Top performers of T20 World Cup 2022 set to light up inaugural edition of ILT20

• Exceptional performances by some of the world’s most sought after T20 players set the tone for a thrilling opening season
• The franchise-style tournament - International League T20 - boasting of six teams and 34 matches to be played across the UAE - will make its debut in January 2023

UAE, Dubai, Friday 25 November, 2022: A number of players, who will turn up for their respective franchises in the inaugural International League T20 in the UAE in January next year, made their mark in the world's recently played marquee T20 tournament - the ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

Alex Hales, who was adjudged the player of the match for his blistering knock of 86* runs off 47 balls against India in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup semi-final, will be seen dazzling the crowds in the Desert Vipers jersey in the first edition of the ILT20.                              

Hales' T20 World Cup-winning teammates Moeen Ali (Sharjah Warriors), Chris Jordan (Gulf Giants), Dawid Malan (Sharjah Warriors) and Chris Woakes (Sharjah Warriors) will also set the stage on fire in the ILT20. Fast bowler Jordan picked up figures of 2/27 to help England defeat Pakistan in the MCG tournament finale.

Speaking about playing in the ILT20, Woakes said, "I am delighted to be a part of the Sharjah Warriors in the ILT20. I can't wait to get going. This is an exciting time for our team and the league."

Meanwhile, Malan expressed, "I am looking forward to play for the Sharjah Warriors in the ILT20. It's all happening in the UAE."

New Zealand's premier speedster Trent Boult, who will be wearing the MI Emirates jersey in the ILT20, helped his country reach another ICC Men's T20 World Cup semi-final with eight wickets in five matches at an excellent average of 18.5.   

The captain of the Afghanistan team at the prestigious ICC Men's T20 World Cup, Mohammad Nabi will look to dazzle the crowd with his tremendous all-round skills when he appears for the Sharjah Warriors in the ILT20. Nabi will be joined by his compatriots Naveen-ul-Haq and Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the Warriors side.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan players Fazal Haq Farooqi & Najibullah Zadran will be playing for the MI Emirates and Mujeeb Ur Rahman & Hazratullah Zazai will showcase their talent for the Dubai Capitals. 

Netherlands' all-rounder Bas de Leede, who chipped in with figures of 2/25 in his team's famous win over South Africa, will turn up for the MI Emirates. Meanwhile, Leede's Netherlands teammates Frederick Klaassen and Brandon Glover will be seen in the Dubai Capitals and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders sides respectively.

The first edition of the ILT20 will also see a number of players from the Caribbean, who represented the West Indies in the tournament. Akeal Hosein and Raymon Reifer will feature in the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, while Rovman Powell, Evin Lewis, Sheldon Cottrell and Nicholas Pooran will turn up for Dubai Capitals, Sharjah Warriors, Desert Vipers and MI Emirates respectively.

A number of players, who represented Sri Lanka at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, will also display their T20 pedigree at the ILT20. Dushmantha Chameera, Sri Lankan Captain Dasun Shanaka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa will appear for the Dubai Capitals, while Wanindu Hasaranga and Charith Asalanka will play for Desert Vipers and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders respectively.

The ILT20 will also witness participation from Zimbabwe, Namibia, Scotland and Ireland. Zimbabwean players include Blessing Muzarabani and Sikandar Raza, both have been included in the Dubai Capitals’ squad.  Namibian players include Jonathan Smit (Sharjah Warriors), Ruben Trumpelmann (Desert Vipers) and David Wiese (Gulf Giants).

The highly experienced Irish all-rounder Paul Stirling will be playing for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, meanwhile, the Scottish players include George Munsey (Dubai Capitals) and Brad Wheal (MI Emirates).

Speaking about the talent converging on the UAE from all corners of the globe, Mubashshir Usmani, General Secretary, Emirates Cricket Board (can we please use his ILT20 title here) said, "The fact that a number of players, who will take part in the ILT20, performed brilliantly at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, shows the strength of the player pool at the ILT20. I am certain that the players will entertain the cricket fans when they play for their ILT20 teams as well. We, league management and our stakeholders, can't wait for the tournament to begin."

Making its debut in January (2023), the inaugural ILT20, which has received multi-year ICC approval, will be played in a 34-match format across the UAE’s exemplary, world-class cricket facilities in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

Cricket fans across the world can catch the LIVE telecast of this exciting cricket league on ZEE’s linear channels, digital platform, Zee5 as well as Zee Cinema SD, Zee Cinema HD, Zee Anmol Cinema, &Pictures HD, &Flix SD, &Flix HD, Zee Zest SD, Zee Zest HD, Zee Bangla Cinema and Zee Thirai. 

Franchise teams, comprising 84 International and 24 UAE-based players, include Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (Kolkata Knight Riders), Desert Vipers (Lancer Capital), Dubai Capitals (GMR), Gulf Giants (Adani Sportsline), MI Emirates (Reliance Industries), and Sharjah Warriors (Capri Global). 

ILT20 news, updates and interactive chat can be found via www.ilt20.ae and @ILT20Official on facebook, twitter, instagram, tiktok, snap chat and linkedin.