EXCITED TO PLAY WITH POLLARD, POORAN: MUHAMMAD WASEEM

Dubai , January 7: A number of players in the UAE have had dreams of playing with the best cricketers in the world and the International League T20 will make all those dreams come true when the tournament will be played this January-February.

The inaugural edition will be hosted across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah with six teams battling for the trophy.

Opening batter Muhammad Waseem, who has scored 743 runs in 20 T20s, said he can't wait to play alongside Kieron Pollard in the MI Emirates camp.

"I am feeling very happy, and I feel lucky to be a part of such a big franchise. I will try my best to prove myself during the tournament. This is a huge moment for us which I can't put in words. I will try to play my best and showcase the talent that UAE has. I can't wait to meet Kieron Pollard and play alongside him. I played with him in Abu Dhabi T10 as well."

Asked about how he started cricket, the UAE player said, "I have been interested in cricket since my childhood days. I started playing the game seriously in 2014. I played for my school and then went on to play at the district level, which is where my passion grew for the game."

Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batter

Vriitya Aravind, who has scored 536 runs and effected 12 catches and three stumpings in 25 T20s, said that he always wanted to play for the MI franchise, "It's an honour and a privilege to represent one of the most successful cricket franchises in the world. I saw Sachin Tendulkar play for MI (in the IPL) and I wanted to represent the franchise at some point in my life and therefore I feel lucky to get a chance to be a part of the MI Emirates at an early age. I am looking forward to playing with Nicholas Pooran since we have similar roles as a top-order batter and wicketkeeper. I think I will keep pestering him with questions."

Aravind also spoke about the moment which inspired him to be a cricketer, "I was born in India, and everyone wants to play cricket there. And I was in the country when India won the 2011 ICC Men's World Cup. That is my first memory of watching an entire World Cup and I also celebrated on the streets when India won it. I made up my mind on that day that I want to be a cricketer and play in the World Cup."

The MI Emirates will be in action when they take on Sharjah Warriors in their first match of the DP World ILT20 at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi on 14 January 2023, a release said.

Making its debut on 13 January (2023), the inaugural DP World ILT20 promises to be a high-octane competition with some of the greatest cricketing superstars on the planet set to make their way to the UAE to kick off the league. The league will be played in a 34-match format across the UAE's exemplary, world-class cricket facilities in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

Franchise teams, comprising over 100 International and 24 UAE-based players, include Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (Knight Riders Group), Desert

Vipers (Lancer Capital), Dubai Capitals (GMR), Gulf Giants (Adani Sportsline), MI Emirates (Reliance Industries) and Sharjah Warriors (Capri Global).

Cricket fans across the world can catch the live telecast of this exciting cricket league on Zee's linear channels, digital platform, Zee5 as well as Zee Cinema, Zee Anmol Cinema, and Pictures, and Flix, Zee Zest, Zee

Bangla Cinema, Zee Thirai and on CricLife across the UAE and MENA regions.

DP World ILT20 news, updates and interactive chat can be found via www.ilt20.ae and @ILT20Official on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, while tickets can be purchased by visiting https//tickets. ilt20.ae.