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This episode is a bumper edition.

First up, we hear from the Desert Vipers latest recruits, left-arm spinning all-rounder Aryan Lakra and leg-spinner Karthik Meiyappan, with the duo chosen by the franchise during the UAE player draft.

And then we check in with the Desert Vipers Sustainability Manager Ben Hardy-Jones to understand a bit more about why the side’s drive to reduce its carbon footprint is so important, both to the future of the game of cricket and the future of the planet. And Colin Munro, the Desert Vipers captain, also explains his perspective on the issue, in what is a fascinating chat on a very important subject.

It all adds up to a podcast that’s both varied and - we hope - thought-provoking!

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This time we’re in analytical mode. In our previous podcast we revealed the news that leg-spinner Karthik Meiyappan and left-arm spinner Aryan Lakra were drafted by the Vipers for season two of the tournament and so we thought that as both players are slow bowlers then who better to give us the inside track on them than the team’s very own spin bowling coach Carl Crowe. 

Carl joins us to chat about the duo, his role in working with them and what they can bring to the Vipers set-up in the coming season.

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It’s a special episode as we discuss the news that the Vipers have filled the last two slots for UAE players in their roster by picking up spin-bowling all-rounder Aryan Lakra and leg-spinner Karthik Meiyappan in the draft that took place on the morning of Friday October the 20th.

The pair join forces with the two UAE players that the Vipers retained from season one – off-spinning all-rounder Rohan Mustafa and seam-bowling all-rounder Ali Naseer – to complete the four spaces allocated to local talent in the squad list.

Karthik is only 23 years old but made headlines around the world last year when he became the first UAE player to take a hat-trick in T20 International cricket, doing so on the biggest stage of all, against Sri Lanka in the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia. And 21 year-old Aryan Lakra, who was also part of the UAE squad for that tournament, has already had captaincy experience, leading his country in the ICC U19 CWC in South Africa just prior to the COVID outbreak in 2020.

So the Vipers have signed two young players very much on the up and in this podcast we hear from Phil Oliver, the Desert Vipers CEO, who attended the draft, to get his thoughts on the signings…

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This time we speak with UAE off-spinning all-rounder Rohan Mustafa.

Rohan was retained by the Vipers, alongside another all-rounder Ali Naseer, and so he’s gearing up for season two very much with a spring in his step, looking forward to link up with plenty of familiar faces among the playing group, a handful of new signings and, of course, the coaching staff.

Rohan was a pivotal figure for the Vipers in the first edition of the tournament as he opened the batting in every match the side played, alongside England’s Alex Hales. He also contributing a few handy overs of spin when required and completed his all-round package with energy and brilliance in the field.

Rohan joined us for a chat off the back of the ILT20 Development Tournament where he captained the Thunderbolts side in the event designed to showcase local talent ahead of a draft involving UAE players. It’s worth reminding everyone that each team must have four domestic players in their squads, with two of those in the starting line-up for each game and so the Vipers are on the look-out for two more UAE players to add to their roster.

Coming up, Rohan gives us an insight into that ILT20 Development Tournament, looks back to season one and ahead to season two and, all in all, it’s a terrific chat.

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In this episode we speak with Vipers wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan.

Azam was due to join the Vipers for the first season but the necessary permissions didn’t come through so he and the Vipers have had to bide their time. Now all is in readiness for him to make his bow in the tournament and he can’t wait!

In our chat Azam gives us a terrific insight into how he has become one of the T20 franchise world’s most successful power-hitters, as well as talking about the role his father, the former Pakistan captain Moin, has played in his career.

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In this episode we speak with Vipers spin bowling coach Carl Crowe.

Carl’s role is to work with the slow-bowling talent within the franchise and in a fascinating interview he allows a peak behind the curtain at how he goes about his job, including his interactions with Wanindu Hasaranga, the Sri Lanka wrist spinner who was one of the few slow bowlers to enjoy concerted success in the first edition of the ILT20.

Carl also talks about why spin - Hasaranga apart - didn't have a great impact in season one of the tournament, and he looks ahead to working with Shadab Khan, the Pakistan leg-spinning all-rounder signed by the Vipers for the upcoming action.

This chat offers a great insight into the world of elite-level coaching.

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This time we have an interview with Netherlands all-rounder Bas de Leede.

Bas was with MI Emirates in season one of the DP World ILT20, but he has been snapped up by the Vipers for the second edition and arrives as one of the most exciting young talents in the game.

Bas is in India for the ICC Cricket World Cup, having played a key role in helping his country qualify for the tournament for the first time since 2011 and he gives us his thoughts on that, as well as his excitement at becoming a Viper, plus plenty more.

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This time we have an interview with Vipers Head Coach James Foster.

James is preparing to work with New Zealand at the Cricket World Cup in India in October and November but, ahead of that, he took the time to chat with us about his reflections on the first edition of the ILT20 when the Vipers finished as runners-up, as well as his work since then, the Vipers’ new signings for season two and plenty more besides.

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This time we speak with UAE all-rounder Ali Naseer who was one of the two local players retained by the Vipers from season one, alongside Rohan Mustafa.

Since the inaugural DP World ILT20 tournament it’s been a whirlwind year for Ali as he’s made his One-Day International and Twenty20 International debuts for the UAE as well as captaining his national side in an Asian Cricket Council tournament up against India and Pakistan’s A sides.

Ali walks us through all that’s happened to him during that time, as well as looking ahead to season two as the Vipers look to go one better than in February of this year when the team lost out in the final to the Gulf Giants.

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In this episode we speak with Desert Vipers seam bowling coach Azhar Mahmood, the former Pakistan all-rounder.

Azhar is fresh off a stint with the Oval Invincibles in the Men's Hundred in the UK, where the side won that tournament for the first time - a side including Desert Vipers players Tom Curran and Gus Atkinson, as well as Vipers Director of Cricket Tom Moody (Head Coach for the Oval Invincibles) and Strength and Conditioning Coach Darren Veness.

Azhar gives us chapter and verse on the Pakistan trio of Shaheen Shah Afraid, Shadab Khan and Azam Khan, all of whom he's worked with previously, as well as offering insights into Gus, Tom Curran and all the other bowlers he coached during season one of the DP World ILT20.

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