Harbhajan and Shoaib return as tournament ambassadors for DP World ILT20 Season 3

  Harbhajan Singh and Shoaib Akhtar return as tournament ambassadors for DP World ILT20 Season 3

• "We’re thrilled to welcome back Harbhajan Singh and Shoaib Akhtar for the DP World ILT20 Season 3, as their involvement continues to add immense value to the league,” says CEO DP World ILT20 David White.

• Harbhajan Singh continues his association with the DP World ILT20 for the third consecutive season, while Shoaib Akhtar returns as an ambassador after his memorable stint in Season 2.
• Match tickets for Season 3, including a special offer of four tickets for AED 40 (general category only), are available here
• DP World ILT20 Season 3 schedule available here

DUBAI, JAN 3

India's iconic off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and Pakistan's renowned fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar are set to return for the DP World ILT20 Season 3. The cricketing icons will once again serve as tournament ambassadors for the region’s premier T20 spectacle that will take place between 11 January to 9 February 2025.
 

Harbhajan, a veteran of the game with 711 international wickets across formats in his illustrious 18-year career, has been an integral part of the DP World ILT20 since its inception. Fondly referred to as the ‘Turbanator’ for his potency with the ball during his career, the 44-year-old also featured in the eminent commentary panel across both seasons.
 
Shoaib Akhtar, renowned for his blistering pace, and revered as one of the most feared fast bowlers in cricket history joined the DP World ILT20 for the second season of the competition and will continue in his role as ambassador. The ‘Rawalpindi Express’ with a total of 444 wickets for Pakistan across the Test, ODI and T20 formats will once again join his peer, Harbhajan Singh, in the commentary box as well.
 
DP World ILT20 CEO David White: “We’re thrilled to welcome back Harbhajan Singh and Shoaib Akhtar for the DP World ILT20 Season 3, as their involvement continues to add immense value to the league. Season 2 was a huge success, with the level of competition and the quality of cricket on display exceeding all expectations. We’re looking forward to an even bigger and better tournament this year. We’re confident this season will raise the bar further and continue to contribute to the growing reputation of UAE cricket on the international stage.”
 DP World ILT20 Ambassador, Harbhajan Singh: “Being part of the DP World ILT20 has been an incredible experience since the beginning, and each season just gets better. Season 2 was a fantastic showcase of top-notch T20 cricket, with the standard of competition pushing the boundaries of what we expect from franchise cricket. What stands out for me is how the UAE’s cricketing talent is continuing to rise, and it’s exciting to see how this league is shaping the future of the game here. The atmosphere during the January-February window, with the beautiful weather and the buzz of New Year festivities, makes the DP World ILT20 even more special for both players and fans. I’m looking forward to seeing more young talent shine this season and deliver some memorable moments.”
DP World ILT20 Ambassador, Shoaib Akhtar: “It’s always a pleasure to return to the UAE, a place where I have so many fond memories from my playing days. Season 2 was an exciting display of competitive cricket, and I believe the quality of cricket will only increase as the DP World ILT20 continues to grow. This tournament gives a platform to not only showcase world-class talent but also helps nurture the next generation of players, which is so important for the future of UAE cricket. I’m looking forward to another exciting season and can’t wait to see how the players rise to the challenge this year.”
Tickets for Season 3 are now on sale through online platforms and at all 15 Virgin Megastore locations throughout the UAE. General admission tickets begin at 20 dirhams for the spectator stands at Zayed Stadium (Abu Dhabi), Dubai International Stadium, and Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
The DP World ILT20 Season 3 will be launched with a grand opening ceremony which will be headlined by epic performances by Bollywood superstars Shahid Kapoor, Pooja Hegde and Sonam Bajwa who are set to captivate the spectators at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday, 11 January 2025 with enthralling performances on their blockbuster songs. The ceremony will begin at 6:00pm local time.
Spectators will be allowed to enter the stadium from 4:00pm while fans can also tune in through the Zee Network and its syndication partners’ broadcast around the world on linear and digital platforms.
The first ball of the season will be delivered at 7:15pm local time with the defending champions MI Emirates taking on Dubai Capitals in a rematch of last year’s grand finale.
 Renowned Bollywood producer and actor Jackky Bhagnani and Ridhima Pathak will emcee the opening ceremony.
The evening provides a rare opportunity of the very best of Bollywood coming together with the very best of T20 cricket at the magnificent DIS, also known as The Ring of Fire. Adding to the excitement, fans can enjoy a fantastic offer of four tickets for just AED 40, exclusively in the general category.
 The six DP World ILT20 franchises have retained T20 superstars like Andre Russell (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Sunil Narine (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Alex Hales (Desert Vipers), Sherfane Rutherford (Desert Vipers), David Warner (Dubai Capitals), Rovman Powell (Dubai Capitals), Chris Jordan (Gulf Giants), Shimron Hetmyer (Gulf Giants), Akeal Hossein (MI Emirates), Nicholas Pooran (MI Emirates), Adil Rashid (Sharjah Warriorz Wildcard Pick in Season 2) and Johnson Charles (Sharjah Warriorz).
England white-ball great Jason Roy (Sharjah Warriorz) returns to the league after making two appearances for the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders last season. The Sharjah Warriorz have been strengthened further with the inclusion of New Zealand’s Tim Southee, who is set to lead their campaign in his debut season.
Former West Indies captain Jason Holder will appear for the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, the all-rounder played for the Dubai Capitals last season.
Additionally, Fakhar Zaman (Desert Vipers), Shai Hope (Dubai Capitals), Lockie Ferguson (Desert Vipers), Roston Chase (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Matthew Wade (Sharjah Warriorz), Ibrahim Zadran (Gulf Giants) and Romario Shepherd (MI Emirates) are set to make their DP World ILT20 debuts in Season 3.

The third season of the DP World ILT20 will run from 11 January to 9 February 2025. 

UP Rudras defeat Soorma Hockey Club 3-0 in Hockey India League

 

UP Rudras defeat Soorma Hockey Club 3-0 in Hockey India League 

ROURKELA, JANUARY 2

UP Rudras took on Soorma Hockey Club and beat them 3-0 in the Hero Hockey India League 2024-25 at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium here today. Sudeep Chirmako (2nd) scored early in the game for the UP Rudras, while Soorma Hockey Club created multiple opportunities in the second quarter, the UP Rudras held firm and Jobanpreet Singh (38th) doubled their lead in the third quarter. Akashdeep Singh (58’) scored in the last quarter to seal the UP Rudras’ second win in the League.

UP Rudras took control of the game right from the push off, forcing Soorma Hockey Club to defend deep. And in just the second minute, Gurjot Singh ventured into the shooting circle and found Lalit Kumar Upadhyay but his shot was deflected to Sudeep Chirmako who unleashed a rocket on the half turn to score the first goal of the game. Soorma Hockey Club began stringing passes together as the quarter progressed and rebuffed the Rudras’ advances on their goal. Soorma went on to earn two penalty corners as the first quarter came to an end but failed to find the back of the net.

UP Rudras continued to employ a high press in the second quarter but Soorma grew into the game, earning a slew of penalty corners but the Rudras’ defensive unit, led by first rusher Lars Balk and goalkeeper James Mazarelo remained alert to avert any danger to their goal.
The Rudras stepped it up a notch in the third quarter, putting together incisive passes around Soorma players. At the 38 minute mark, Sudeep Chirmako, from the left wing, pulled the ball back to Jobanpreet Singh who pushed the ball into goal and doubled UP Rudra’s lead in the game. Soorma Hockey Club began pressing high in search of a goal but were unable to find chinks in UP Rudras’ defence.
Soorma Hockey Club wrestled more possession as the last quarter began and forced the UP Rudras into their own half. They showed more patience on the ball to create chances and it wasn’t long before Vivek Sagar Prasad found Gurjant Singh in the shooting circle but his shot sailed wide of the post. The UP Rudras earned a couple of penalty corners with five minutes left in the game but failed to capitalise. Soon after, Hardik Singh initiated a counter attack and passed to Akashdeep Singh. He made it 3-0 for the UP Rudras with a blistering reverse tomahawk. Soorma Hockey Club’s Captain Harmanpreet Singh surged ahead in search of a consolation goal and earned a penalty corner but was unable to keep it on target.
January 3 fixture:Tamil Nadu Dragons vs  Vedanta Kalinga Lancers  at 8:15 PM IST.

=====balbirsingh227@gmal.com

Rupinder brace gives Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers win over Team Gonasika

 

 

Rupinder brace gives Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers win over Team Gonasika

ROURKELA, JANUARY 1

Rupinder Pal Singh rolled back the years as he scored a brace to help the Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers beat Team Gonasika in their Hero Hockey India League (HIL) 2024-25 match at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela on Wednesday. Rupinder Pal Singh (3rd` and 48th) scored from a penalty corner and a penalty stroke while Manpreet Singh scored Team Gonasika’s solitary goal. 

In Rupinder Pal Singh and Jugraj Singh, the Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers have two lethal drag flickers and the pair were called into action inside the opening three minutes as Sukhjeet Singh won a penalty corner. Jugraj’s drag flick was saved comfortably by Oliver Payne.

Team Gonasika controlled the tempo of the match with the trio of Vishnukanth Singh, Jack Waller and Jake Draper busy in the middle of the park. SK Uthappa gave Gonasika their first big chance as he won a penalty corner midway through the first quarter. 

Araijeet Singh Hundal, however, was unable to get past the Gonasika rushers from his attempt as the Bengal Tigers immediately went on the counter through Sukhjeet Singh. The India forward went on a lung-busting run brushing off his marker before finding an unmarked Affan Yousuf in the circle with a good pass. Unfortunately, Yousuf was unable to trap the ball cleanly and the attack was wasted.

Bengal Tigers would have another crack at taking the lead in the first quarter with Sukhjeet winning another penalty corner in the final minute. Oliver Payne once again kept Jugraj Singh’s attempt at bay.

The second quarter was a scratchy affair as neither side created any clear cut opportunities. In the 21st minute, the Bengal Tigers won a couple of penalty corners. As was the case with his previous attempts, Jugraj went straight down the middle giving Payne an easy save.

The deadlock was nearly broken in the 25th minute as Gonasika worked the ball into goal from outside the circle with a clever play. Struan Walker only needed the slightest of touches on the ball to give his side the lead but missed it narrowly.

The Bengal Tigers won their fifth penalty corner in the 27th minute with Rupinder Pal stepping up on the first battery this time around. Instead of attacking the goal, the Tigers’ defender opted to play it back to Abhishek who had injected the ball. Jack Waller read the Tigers' play perfectly to get a touch on Rupinder Pal’s pass and wrong-foot Abhishek.

Gonasika won their second penalty corner of the match in the 29th with Jamie Carr comfortably saving Walker’s drag flick. 

Nothing could separate both sides at the break with both sides splitting the possession, circle penetration and shots stats. However, the Bengal Tigers had five penalty corners to two for Gonasika.

The opening five minutes of the third quarter had more action than the previous two quarters combined as both sides scored once each and had a couple of big chances.

 Bengal Tigers were the ones to break the deadlock as Sukhjeet won a sixth penalty corner in the opening minute. Rupinder Pal fired in an unstoppable shot to give his side the lead in the 31st minute. The celebrations from the Tigers players showed just how much they loved the vintage Rupinder Pal goal.

The celebration lasted less than a minute as Gonasika equalised as soon as play restarted. It was good play from Walker as he held up play before finding an unmarked Manpreet Singh with a clever reverse pass. With only Carr to beat, Manpreet went low and hard to draw his side level.

Manpreet was in the thick of the action at the other end soon after as he put in a superb tackle to steal the ball off Walker just as he was about to pull the trigger. Both Carr and Suraj Karkera were a busy pair of goalkeepers as they made a couple of good saves over the next few minutes.

The intensity lessened a bit as both sides focused on staying solid in defence and not committing mistakes. Sukhjeet had the final big chance of the quarter as he led a solo counter in the final minute before drawing a good save from his India teammate Karkera.

Bengal Tigers retook the lead early in the fourth quarter as Abhishek won a penalty stroke in the 48th minute. Up stepped Rupinder Pal and he coolly found the bottom corner of the goal past Payne.

Bengal Tigers made it 3-1 in the 53rd minute through Sebastien Dockier even as the Gonasika players protested the goal. Following an umpire’s referral, it was found that the ball had touched Abhishek’s foot in the build-up and the goal was chalked off.

Bengal Tigers defence stood strong to notch their second straight win of the Hockey India League.

Player of the Match Abhishek said, “It was a tough match but our team effort was good. We were better with our chances in the second half and that was the difference between the two teams today”

====balbirsingh227@gmail.com