Dushmantha Chameera, Gulbadin Naib, Luke Wood, Muhammad Jawadullah, Rovmann Powell, Shai Hope and Waqar Salamkheil.

Gulf Giants: Aayan Afzal Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Blessing Muzarabani, Gerhard Erasmus, James Vince, Mark Adair, Moeen Ali and Rahmanullah Gurbaz.

MI Emirates: AM Ghazanfar, Chris Woakes, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Perera, Romario Shepherd, Tom Banton and Muhammad Waseem

Sharjah Warriorz: Johnson Charles, Tim Southee, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Maheesh Theekshana, Saurabh Netravalkar, Sikandar Raza and Tim David
The DP World International League T20 Season 4 will begin on Tuesday, 2 December – UAE National Day (Eid-Al-Etihad) with a blockbuster opening, the six-team, 34-match tournament will conclude with the final on Sunday, 4 January 2026.

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UAE travel: Emirates adds Hangzhou to its China network 

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The UAE’s flagship carrier launched its new daily service to Hangzhou on  Wednesday, marking yet another milestone in its growing network across China. The move comes hot on the heels of its recent route launch to Shenzhen, making Hangzhou the second new mainland destination in just under a month.

Flight EK310 touched down at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport to a warm welcome – complete with a traditional water cannon salute and greetings from local officials and dignitaries. Passengers on the inaugural flight didn’t leave empty-handed either. They were treated to souvenir keychains, flight certificates, and Chinese tea tasting sets to mark the occasion.

The new route is operated on a Boeing 777-300ER, with flight EK310 departing Dubai at 9:40am and reaching Hangzhou by 10:00pm. The return leg, EK311, takes off from Hangzhou at 12:10am, landing back in Dubai by 4:55am, making it a convenient overnight hop for business and leisure travellers.

With this addition, Emirates now flies 49 times a week to five major Chinese cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and now Hangzhou.

Thanks to seamless connectivity through Dubai, travellers from over 40 European cities, 21 in Africa, and others in the Middle East and South America can now easily access one of China’s key tech and business hubs. The route also enables convenient two-way travel between Hangzhou and global cities like Istanbul, Cairo, Johannesburg, and Barcelona.

Best of all? UAE and GCC nationals can visit China visa-free for up to 30 days, making spontaneous business trips or leisure breaks even easier.

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