ILT20 2024

The all-new International League T20 (ILT20) is scheduled to commence on January 13 and Dubai is set to stage the curtain-raiser with the final to be contested on February 12. The competition marks the inaugural season of the top-tier league in the UAE and is expected to help the local players in gaining exposure by playing alongside the high-profile stars of the game.

Based on the International League T20 schedule, the month-long event will see as many as 34 matches till February. Six teams are set to contest in the cash-rich league for the coveted title. Interestingly, the ILT20 Trophy stands at 830mm and weighs 12.2kg – an attempt to replicate the height of the Burj Khalifa which measures 830m from ground to tip.

The teams participating in the lucrative T20 event are backed by a few Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise owners. The six teams are- Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Desert Vipers, Dubai Capitals, Gulf Giants, MI Emirates, and Sharjah Warriors. The season will kickstart with Dubai Capitals and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders locking horns at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on January 13.

Like any other domestic leagues around the world, the teams will engage in a double round-robin format followed by the playoffs. The top four teams in the International League T20 Points Table will progress to the last four games and play the ‘Qualifier-Eliminator’ format, similar to what is followed in the Indian Premier League.