Ahmed Raza Highlights Impact Of DP World ILT20 Development Tournament On UAE Cricket

Ahmed Raza, the coach of Dubai Capitals, has articulated the significant impact of the DP World ILT20 Development Tournament on UAE cricket, transforming it into an international contender. He underscored the importance of this event as it paves the way for local talents to shine, especially with the introduction of an auction format for the first time in the league's fourth season.

Raza expressed his anticipation for the tournament, highlighting its critical role in the cricket calendar. "This is one of the most awaited domestic tournaments in our calendar. Each and every player looks forward to it because this is a platform that is given to all the players to showcase their skills and put their best foot forward for the ILT20 auction this year, which is the first of its kind in the DP World ILT20," he stated, emphasizing the eagerness of players to participate and make a mark.

The Development Tournament has historically been a fertile ground for discovering cricketing talent, with players like Jawadullah and Haider Ali, who have significantly contributed to the UAE national team's success. Raza recalled, "If you speak about the past of this tournament, Jawadullah, Haider Ali have all been best performers of this tournament. We drafted both of them, and now the UAE national team is reaping rewards. He was the player of the match in the series decider against Bangladesh." This track record showcases the tournament's effectiveness in nurturing players who go on to excel at higher levels.

The DP World ILT20 ecosystem has been instrumental in elevating UAE cricket to new heights, according to Raza. He credited the league for the national team's recent victories, including their historic win against New Zealand. "You have to give credit to DP World ILT20 how that tournament has given a platform and how this tournament has taken players to the bigger stage, and from there, they are serving the UAE. We had victories over Afghanistan, a notable victory against New Zealand, our very first for the UAE men's team, and then recently we won a series against a full member like Bangladesh in Asian conditions. I think that is something that was unheard of," he remarked, highlighting the league's role in these achievements.

Participation in the DP World ILT20 offers players an invaluable experience, sharing the field with international stars. Raza noted the profound influence this has on player development: "When you get the platform like DP World ILT20, where you're sharing your dressing rooms with Sam Billings, David Warner, Fakhar Zaman, I can name so many like that. Even if you're sharing that space for close to 50 days or close to two months, you always come out as a better player. And when those players come out to play for UAE, you see the difference."

The Dubai Capitals coach also pointed out emerging talents such as Siyam Khan and Israr Ahmed, predicting their potential impact in the upcoming tournament. "Siyam Khan looks a great prospect. A bit of slingy action with the ball, going back to Malinga days. And all-rounders, I would say Israr Ahmed and Mohammed Irfan," Raza identified, showcasing the depth of emerging talent within the UAE.

Raza's commitment to nurturing local talent has been a consistent theme, with the Dubai Capitals focusing on integrating UAE players into their squad. "For us, our focus has always been on developing players. We are one team, and we've had the maximum number of UAE players in each preceding season. And this year, we're not going to do any different. We're going to keep getting that number higher," he declared, underscoring the franchise's dedication to development.

Reflecting on the team's past success, Raza recalled the pivotal role of local talents like Farhan and Haider Ali in securing the championship. "If you look at the final as well, Farhan and Haider Ali, both local talents, both had a wonderful day. And we eventually were the champions. Haider especially is a product of the DP World ILT20, in his T20I debut series – UAE vs Bangladesh, May 2025 – he went on to claim the player of the match in the series decider, which speaks volumes about his temperament and skill and how the platform of the league helped him become a confident performer at such a young stage of his international career," he recounted.

With the tournament on the horizon, Raza is optimistic about the competitive landscape and the influx of talent. "I think all the teams are stacking up really nicely. Obviously, coming into a different window this year, a lot of other names have come forward. And I think this tournament is going to be full of superstars. We had great crowds last year; we are expecting to get it even better. Great numbers on television," he anticipated, looking forward to the heightened excitement and spectator engagement.