Gerhard Erasmus praises ILT20 for supporting associate players

In the inaugural edition of the DP World ILT20, the team that’s made people sit up and take notice has been the Gulf Giants. With some of the best numbers to back them up, playing the Giants is a daunting task, and Namibian captain Gerhard Erasmus has been among the stars of the campaign so far.

The all-rounder, who is playing in first T20 franchise tournament, scored a crucial half-century when the Giants defeated the Dubai Capitals in the first phase of the tournament.

“It has been a brilliant period so far with Gulf Giants, who have made me feel at home since I joined the squad. The set-up all-round has been excellent and enjoyable as well. They’ve put in place a system where you can thrive and concentrate on producing your best cricket. Our campaign so far showcased what the Adani’s and the team is all about,” Erasmus said.

At the ILT20, a standout aspect is the fact that all team XIs are required to have a couple of players, at least, from associate nations.

And undoubtedly, Erasmus is quite happy about that.

“There’s long been a push for the development of associate cricket around the world, and this is a great initiative from the ILT20 to bring in that rule. The associate players continuously yearn for opportunities like this, and are also showing that they can hold their own in such situations as well. It has been a phenomenal experience. I don’t think associate cricket has been in a better place than the last couple of years,” he added.

"That, for one I think has been what has stood out for me about the Gulf Giants’. What they've set up is really an environment for the players to do it themselves and to go out and express themselves.”