iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
The three-match series, the first bilateral between the neighbours, will be played in Sharjah on March 24, 26 and 27
KT APPDOWNLOAD
DP World ILT20: I can’t wait to call Sharjah home, says Malan
The batsman, a member of the England World T20 winning squad, weighs the excitement of teaming up with Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes again for Sharjah Warriors’ inaugural ILT20 campaign
England's Dawid Malan. — AFP
England batsman Dawid Malan is gearing up for the inaugural DP World ILT20 tournament with Sharjah Warriors.
The ILT20 will be held from January 13 to February 12, 2023. England all-rounder Moeen Ali will captain the Sharjah Warriors side that will be mentored by compatriot and former national team assistant coach Paul Farbrace.
Malan agreed to an interview, fresh after being part of the ICC World T20 winning team in Australia. The left-hander missed out on the last stages of the tournament with a groin injury. Though he returned to fitness in time for the final, he did not feature in the playing XI.
Here are the excerpts from the batsman who is currently ranked sixth in the ICC T20 rankings:
How excited are you playing for Sharjah Warriors at one of the most iconic venues as your home ground?
It is awesome to be part of a team which associates with one of world cricket’s historic places and a fantastic cricketing venue. Like everybody, I am looking forward to the start of the ILT20 and playing at the world-class facilities here.
How do you see playing under a familiar captain like Moeen Ali and England teammates and how do you rate your chances of winning the ILT20?
It is brilliant to be playing with Moeen, and that him and Farbs (coach Paul Farbrace) will be running the show. I am sure they will get the best of us. It is always fun to play with fellow players you know. It puts you at ease quite easily and it just allows you to express yourself and play with freedom which is how you want it to be with the franchise.
Evin is one of the best players in the world. I thoroughly enjoy watching him play and I am looking forward to pick his brains and learn from him and the way he goes about with his stuff. With Tom, I have played with him at Yorkshire for three years now. He is a fantastic talent and it is great to hook up back with him.
The year 2022 has been good for you in the T20 format. Is it coming of age or is there any secret formula?
I would say the year of 2022 has been okay. I guess the older you get, the more rub and experience helps you grow. I have learnt to accept more failures and it helps you to become a better player. Hopefully all that it counts if I can contribute for Sharjah Warriors, and we get to lift the trophy at the end.
You have played a bit in the UAE, including two T20 internationals each in Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, at the delayed 2020 ICC T20 World Cup last year. What is your reading of the venues based on that experience?
I have also been fortunate to play in the Pakistan Super League, some matches for the Lions (England and Wales’ second-tier team) and couple of MCC tour games. So I have played quite a few games in the UAE and the conditions here. The pitches here are really good to bat on. When the ILT20 starts they will be nice and hard to bat on, but later as the tournament goes on they can obviously become slower and low. And that is the challenge of franchise tournaments, to adapt to it quickly on what you have to do on each day.
UAE is going to house numerous superstars as the ILT20 is about to start. Your thoughts on the league?
Indeed, everyone in the fraternity is looking forward to the UAE's own league. In the past, the UAE has been a neutral ground for many a bilateral series and ICC tournaments. The facilities are top class. It was about time that this place gets a league of its own. We have been coming here in the past. Even the IPL has been held here now a couple of times. So getting all the big names here can only be good for cricket and hopefully we can bring cheer to the supporters, we are only happy to be a part of it.
More news from Sports
It is Perez's second career pole and second in Saudi Arabia, while Verstappen will start from 15th
Qalandars had also defeated Sultans in last year's final
Fresh from his five-goal salvo against RB Leipzig in midweek, the Norwegian forward proved insatiable again to demolish the Championship leaders at The Etihad Stadium
Leeds boosted its survival hopes with a 4-2 win at Wolves
He is evidently still finding his feet in ODIs and has gone without a fifty in all five ODIs this year
Barca has been charged with corruption by Spanish prosecutors for payments between 2001 and 2018 to the company of former refereeing chief Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, totalling around $7.8 million
The U.S. currently bars unvaccinated foreigners from entry into the country, a policy that is expected to be lifted when the government ends its Covid-19 emergency declarations on May 11