DP World ILT20 Season 3: Top Performers Claim Prestigious Belts

On February 10, 2025, the Dubai International Stadium witnessed the climax of the DP World ILT20 Season 3, where the Dubai Capitals emerged victorious against the Desert Vipers, securing a four-wicket win. This triumph not only brought them the championship trophy but also a substantial cash reward of $700,000.

The Vipers, as runners-up, were compensated with $300,000. In addition to these prizes, the tournament also awarded $15,000 to the season's standout players, recognizing them with its distinctive belts.

The awards for individual excellence highlighted the talents that shone throughout the tournament. Sam Curran, representing the Desert Vipers, was acknowledged as the Most Valuable Player, receiving the Red Belt for his exceptional all-around performance.

On the other hand, Shai Hope from the Dubai Capitals was celebrated as the season's Best Batter, awarded the Green Belt for his dominant batting displays. The White Belt for Best Bowler went to Fazalhaq Farooqi of MI Emirates, acknowledging his superiority with the ball. Lastly, Muhammad Waseem, also from MI Emirates, was honored with the Blue Belt as the Best UAE Player for the third year in a row, showcasing his consistent excellence among local talents.

The competition for the Red Belt saw a tight race between two exceptional players. Sam Curran's outstanding contributions, including a pivotal 62 runs in the final and a total of 387 runs along with seven wickets during the season, earned him the title. He narrowly surpassed Gulbadin Naib of the Dubai Capitals, who also had a remarkable season with 381 runs and 11 wickets, making the decision a close one.

In the contest for the Green Belt, Shai Hope's crucial innings in the final pushed him ahead of MI Emirates' Tom Banton, securing the title on the last day. Hope's 527 runs at an impressive average of 58.55 were just enough to edge past Banton's 493 runs, making both players the only ones to score centuries during the season, with Banton achieving the milestone twice.

The White Belt was dominantly claimed by Fazalhaq Farooqi, who took 21 wickets in eleven matches, including a record-breaking five-wicket haul for just 16 runs against the Dubai Capitals, marking the best bowling figures in the history of the DP World ILT20. He outperformed competitors like Jason Holder of Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, who also had a notable season with 17 wickets.

Mohammad Waseem's achievement of winning the Blue Belt as the Best UAE Player for a third consecutive season was a testament to his consistent performance, scoring 183 runs and hitting 13 sixes over 10 matches. He emerged victorious against contenders such as Muhammad Rohid Khan and Aayan Afzal Khan, who both took 10 wickets each throughout the season, showcasing the depth of talent in the UAE cricket scene.