The ILT20 Season 3 heads into its thrilling conclusion while former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh admires both the high level of competition and the thrilling showings from players including young UAE spinner Aayan Afzal Khan.
The legendary Indian spinner comments that all teams in the UAE’s IPL-style franchise league ILT20 have displayed quality cricket.
The competition is progressing well while we’ve observed outstanding cricket performances. The quality shown by all teams indicates they still have opportunities to turn their fortunes around in the tournament Harbhajan noted.
The pitches at Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah vary from one another which enhances competitive play and creates interest in the tournament.
In this UAE season’s lineup of top performers, Harbhajan pointed out Gulf Giants’ Aayan who took eight wickets including a remarkable 4/16 performance against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.
Aayan Afzal Khan is delivering outstanding performances on the field. Harbhajan has observed Aayan’s performance and communicated with him since their first season together.
Aayan stands a strong chance of winning the Blue Belt award for being the UAE’s most valuable player. Spinners will become crucial as the pitch conditions change throughout the tournament and this development promises to deliver exciting matches for spectators.
The Desert Vipers earned Harbhajan’s highest commendation for their complete team strength after becoming the first team to qualify for the play-offs.
The Desert Vipers appear to be a powerful team based on the games I have watched or commentated on while I was here. The Desert Vipers have a stunning bowling attack led by Mohammed Amir and Lockie Ferguson while possessing a powerful batting lineup. He believed they stood as genuine championship contenders.
Harbhajan made predictions about who will finish as the highest run-scorer (Green Belt) and wicket-taker (White Belt) this season.
Fazalhaq Farooqi and Mohammed Amir have demonstrated exceptional bowling performance by taking wickets in each match. He believes either player might reach the top position on the ladder.
Both Shai Hope and Tom Banton have accumulated many runs but the tournament is currently entering its second phase. I’m eager to see additional players demonstrate their skills by scoring runs which allow them to move up the standings.
Harbhajan explained that the ILT20 has the potential to transform UAE cricket.
The UAE depends on this league as a critical component of its cricket development. The number of UAE players in each team stands at two right now but could increase to three or four soon as UAE players improve their skills.