Naseem vs Pollard Moment Sparks Fire in ILT20 Final

The ILT20 final had everything a title clash promises, and then came a moment that cut through it all. Naseem Shah and Kieron Pollard locked eyes, exchanged words, and briefly turned the spotlight away from the trophy and onto themselves.

It unfolded midway through MI Emirates’ chase at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, a venue used to big moments but rarely raw confrontations.

Tempers Flare In The Middle

The flashpoint arrived in the 11th over, where Naseem hit the pitch hard, and Pollard pushed the ball back down the track. Nothing unusual there, but what followed changed the mood instantly. Naseem picked up the ball, smiled, and lingered, which Pollard did not like, and then the words followed, loud ones.

Pollard’s frustration was visible, shoulders squared, eyes fixed. Naseem responded, calm on the surface but clearly unwilling to back away. Umpires moved in, and Jason Roy also stepped across, easing bodies apart before it went further. 

Naseem Answers With The Ball

Moments like that can tilt a game, one way or the other, and Naseem made sure it tilted his way. When he returned in the 16th over, there was no smile this time. First ball, Pollard gone, which is a short stay ended at 28 from 28 balls, and from there, MI Emirates never recovered their footing.

Vipers Seize Control

Batting first, Desert Vipers posted 182 for 4, in which Sam Curran led the way with an unbeaten 74 off 51, built on control and timing.

Max Holden added stability with 41, while Fakhar Zaman provided early momentum. Dan Lawrence finished the job late, ensuring the total carried weight.

Discipline Seals The Title

Shakib Al Hasan fought with 36, and Muhammad Waseem injected brief hope. Pollard’s presence promised more than it delivered.

Naseem and David Payne tore through the middle order, three wickets each, backed up smartly by Khuzaima Tanveer and Usman Tariq, and MI Emirates folded for 136 in 18.3 overs.

For Curran and his side, it marked a breakthrough, and for Naseem, it was a night that showcased more than speed. It showed edge, control, and an ability to respond when things get personal.

The ILT20 final will be remembered for the trophy and a brief fiery exchange that showed how quickly tension can erupt on the biggest stage.