Sport

ILT20: Franchise owners and players upbeat about the new league

Published

3 years ago

January 20, 2023

It’s been almost a week since the maiden match in the International League T20 in the United Arab Emirates and while stadiums haven’t as yet filled up, the stakeholders – players, franchise owners, sponsors and broadcasters alike – are happy with it so far.

Venky Mysore, the CEO of Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, part of the Knight Riders brand with a presence in various T20 leagues, said in an interview with Cricbuzz: “Optics may not be great but all the franchises are happy with the business model and how it is being organized.

“It is the only tournament where the owners will not suffer losses like other leagues happening simultaneously,” he said.

But without any major Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi participation, the crowds have been staying away. However, television audiences have been strong.
“The tournament has been doing very well back home in India. There were 1.5 million concurrent viewers for the opening ceremony in which some international stars performed. Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, the owner of Knight Riders, was a huge hit,” says an official of Zee TV, the broadcasters of the league.

Emirates Cricket Board’s secretary general Mubashir Usmani told Cricbuzz the fun is yet to come. “The intensity of the competition will heat-up as the teams aim to position themselves at the top of the league’s table, the viewer at home and abroad, through the top-quality production and broadcast, is in for an absolute feast of engaging, thrilling cricketing action,” he said.

More than anything else, the tournament is being seen as a much-wanted initiative for the UAE players, who, otherwise unheralded in world cricket, are coming into their own.

In the second game of the league MI Emirates’ Muhammad Waseem, a UAE batsman, emerged as the player of the match for a batting performance that overshadowed stalwarts of his side like Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran and Dwayne Bravo. In the third game, local bowler Sanchit Sharma claimed the honors for the Adani-owned Gulf Giants, Cricbuzz reported.

“It is a unique league with a few teams new to franchise cricket. It is based in the UAE where a lot of cricket is played here, be it the ICC or Asian or Pakistan events. It is the first tournament of their own and there is a huge cricketing community here. It can only grow,” says Tom Moody, the head of the Desert Vipers side.

Afghan cricket fans can also tune in to watch this new league as Ariana Television is broadcasting each match live. For the full broadcast schedule CLICK HERE.

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Punjab Kings clinch thrilling 5-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026

The match showcased CSK’s batting depth and Punjab’s resilience, thrilling fans with strategic running, fearless hitting, and a classic IPL finish.

Published

4 hours ago

April 4, 2026

Ariana News

In an electrifying IPL 2026 clash at Chepauk, Punjab Kings (PBKS) chased down a challenging 210-run target set by Chennai Super Kings (CSK), winning by five wickets and extending their winning streak in the tournament. This marks Punjab’s ninth successful chase of 200+ runs this season, the most by any team so far.

CSK posted 209/5, powered by Ayush Mhatre’s 73 off 43 balls and Shivam Dube’s unbeaten 45 in the final overs. Sarfaraz Khan delivered a blistering cameo of 32 off 12 balls, injecting momentum in the middle overs, while Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson provided steady contributions at the top. Xavier Bartlett and Marco Jansen claimed key wickets but were expensive during the death overs.

Chasing 210, PBKS got off to a strong start with Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh hitting aggressively in the powerplay. Shreyas Iyer anchored the innings with a crucial fifty, pacing the chase effectively alongside Wadhera and Marcus Stoinis, who delivered under pressure in the final overs. Despite losing wickets at critical moments, including a run-out, Punjab maintained composure and crossed the finish line, needing 12 runs off the final over.

The match showcased CSK’s batting depth and Punjab’s resilience, thrilling fans with strategic running, fearless hitting, and a classic IPL finish.

Earlier, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) returned to winning ways with a 65-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), while upcoming matches include Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals.

Ariana Television Network (ATN) holds exclusive broadcasting rights in Afghanistan, airing all matches live. Fans are encouraged to follow ATN and Ariana News on social media for real-time updates, highlights, and coverage throughout the IPL 2026 season.

Sport

IPL 2026: SRH beat KKR by 65 runs to register first win

Looking ahead, Chennai Super Kings will take on Punjab Kings on Friday.

Published

1 day ago

April 3, 2026

Ariana News

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) bounced back to winning ways as they defeated Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by 65 runs in their IPL clash on Thursday.

Heinrich Klaasen starred with a composed 52 off 35 balls, guiding SRH to a competitive 226/8. In response, KKR struggled, losing early wickets and being bowled out for 161, slumping to their second consecutive defeat.

Left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat (3/21), Ehsan Malinga (2/14), and Nitish Kumar Reddy (2/17) played key roles in restricting KKR.

Earlier, on Wednesday, Lucknow Super Giants edged out Delhi Capitals by just 2 runs in a low-scoring thriller. Lucknow posted 141 before Delhi fell short despite a composed chase, highlighting the unpredictability of T20 cricket.

Looking ahead, Chennai Super Kings will take on Punjab Kings on Friday. Chennai will aim to build early momentum with their balanced squad, while Punjab will rely on their strong batting and disciplined bowling to bounce back.

The IPL continues to draw massive global audiences, and fans in Afghanistan can follow all the action live. Ariana Television Network (ATN) holds the exclusive broadcasting rights for the tournament in the country.

Matches are being aired live on Ariana Television, bringing every moment of the IPL directly to viewers. Fans are also encouraged to follow Ariana Television and Ariana News on social media for the latest updates, highlights and match coverage throughout the tournament.

Sport

Late drama as Lucknow edge Delhi Capitals in IPL thriller

Published

2 days ago

April 2, 2026

Ariana News

A thrilling contest in the Indian Premier League on Wednesday, April 1, saw Lucknow Super Giants clinch a narrow victory over Delhi Capitals in a low-scoring encounter.

Lucknow posted a modest total of 141 after being bowled out inside 19 overs, with key contributions coming from Abdul Samad and Mitchell Marsh, who steadied the innings. Delhi’s bowlers, led by Thangarasu Natarajan and Lungi Ngidi, kept things tight and ensured the target remained within reach.

In response, Delhi appeared on course for victory but faltered under pressure in the closing stages. Despite a composed chase, they fell just short, handing Lucknow a dramatic win by the narrowest of margins of just 2 runs. The match highlighted the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket, where momentum can shift rapidly in the final overs.

Kolkata take on Hyderabad

Attention now turns to Thursday’s clash, where Kolkata Knight Riders will face Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Kolkata will be looking to build momentum early in the tournament with a balanced squad featuring both experienced campaigners and exciting young talent. Hyderabad, meanwhile, will aim to bounce back strongly, relying on their powerful batting line-up and disciplined bowling attack.

With both teams eager to secure crucial early points, fans can expect another closely fought contest.