International League T20
 | |
| Administrator | Emirates Cricket Board |
|---|---|
| Format | Twenty20 |
| First edition | 2023 |
| Latest edition | 2025–26 |
| Tournament format | Round-robin and playoffs |
| Number of teams | 6 |
| Current champion | Desert Vipers (1st title) |
| Most successful | Gulf Giants MI Emirates Dubai Capitals Desert Vipers (1 title each) |
| Most runs | James Vince (1,156) |
| Most wickets | Fazalhaq Farooqi (50) |
| Website | www |
The International League T20 (ILT20) is a professional T20 cricket league held in the United Arab Emirates. The competition is sanctioned by the Emirates Cricket Board and features six franchise teams. The Gulf Giants won the inaugural season in 2023, followed by MI Emirates in 2024, Dubai Capitals in 2025, and the Desert Vipers in the 2026 season.[1][2]
The ILT20 allows a higher number of overseas players than most T20 leagues, with up to nine overseas players permitted in a playing XI.[3] Each team must also include at least one player from the UAE and one player from an Associate Member nation in the playing XI.[4]
History
[edit]The league was officially announced by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) in June 2022 as a professional Twenty20 franchise league based in the United Arab Emirates. The league was initially planned to begin in early 2023, with its first season window announced in June 2022.[5] However, due to scheduling conflicts and organisational preparations, the inaugural edition was later rescheduled and eventually held from 13 January to 12 February 2023.[6]
The league was created with the aim of establishing a world-class T20 tournament and positioning the UAE as a major destination on the global cricket calendar. The tournament featured six city-based franchises, several of which were owned by companies that also own teams in other major leagues such as the Indian Premier League, including ownership links to Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Delhi Capitals.
The ILT20 adopted a distinctive squad composition policy, allowing teams to field up to nine overseas players in a playing XI, significantly higher than most other franchise leagues. To support domestic cricket development, each team was required to include at least two UAE players in their squad.
Although the tournament initially did not have official status because the Emirates Cricket Board is an Associate member of the International Cricket Council, the ILT20 became the first Associate member–run franchise league to be granted List A status by the ICC in December 2023.[7] As a result, all matches and player statistics are officially recognised.
The inaugural season was won by Gulf Giants, who defeated Desert Vipers in the final.
2023 (1st edition)
[edit]2024 (2nd edition)
[edit]The second edition of the tournament will kick off on 19 January and end on 17 February.[8][9]
The first 2 seasons accumulated 340 Million views globally. 108 million people tuned in from across India even though attendance was low.[10] The second ILT20 season was won by MI Emirates defeated Dubai Capitals by 45 runs to win the title.
2025 (3rd edition)
[edit]2025–26 (4th edition)
[edit]The fourth season of the International League T20 (ILT20) began on 2 December 2025, earlier than usual to avoid a clash with the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup in February. The tournament will conclude on 4 January 2026.[11]
For the 2025–26 season, the ILT20 adopted a player auction format for the first time, replacing the draft system used in previous years. The auction is scheduled to take place in Dubai on 1 October 2025. Each team had already made retentions and direct signings earlier in the year, and was allowed to spend up to USD 800,000 during the auction, with an overall squad budget ranging from USD 1.5 million to USD 2 million.[12]
Organisation
[edit]Trophy
[edit]The ILT20 Trophy was designed and made by London-based silversmiths Thomas Lyte.[13] Unveiled in October 2022, the trophy's design is intended to reflect the spirit of the league and the heritage and culture of the UAE. The trophy measures 830mm in height, directly proportional to the 830m Burj Khalifa.[14] The falcon is the UAE’s national bird, and its teardrop shape makes up the trophy’s form, while the seven Emirates that make up the UAE form a seven-pointed crown. Inspired by the shape of the sands of Tel Moreeb, the finial sits on top of the trophy holding a cricket ball.
Teams
[edit]| Team | Captain | Owner | Head coach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (Abu Dhabi) | Jason Holder | Knight Riders Group | Dwayne Bravo |
| Desert Vipers (Sharjah) | Sam Curran | Lancer Capital LLC | James Foster |
| Dubai Capitals (Dubai) | Dasun Shanaka | GMR Group | Hemang Badani |
| Gulf Giants (Dubai) | James Vince | Adani Group | Jonathan Trott |
| MI Emirates (Abu Dhabi) | Kieron Pollard | Reliance Industries | Robin Singh |
| Sharjah Warriorz (Sharjah) | Tim Southee | Capri Global Holdings | JP Duminy |
Tournament results
[edit]| Season | Final venue | Winners | Result | Runners-up | No. of teams | Player of the series |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai | Gulf Giants 149/3 (18.4 overs) |
Gulf Giants won by 7 wickets Scorecard |
Desert Vipers 146/8 (20 overs) |
6 | Chris Jordan (GG) |
| 2024 | MI Emirates 208/3 (20 overs) |
MI Emirates won by 45 runs Scorecard |
Dubai Capitals 163/7 (20 overs) |
Sikandar Raza (DC) | ||
| 2025 | Dubai Capitals 191/6 (19.2 overs) |
Dubai Capitals won by 4 wickets Scorecard |
Desert Vipers 189/5 (20 overs) |
Sam Curran (DV) | ||
| 2025–26 | Desert Vipers 182/4 (20 overs) |
Desert Vipers won by 46 runs Scorecard |
MI Emirates 136 (18.3 overs) |
Grounds
[edit]
| Dubai | Sharjah | Abu Dhabi |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai International Cricket Stadium | Sharjah Cricket Stadium | Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium |
| Capacity: 25,000 | Capacity: 16,000 | Capacity: 20,000 |
|
|
|
Teams' performances
[edit]| Season | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2025–26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | 6th | 4th | 6th | 3rd |
| Dubai Capitals | 4th | RU | C | 4th |
| Desert Vipers | RU | 5th | RU | C |
| Gulf Giants | C | 3rd | 5th | 5th |
| MI Emirates | 3rd | C | 4th | RU |
| Sharjah Warriorz | 5th | 6th | 3rd | 6th |
- Champions
- Runners Up
Rules
[edit]The ILT20 has a number of rules which vary from the established Laws of cricket or those used in other Twenty20 leagues:
- Nine out of eleven players on each team can be overseas players,[15] which will be significantly higher than the four or five overseas-player-limit of other major T20 leagues.[16] Two players on each team must be a UAE player and a player from an Associate Member nation respectively.[15]
- Teams can use a substitute, termed a "Super Sub", from a list of Seven players named as possible substitutes. The substitution can be made before the start of innings, when a wicket falls, when a batter retires, or at the end of an over. Both teams can introduce a substitute once per match.
Controversy
[edit]There has been some controversy around the ILT20's plan to only require one local (UAE) player in the playing XI of each team, with several Full Members calling for regulations requiring a higher minimum number of local players in the ILT20 and other T20 leagues.[17] Attendance was low due to lack of participation of Indian cricketers.[18]
Records and Statistics
[edit]| Batting | ||
|---|---|---|
| Most runs | Alex Hales (DV) | 1,156 |
| Highest score | Alex Hales (DV) | 110 (59) vs Knight Riders (20 January 2023) |
| Highest partnership | Andre Fletcher & Tom Banton (MIE) | 198 vs (Vipers) (27 January 2025) |
| Bowling | ||
| Most wickets | Fazalhaq Farooqi (MIE) | 50 |
| Fielding | ||
| Most dismissals (wicket-keeper) | Nicholas Pooran (MIE) | 25 |
| Most catches (fielder) | Muhammad Waseem (MIE) | 20 |
| Team records | ||
| Highest total | MI Emirates | 241/3 (20) vs Vipers (29 January 2023) |
| Lowest total | Sharjah Warriors | 74 (12.1) vs Emirates (26 January 2024) |
| Desert Vipers | 74 (12.3) vs Emirates (27 January 2025) | |
- As of 14 February 2025
Broadcasters
[edit]In May 2021, Essel Group owned Zee Entertainment Enterprises bought the media rights of this league for ten years from 2023 to 2032 at a cost of US$120 million.[19][20] (Also see approx. $10.2 million a year). The events are attended by international celebrities and cricket legends every year.
| Territory/Region | Channel |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Ariana Television |
| Australia | Fox Cricket |
| Bangladesh | Nagorik TV T Sports Toffee[21] |
| Caribbean | Rush Sports |
| India | Zee (various channels) |
| Maldives | Medianet |
| Middle East and North Africa | Abu Dhabi Sports Dubai Sports |
| Nepal | Styx Sports Sim TV Nepal Net TV Nepal |
| New Zealand | Sky Sports NZ |
| Pakistan | TAPMAD PTV Sports Geo Super A Sports |
| Sri Lanka | &flix Supreme TV |
| UAE | Abu Dhabi Sports TV Dubai Sports TV Myco |
| United Kingdom | BT Sport Zee TV Sky Sports |
| North America | Willow TV |
- Source: ILT20[22]
References
[edit]- ^ Sagar Singh @thesagar75. "KKR, Mumbai Indians set to become franchise owners in UAE-based Premier League T20". ESPN Cricinfo.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Sagar Singh Chauhan. "UAE's Premier League T20 sets dates and unveils tournament logo". Emirates Cricket Board.
- ^ "UAE T20 league sets $450,000 contract for top players". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
- ^ Laghate, Gaurav. "ZEE signs exclusive media rights deal for Emirates Cricket Board's UAE T20 League". The Economic Times. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
- ^ SAGAR Singh Chauhan. "UAE T20 league announces early-2023 window, set for clash of dates with BBL, BPL and CSA league". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
- ^ "Flush With Cash And Influential Backing, The UAE's New T20 League Is Set To Shake Up Cricket Globally". Forbes.
- ^ SAGAR Singh Chauhan. "ILT20 becomes first Associate-run franchise league to get 'official' List-A status". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
- ^ SAGAR Singh Chauhan. "DP World ILT20 Season 2 to be played between 19 January to 18 February 2024". ilt20.ae. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- ^ SAGAR Singh Chauhan. "Gulf Giants, Sharjah Warriors to play ILT20 opener on January 19". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ^ "ILT20 Achieves New Milestone: Clocks over 10-crore reach and 2.8 billion minutes across ZEE's 10 linear channels in the first 9 LIVE matches". Zee Business. 27 January 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
- ^ "DP World International League T20 Season 4 to begin with blockbuster clash between defending champions Dubai Capitals and Desert Vipers". ilt20.ae. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
- ^ "All you need to know about the DP World ILT20 Season 4 Player Auction". ilt20.ae. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
- ^ "DP World ILT20 Trophy". www.ilt20.ae. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
- ^ "ILT20 Awards: Trophy, Belts, and Pendants Redefining Cricket Accolades". 6 January 2025. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
- ^ a b "UAE T20 league sets $450,000 contract for top players". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
- ^ Laghate, Gaurav. "ZEE signs exclusive media rights deal for Emirates Cricket Board's UAE T20 League". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
- ^ "Full Members concerned over idea of nine overseas players per XI in UAE league". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ Priya (19 January 2023). "Participants in ILT20 are positive about the league". SportsUnfold. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
- ^ Pinto, Viveat Susan (24 May 2022). "Zee re-enters sports broadcasting, picks up media rights for UAE T20 League". Business Standard India. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
- ^ SAGAR Singh Chauhan (24 May 2022). "Zee bags media rights for UAE T20 league globally". Business Line. The Hindu. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
- ^ "Toffee exclusively livestreaming International League T20".
- ^ SAGAR Singh Chauhan (13 January 2023). "ILT20 Broadcasting Channels and Live Streaming Details 2023". Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
External links
[edit]- International League T20 official website Archived 13 January 2023 at the Wayback Machine
- International League T20
- Series home at ESPNcricinfo