GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Nov 2, CMC – The Desert Vipers have launched their latest Sustainability Match kit at the Global Biodiversity Alliance (GBA) Conference in Guyana, reinforcing the franchise’s position as the first sports organisation to sign up to the alliance.
The kit was unveiled by West Indies and Desert Vipers batting star Shimron Hetmyer, who also presented Guyana President H.E. Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali with a signed jersey and bat in recognition of the country’s support for the Vipers becoming the 133rd GBA signatory and the first sports team to join.
The launch took place before a cross-section of sustainability leaders, including heads of state, government ministers, development bank representatives, scientists and indigenous leaders, giving the Vipers a prominent platform to showcase their environmental message.
Made entirely from recycled materials, the kit will be worn by the players in the Season 5 Sustainability Match against the Dubai Capitals on December 6.
It features the updated Global Biodiversity Stripes, created by Professor Miles Richardson of the University of Derby using Living Planet Index data maintained by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
The design illustrates the decline in global biodiversity since 1970.
Desert Vipers CEO Phil Oliver said the franchise remains committed to reducing its carbon footprint and raising awareness of how sports teams can operate sustainably.
“I’m delighted that the Desert Vipers will once again be putting nature front and centre at our Sustainability Match during Season 5 of DP World ILT20 by wearing the updated Global Biodiversity Stripes on our kit,” Oliver said.
“Through the message that Without Nature, There Is No Sport, we hope to inspire the millions of fans watching our match and following on social media to support the team by taking action in their own way to protect and restore nature.”
Professor Richardson welcomed the Vipers’ continued partnership, saying the team was helping bring one of the world’s most important environmental stories to new audiences.
“By wearing the updated Biodiversity Stripes, they’re helping bring one of the world’s most important environmental stories to new audiences and showing how sport can inspire action for nature,” he said. “It’s wonderful to see the Desert Vipers continue this journey, helping transform global biodiversity data into a message that people can see, wear and talk about.”
The stripes first appeared on the Vipers’ Sustainability Match kit in Season 4. This year’s version uses the latest data from WWF and ZSL’s Living Planet Report, which highlights that nature can recover where efforts are made to protect and restore it.
On the back of the jersey, the stripes rise from grey to green, carrying a message of hope.
The Vipers will continue to promote the theme “Without Nature, There Is No Sport.”
The kit launch was followed by the start of the Styrex Boundary BioBlitz on November 1, supported by Bluewater Group and delivered by Nature Wave.
Over 20 days, events in Guyana, India and the United Arab Emirates will connect cricket fans with nature beyond the boundary, exploring wildlife in the zone between ocean and land.
The campaign encourages fans to record species in their own surroundings while building awareness of biodiversity and the importance of protecting and restoring nature.
To date, the Vipers’ BioBlitz campaigns have involved 333 participants, recorded 1,344 species through 3,875 observations, and delivered a social value of AED 0.62 million.
CMC la/26