Tanish Suri

Ayan's inclusion is a tremendous achievement for the 17-year-old batter and also a source of pride for the Vipers, given Ayan's participation in the Talent Pathway programme.

Also in the UAE squad, a fast bowler, Kuzema Bintanvir, Such a key player for the Vipers in the title-winning DP World ILT20 Season 4 and former Vipers Ali Nasir and Tanish Suri.

The auction ahead of Season 5 takes place on Thursday 1st October in Dubai and we'll be here on Vipers Voices afterwards with all the reaction to the bidding and with details of who the Vipers will have in their squad as the franchise attempts to become the first team to defend the DP World ILT20 title.

Thank you.

The Vipers had battled so hard to reach the final, winning two matches they might ordinarily have expected to lose against Dubai Capitals and Sharjah Warriors, and they carried that never-say-die attitude into the field once more.

Qusaay Mahboob Tanveer struck with the very first ball of the innings, a caught and bowled to dismiss the Giants impact sub, Tanish Suri, and they reduced the Giants to 15 for 3, 48 for 4, 76 for 5 and 89 for 6.

But the Giants always had in the back of their minds the fact that they weren't chasing a massive score, so they had scope to consolidate, and that's exactly what Soheb Khan with an unbeaten 30 and Junaid Shams with 29 not out did.

They added an unbeaten 55 for the seventh wicket and got the Giants home with eight balls in hand.