DP World ILT20 announces Winners and Runners-up prize money for inaugural edition
Report: Umer Farooq
Dubai: The DP World International League T20 in keeping with its stature has announced a very attractive prize money pool of USD1.3m, where the winning team will receive $700,000 (USD) and the runner-up team will receive $300,000 (USD) at the end of the final.
The first season of the DP World ILT20 is currently being held across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
Speaking about the prize money, Mubashshir Usmani, General Secretary, Emirates Cricket Board said, “The league is incredibly pleased to announce the prize money for the winning and runner-up teams of the DP World ILT20. We want the franchises and the players to compete intensely in winning these awards. The Season 1 of the DP World ILT20 will conclude on 12th February where the two finalist team will contest to lift the Trophy and take the winner’s prize money. May the best team win.”
The DP World ILT20 has witnessed several magnificent performances over the past three weeks and the competition is all set for its knockout stage. The Desert Vipers, Gulf Giants and MI Emirates have booked their spots in the playoffs, while the Sharjah Warriors and Dubai Capitals are fighting for the final playoffs spot. The Desert Vipers have won seven matches from ten games. The Gulf Giants and MI Emirates have won six and five games respectively in nine matches. The Vipers and Giants, who are at the top two spots on the points table, have confirmed a top-two finish in the league stage.
Desert Vipers’ Alex Hales has been the leading run scorer in the tournament so far with 465 runs and therefore he is the current Green Belt holder. Meanwhile, Gulf Giants’ Chris Jordan is the current White Belt holder with 14 wickets in the competition so far.
Alex Hales is leading the race to the Red Belt as he is currently the Most Valuable Player in the DP World ILT20 with 184 points. MI Emirates’ Muhammad Waseem is in the driver’s seat for the Blue Belt (Most Valuable UAE Player) with 146.5 points in the competition so far. Each of the Belt winners will receive $15,000 (USD) as prize money at the end of the season.
The Most Valuable Players are decided based on a unique point scoring system devised by the DP World ILT20. The players are given certain number of points for their performance with bat, ball and on the field in every match.
The DP World ILT20 has been presenting five match awards namely; player of the match, DP World smart delivery of the day, Fairplay News biggest hit of the match, Skyexch.NetSuper 4s of the match and Sportsbuzz 11 Buzzmaker of the match with every award winner receiving $1500 (USD).
The tournament will also present season awards for DP World Smart Bowler, Fairplay News biggest hit, Skyexch.Net Super 4s and Sportsbuzz 11 Buzzmaker. Each of the award winners are set to receive $15,000 (USD) as cash prize following the final.
The Qualifier 1, Eliminator and Qualifier 2 will be played from 8 February 2023 to 10 February 2023, with the Final to be held at the Dubai International Stadium on 12 February 2023. All play-off matches will commence at 18:00 (UAE time) with the league’s family-fun-filled carnival activities kicking-off at 15:00, offering the young and the young-at-heart a wide variety of cricket-themed games, activities, entertainment and delicious food to enjoy while cheering on their favourite teams