The ceremony began with the UAE National Anthem performed by Emirati singer Ahmed Al Hosani, setting a proud and fitting tone for the occasion.
Ali Zafar delivered a high-energy performance featuring his biggest hits and fan favourites, before a dazzling National Day–themed fireworks display lit up the stadium.
Following the ceremony, focus shifted to the eagerly awaited season opener where defending champions Dubai Capitals will take on last season’s finalists Desert Vipers. The Vipers won the toss and elected to bowl first. The opening ball was bowled at 7 pm local time, officially starting the 34-match cricketing spectacle. After electing to bowl first, Noor Ahmad (2/25), David Payne (2/26), and Khuzaima Tanveer (2/35) each registered two-wicket hauls to hold the Capitals at 150/8.
In the run chase, Desert Vipers were comfortably ahead of the equation with openers Fakhar Zaman (26 off 15) and Andries Gous (58 off 36) putting on a quickfire 50-run stand. Zaman smashed two sixes and a four before he was dismissed by Mohammad Nabi in the fifth over – the first time Zaman has fallen to a spinner in the DP World ILT20. Gous was equally aggressive, carving three fours off Scott Currie as the Vipers finished the powerplay at 64/1.
Max Holden joined Gous as the duo put on a 35-run alliance in the span of 30 deliveries. The Vipers were cruising when Gulbadin Naib scalped Holden in the 10th over to leave the score at 85/2.
Gous eventually brought up his half-century in 32 balls, studded with six fours and two sixes, before he was dismissed by Waqar Salamkheil. Salamkheil followed up with the wicket of Sam Curran (7 off 10) to emerge as the pick of the Capitals attack.
Scot Currie chipped in with crucial late wickets, removing Shimron Hetmyer (7 off 6) and Hassan Nawaz (3 off 7), but the damage was done. Dan Lawrence (19* off 16) and Khuzaima Tanveer (12* off 8) took the Vipers home in 19 overs.
Audiences around the world can watch DP World ILT20 Season 4 live across leading broadcast and digital platforms. Coverage includes Z Network in India (&Pictures SD, Zee Cinema HD, Zee Action, Zee Thirai SD, Zee Cinemalu and OTT platform Zee5), Cricbuzz on STARZPLAY and Etisalat across MENA, Ariana in Afghanistan, T Sports in Bangladesh, Rush Sports in the Caribbean, Willow in North America, PTV Sports and Geo Super (TV) with Tamasha, Myco, and Tapmad (digital) in Pakistan, Dialog in Sri Lanka, and Sky Sports in the United Kingdom.
Additional international partners include Astro Sports (Southeast Asia), Fox Sports (Australia) and SuperSport (Africa). Viewers in the rest of the world can tune in via ILT20 Official (YouTube) and Sports Central.
