Desert Vipers secured their maiden International League T20 (ILT20) title on January 04, but the historic victory was marked by a heated confrontation between Pakistan pace sensation Naseem Shah and MI Emirates captain Kieron Pollard. The incident, which occurred during the high-stakes final at the Dubai International Stadium, has since gone viral on social media.Ā Kieron Pollard Gets Angry at Pakistan Spinner Usman Tariq During Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates ILT20 2025-26 Qualifier 1.

A Fiery 11th Over

The flashpoint took place during the 11th over of the MI Emirates chase. After Pollard safely defended a delivery back to the bowler, Naseem Shah appeared to mock the veteran West Indian with a smirk and a pointed stare.

Pollard, renowned for his competitive nature, took immediate offence to the gesture. The former West Indies captain charged towards the young fast bowler to voice his displeasure, leading to a tense face-to-face stand-off in the middle of the pitch.

Umpires Step In

As the verbal exchange intensified, on-field umpires and several teammates, including Vipersā€™ opener Jason Roy, were forced to intervene. The officials acted quickly to separate the two players before the situation could escalate further.

While tempers eventually cooled, the high-voltage drama added a layer of intensity to the contest. Footage of the argument quickly began circulating online, with fans highlighting the contrast between the young pacer's aggression and the veteran's seasoned temperament.

Watch Video of Naseem Shah and Kieron Pollard's Heated Banter

Naseem Shah Settles the Score

Despite the distraction, Naseem Shah maintained his composure to deliver a match-winning spell. He ultimately settled the rivalry in cricketing terms by dismissing Pollard in the 17th over.

Attempting to clear the boundary, Pollard miscued a pull shot and was caught at deep mid-wicket for 28. Naseem finished with clinical figures of 3 for 18, ensuring the Emirates chase never regained momentum.

Vipers Secure Maiden ILT20 Crown

The Vipersā€™ victory was built on a formidable total of 182-4, anchored by an unbeaten 74 from captain Sam Curran. The 46-run win marks a significant milestone for the franchise, which had finished as runners-up in two previous editions of the tournament.

Speaking in the post-match presentation, Naseem downplayed the incident, attributing the friction to the unique pressure of a championship final. The victory caps off a dominant season for the Vipers, who were the most consistent side throughout the 2025-26 campaign.

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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 05, 2026 12:17 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).