Desert T20 was great showcase but the Dutch must improve

Tim Wagmore's regular look at the game below the Test-playing nations, with the Desert T20 final the talk of the week.

- Tim Wigmore

Almost all of the 18,000 packed into the Dubai International Cricket Stadium were left jubilant. They had come for the final in the hope of witnessing Afghanistan win the Desert T20. Never did there look any chance of the raucous fans being left disappointed: Afghanistan bowled Ireland out for 71, and then cruised to a 10-wicket win, sparking pandemonium. It amounted to a thrilling finale to the inaugural Desert T20.

Given some significant limitations – the late notice of the tournament; the absence of TV coverage or live streaming because of the nature of the ICC’s commercial rights deal; and the absence of any Full Members, after Bangladesh and Zimbabwe predictably declined to take part – the first edition of the Desert T20 could hardly have gone better.

The cricket was competitive, high in standard and often thrilling. The compact nature of the event – all over and done in a week – meant there were no dead games. Some moments – most notably Najibullah Zadran’s astonishing scythe through the offside for four, hit at the moment as he was falling to the floor, after losing his balance – went viral on social media. It was an advert for all that is best about Associate cricket.

The Desert T20 now seems certain to become an annual event, and can go some way to helping Associates suffering from a crippling lack of cricket. Next time it should be even better.