Dubai,
The DP World ILT20 Season 3 got underway and fans have already been treated to a series of riveting contests spurred by some of the world’s top cricketers and UAE’s most promising talent. Amongst the plethora of legends who have extended their support to the tournament is the iconic former Pakistani fast bowler Waqar Younis, who is part of the commentary panel for the third consecutive season. Waqar Younis praised the competition’s expanding profile and highlighted standout performances by UAE cricketers, calling it a testament to the country’s cricketing progress.
Lauding the exceptional growth of the competition, the thrilling opening weekend and its promising future, the Pakistani legend said, “The DP World ILT20 is getting bigger and bigger. Last year was better than the year before, and hopefully, this year will be even better. The start was excellent—the first game, the opening, everything was just grand. I feel this tournament has what it takes to become one of the top tournaments. This is my third year in a row being part of it, and I’ve seen major growth.”
Developing UAE’S cricketers is a core value for the DP World ILT20 and Waqar Younis found examples of that in UAE’s Alishan Sharafu and Farhan Khan’s performances.
Waqar Younis who claimed 789 international wickets across formats, also noted the role of the pitches that have enough purchase for batters and bowlers, resulting in well balanced and hard-fought contests. “The pitch quality has stood out—there was a noticeable difference in the first few matches. In the past, the pitches have been quite flat, but from what I’ve seen so far there’s something in it for the bowlers as well, which really pleases me.”