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Sat, Jan 24, 2026 | Shaban 5, 1447 | Fajr 05:44 | DXB 
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ILT20: Desert Vipers win big on the field and for the planet
Billed as the ‘sustainability match’ against the defending champions, Vipers, the two-time finalists of the tournament championed the cause of wildlife conservation
On the pitch, Desert Vipers made history on Sunday, becoming the first team in ILT20 history to win six matches in a row as they stormed into the playoffs with a comprehensive performance against Dubai Capitals.
While their superb performance — inspired by skipper Sam Curran’s all-round brilliance (2/17 and 52 not out) — in the five-wicket win over the Capitals earned them a place in the playoffs, it was their commendable green initiative that pulled the strings of the cricketing hearts.
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Billed as the ‘sustainability match’ against the defending champions, Vipers, the two-time finalists of the tournament championed the cause of wildlife conservation.
Sunday’s match became the perfect platform for the Vipers to raise concerns about global environmental problems.
Their players wore special jerseys made from recycled materials, reminding sports lovers of their responsibility to protect the planet.
The jersey featuring ‘Biodiversity Stripes’ had a special message for the global community.
“Each stripe shows global wildlife populations in a given year: green shows more wildlife and the gradual fading to grey shows wildlife decline,” the team said in a statement.
“This jersey is designed to highlight how, over the last 50 years, global wildlife populations have declined by 73%. The desired message is a wider one, though, which is highly relevant to not just cricket but all sports: healthy ecosystems regulate heat, water, and soil, all of which are essential to sport.”
Before the start of Sunday's match at Dubai International Stadium, the Vipers also engaged fans through their 'green activities', encouraging them to learn about protecting nature.
Andries Gous, the team’s wicketkeeper-batter, said he was honoured to be part of this project.
“It's the first one for me. It's quite cool to experience this, how far we are willing to go with this, and I think it's good to see this amazing vibe,” Gous said.
As part of the initiative, the Vipers have also introduced recycled water bottles for their players, and their sunglasses have been made from recycled plastic waste.
“I think it's unbelievable. Amazingly, they thought about trying to do this, and now executing this makes this even more special,” Gous said.
The South Africa-born American cricketer also hoped that these initiatives would inspire young cricketers to be more responsible.
“Once you start from a young age, trying to be natural and trying to use recycled things as much as you can, and be as sustainable as you can, it’s just good for the world,” he said.
Phil Oliver, Desert Vipers CEO, summed it up perfectly.
“Cricket and nature are inherently connected, and at Desert Vipers, we want to be proactive in playing for people and the planet,” Oliver said.
Rituraj Borkakoty
Rituraj Borkakoty is Sports Editor and has spent more than two decades writing on his sporting heroes. He also loves an underdog story, so if you have one, share it with him. He would love to bring it to life.
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