Desert Vipers may leave ILT20; back-up may come from Saudi, Kuwait

Desert Vipers are likely to exit the ILT20, the UAE-based franchise T20 league. Owned by Lancer Capital which is promoted by Avram Glazer, the Vipers are understood to have conveyed their decision to leave the six-team league to the organisers a couple of days ago. Ironically enough, they are the defending champions, having won Season 4 in January this year.

The separation, which neither party has yet confirmed, is understood to stem from differences over the franchise fee and issues involving the business model. It is learnt that there was a dispute between the organisers and the franchise a couple of years ago, but the two sides gave themselves time to resolve their differences. However, two years on, the hatchet appears not to have been buried.

It is understood that US-based Paul Voigt, a key associate of Glazer, recently wrote to the organisers conveying the management's intention to exit. Voigt is also believed to have spoken to the owners of the other five franchises, informing them of the decision. A text message sent to Voigt did not elicit an immediate response. The ILT20 organisers could not be reached for immediate comment.

With players already signed and the coaching staff in place, the league must have a sixth team and the organisers will have to make alternative arrangements. Given their agreements with the Saudi Arabia Cricket Federation and Kuwait Cricket, finding a replacement may not be difficult. Incidentally, the Vipers are the only franchise with a non-Indian owner.

The bigger question is whether there is enough time to bring in a new owner. The league has been planning an expansion, and some of the interested parties could eventually be roped in, but time is a crucial factor for this season, if not going forward. Season 5 starts on November 22.

The ILT20 was Glazer's maiden foray into cricket. He also has stakes in Manchester United and an NFL team. The American business tycoon had also been linked with the IPL, with reports suggesting he was interested in buying Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). His interest in acquiring a team in The Hundred in England was also reported.

The development, of course, comes as a surprise. As recently as Tuesday (July 14), the Vipers had issued a media release about the team's preparations for the Guyana Global Super League, for which they had qualified by virtue of winning the ILT20 title. The Vipers were runners-up twice before winning the championship in 2026. The side is led by Sam Curran.

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