Key match-ups, analysis, form, team news, weather forecast, tickets, TV and streaming information, odds, predictions and more ahead of the latest encounter in the 2023 ILT20
Gulf Giants take on MI Emirates in the Qualifier 2 match in the ILT20 2023 playoffs.
Start of play is scheduled for 6pm local time (2pm GMT) on Friday, February 10.
The game was be played at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai.
Gulf Giants and MI Emirates are faced with the last hurdle between themselves and the inaugural ILT20 final.
Desert Vipers await the victor in Sunday's final in Dubai.
The Giants dropped into Qualifier 2 after losing to Vipers by 19 runs on Wednesday (February 8)
MI overcame Dubai Capitals by eight wickets in the Eliminator to keep alive their title hopes.
During the regular season, Giants won their only completed meeting (the first was lost to rain) by five wickets after MI were bowled out for 139.
Chris Jordan was part of England's World Cup-winning squad (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Nicholas Pooran comes into the match in red-hot form after hitting a second half-century of the competition against Dubai Capitals.
Alongside Andre Fletcher, Pooran struck three fours and five fours to guide MI into Qualifier 2.
The tournament's leading wicket-taker Chris Jordan will be key to the Giants' hopes of progressing.
In the previous meeting between Giants and MI, Jordan delivered seven balls to Pooran, conceding two boundaries, three dots and two singles.
Wall-to-wall sunshine is expected in Dubai, with temperatures peaking around 19 degrees Celsius.
Liam Dawson, CP Rizwan and Gerhard Erasmus will be hoping for recalls to the Giants XI.
The key decision facing MI is whether to recall Imran Tahir. Replacement Zahoor Khan hasn't taken a wicket in his last two outings, returning 0 for 33 and 0 for 40 in successive matches against Dubai Capitals.
Gulf Giants: Shimron Hetmyer, Chris Jordan, Chris Lynn, Tom Banton, Dominic Drakes, David Wiese, Jamie Overton, Richard Gleeson, Rehan Ahmed, Liam Dawson, James Vince (c), Qais Ahmad, Ollie Pope, Aayan Khan, Sanchit Sharma, CP Rizwaan, Ashwant Valthapa, Tom Helm, Gerhard Erasmus
MI Emirates: Kieron Pollard (c), Dwayne Bravo, Nicholas Pooran, Trent Boult, Andre Fletcher, Imran Tahir, Samit Patel, Will Smeed, Jordan Thompson, Najibullah Zadran, Zahir Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Brad Wheal, Bas de Leede, Muhammad Waseem, Basil Hameed, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Craig Overton, Tom Lammonby, Dan Mousley, McKenny Clarke, Lorcan Tucker, Rashid Khan (from February 9)
*Squads are for the whole ILT20 and not specific to this match
Nicholas Pooran (ILT20)
Gulf Giants: Chris Lynn, Tom Banton, James Vince, Shimron Hetmyer, David Wiese, Carlos Brathwaite, Dominic Drakes, Colin de Grandhomme, Chris Jordan, Aayan Afzal Khan, Sanchit Sharma
MI Emirates: Muhammad Waseem, Andre Fletcher, Nicholas Pooran, Lorcan Tucker, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Zahir Khan, Trent Boult, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Zahoor Khan, Dan Mousley
MI Emirates are the marginal favourites with the bookmakers at 4/5. Gulf Giants are the slight outsiders at 10/11.
MI Emirates possess more lower-order power and with Trent Boult in good form should have the edge.
Tickets are available on Platinum List. Child tickets are available for just $2.81 while adult tickets start at $8.42.
ZEE have obtained the broadcast rights for the ILT20 on a long-term deal.
All 34 matches will be aired across the company's 10 linear channels, with coverage provided in more than 10 languages, including English, Hindi and Tamil, as well as on ZEE5 Global.
In the UK, Zee TV can be accessed via channel 709 on Sky and channel 809 on Virgin Media. Every match will also be available via BT Sport (TV/online/app) following a deal between the broadcaster and Zee.
Elsewhere in the world, the full tournament will be available via Zee Cinema (SD/HD), Zee Anmol Cinema, ZEE Thirai, Zee Bangla Cinema, Zee Zest (SD/HD), &Pictures, &Flix, and ZEE5.
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