Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Chris Lynn, Wanindu Hasaranga sign up for UAE ILT20

The first season of ILT20 will feature some of the biggest cricketing stars like Sunil Narine and Andre Russell as more than 50 names have signed up to participate in the league. Six teams, comprising 18 players in a squad, will battle it out in the maiden edition of the tournament that is set to be held in the UAE. Notably, no Pakistani players have been included, while Proteas players have confirmed despite the CSA preparing for their own league at the same time.

The BCCI has not been allowing the Indian  players to take part in any overseas leagues and hence, it remains to be seen whether they will be a part of the league or not. Chris Lynn, meanwhile, has decided to take part in the ILT20’s first edition and will miss the Big Bash League in Australia. Sri Lanka spin sensation Wanindu Hasaranga and England’s Moeen Ali will also be part of the league.

A stunning line-up of the game’s superstars has signed on: ILT20 statement release

The ILT20 statement release mentioned that different players from the top nations would take part in the tournament, including associate nation players as well. Khalid Al Zarooni, the ILT20 chairman, was delighted with the number of big names that have signed up for the league.

“Over the past weeks, six franchises have started discussions and engaged with players, and players’ agents, to exercise their ‘Direct Acquisition’ rights, and we are extremely delighted to be in a position to announce the first set of players who will compete in the league,” he said.

An ILT20 release said: “Some of the biggest names in global T20 cricket from England, the West Indies, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Ireland, as well as from various leading ICC Associate Nations, including USA, Namibia, The Netherlands and Nepal have now signed on. A stunning line-up of the game’s superstars has signed on.

Big names on Marquee list: Moeen Ali, Andre Russell, Dawid Malan, Wanindu Hasiranga, Sunil Narine, Evin Lewis, Colin Munro, Fabian Allen, Sam Billings, Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Dushmantha Chameera, Shimron Hetmyer, Akeal Hosein, Chris Jordan, Tom Banton, Sandeep Lamichhane, Chris Lynn, Rovman Powell, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

Other major players include: Lahiru Kumara, Seekugge Prassanna, Charith Asalanka, Colin Ingram, Paul Stirling, Kennar Lewis, Ali Khan, Brandon Glover, Ravi Rampaul, Raymon Reifer, Isuru Udana, Blessing Muzarabani, Niroshan Dickwella, Hazaratullah Zazai, Frederick Klassen, Sikandar Raja, George Munsey, Dan Lawrence, Dominic Drakes, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, David Wiese, Qais Ahmed, Richard Gleeson, James Vince, Noor Ahmed, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Navin Ul Haq, Sherfane Rutherford, Saqib Mahmood, Ben Duckett, Benny Howell and Ruben Trumpelman.