UAE’S eight top U-23 players picked for ILT20 Season 2
DUBAI: Eight of the UAE’S most promising under-23 players who showcased their talent at the recently concluded ILT20 Development Tournament, were amongst the 13 players picked by the DP World ILT20 franchises for Season 2 that will be staged in January-february next year.
As a result, all remaining 13 Season-2 spots for UAE players were filled through an online player selection process that was carried out this morning.
Earlier this year, a total of 11 UAE players had been retained by the franchises. Each of the six DP World ILT20 franchise squads needs to have a minimum of four UAE players.
At the selection process on Friday, the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders selected bater Alishan Sharafu and spinner Aditya Shety. Sharafu represented Sharjah Warriors in DP World ILT20 Season 1, the right-hander scored 202 runs in the ILT20 Development Tournament. Shety took eight wickets in the event. Karthik Meiyappan and Aryan Lakra were chosen by Desert Vipers. Meiyappan was part of the Warriors squad in DP World ILT20 Season 1. He claimed two wickets in two appearances in the ILT20 Development Tournament. Lakra scored 100 runs in his six games.
The Dubai Capitals who had three out of the four UAE slots vacant, chose Rahul Chopra, Haider Ali and Vriitya Aravind. Vriitya played for MI Emirates in DP World ILT20 Season 1. Chopra was the secondmost prolific run-geter in the ILT20 Development Tournament, he tallied 269 runs. Haider was the tournament’s leading wicket-taker – 15 wickets.
Reigningchampionsgulfgiantschosebig-hiting opener Usman Khan and leg-spinner Mohammad Zohaib Zubair. In six ILT20 Development Tournament games, Zohaib took eight wickets. Usman scored 204 runs. Usman struck the faster ton in the history of Pakistan’s T20 franchise tournament back in March. He reached the milestone in 43 balls opening the bating for Multan Sultans against Queta Gladiators in Rawalpindi.
MI Emirates opted for bater Asif Khan and allrounder Mohammad Rohid Khan. Asif was the top run-geter in the ILT20 Development Tournament. The UAE bating stalwart scored 383 runs in seven innings. Rohid took four wickets in the tournament.
Seasoned UAE bater Basil Hameed who representedmiemiratesinseason1waspickedbywarriors alongside all-rounder Nilansh Keswani. Basil scored 72 runs in three development tournament innings. Keswani took 10 wickets. These players now join the 11 UAE players that were retained by the franchises in the retention list announced in August.
The 11 players that were retained by the franchises include: Ali Naseer (Desert Vipers), Aayan Afzal Khan (Gulf Giants), Junaid Siddique (Sharjah Warriors), Matiullah (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Mohammad Waseem (MI Emirates), Muhammad Jawadullah (Sharjah Warriors), Raja Akif (Dubai Capitals), Rohan Mustafa (Desert Vipers), Sabir Ali (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Sanchit Sharma (Gulf Giants) and Zahoor Khan (MI Emirates).