Dubai(Bureau Report)
UAE, His Highness Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Chairman, Emirates Cricket Board, unveiled the ILT20 trophy at an ILT20 stakeholder’s function hosted this evening attended by League stakeholders and cricket greats.
The silver trophy brings together influences that reflect and honour UAE’s rich heritage and culture. Leading this influence is UAE’s majesty icon and revered national bird – the falcon, whose teardrop shape makes up the trophy’s form, while the seven Emirates (of the UAE) are woven in through a 7-pointed crown, shaped as sand dunes inspired by the incredible sands of Tel Moreeb (Al Dhafra, Abu Dhabi) – considered to be the world’s tallest dunes, which proudly sits atop clasping a cricket ball, as the trophy’s final. And, in a pointed nod to the UAE’s most famous landmark, the Burj Khalifa, the trophy stands 830mm, reflecting the height of the Burj Khalifa which measures 830m from ground to tip.
Mubashshir Usmani, General Secretary, of Emirates Cricket Board said; “It is an exciting and significant milestone that the ILT20 trophy made its debut at this event, and it is a matter of delight to do so amongst our esteemed stakeholders of the League this evening.” “It was also very heartening to see that legendary cricketing figures could also participate in the celebration and commemoration of this historic event.”
Witnessing the unveiling, of one of the most distinctive trophies in cricket, were Jay Mehta (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Paul Voigt (Desert Vipers), Kiran Grandhi (Dubai Capitals), Pranav Adani (Gulf Giants), Nikhil Meswani (Owner – MI Emirates), Rajesh Sharma (Sharjah Warriors), and Punit Goenka (Zee Entertainment Enterprises), alongside Cricketing-greats Dwayne Bravo, Wasim Akram, Simon Doull, Robin Uthappa, and Brett Lee.
The franchise-style tournament – International League T20 – boasting of 6 teams & 34 matches to be played across the UAE – will make its debut in January 2023.
