The International League T20 (ILT20) is gearing up for an exciting third season, with the defending champions MI Emirates set to face off against the Dubai Capitals in the opening match on January 11, 2025, at the Dubai International Stadium (DIS).
This highly anticipated game is a rematch of last season’s final and promises a thrilling start to the month-long tournament.
The Abu Dhabi Knight Riders will begin their campaign on January 12, hosting the Desert Vipers at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
On the same day, the inaugural season champions Gulf Giants will take on the Sharjah Warriorz in the evening game at DIS.
The action will take place across three premier venues — Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah — culminating in the final at DIS on February 9.
The six ILT20 franchises have retained T20 superstars like Andre Russell (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Sunil Narine (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Alex Hales (Desert Vipers), Sherfane Rutherford (Desert Vipers), David Warner (Dubai Capitals), Rovman Powell (Dubai Capitals), Chris Jordan (Gulf Giants), Shimron Hetmyer (Gulf Giants), Akeal Hossein (MI Emirates), Nicholas Pooran (MI Emirates), Adil Rashid (Sharjah Warriorz Wildcard Pick in Season 2) and Johnson Charles (Sharjah Warriorz).
Debutants Fakhar Zaman (Desert Vipers), Shai Hope (Dubai Capitals), Lockie Ferguson (Desert Vipers), Roston Chase (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Matthew Wade (Sharjah Warriorz), Ibrahim Zadran (Gulf Giants) and Romario Shepherd (MI Emirates) will look to add fresh excitement to the competition.
David White, CEO of ILT20, expressed confidence in delivering a “bigger and better edition” and emphasised the league’s role in bringing world-class cricket to fans across the UAE and beyond, with live broadcasts in India and other global broadcasters soon to be announced.
“Our six teams have gathered a line-up of world-class T20 stars besides the best of the UAE talent who will combine to provide rich entertainment to cricket fans during the 34-match tournament," said White.
“The weather across UAE will be ideal for cricket for both afternoon and night games, for fans and tourists that are set to visit the country in these months, the ILT20 is surely an experience they cannot afford to miss,” he added.
ILT20 - Season 3 match schedule (all times in IST)
Saturday, 11 January – Dubai Capitals vs MI Emirates, Dubai – 7:30pm
Sunday, 12 January – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Desert Vipers, Abu Dhabi – 3:30pm
Sunday, 12 January – Gulf Giants vs Sharjah Warriorz, Dubai – 7:30pm
Monday, 13 January – MI Emirates vs Dubai Capitals, Abu Dhabi – 8:00pm
Tuesday, 14 January – Gulf Giants vs Desert Vipers, Dubai – 8:00pm
Wednesday, 15 January – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Sharjah Warriorz, Abu Dhabi – 8:00pm
Thursday, 16 January – Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates, Dubai – 8:00pm
Friday, 17 January – Sharjah Warriorz vs Dubai Capitals, Sharjah – 8:00pm
Saturday, 18 January – Desert Vipers vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Dubai – 3:30pm
Saturday, 18 January – Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals, Sharjah – 7:30pm
Sunday, 19 January – Sharjah Warriorz vs MI Emirates, Sharjah – 3:30pm
Sunday, 19 January – Gulf Giants vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Dubai – 7:30pm
Monday, 20 January – Dubai Capitals vs Desert Vipers, Dubai – 8:00pm
Tuesday, 21 January – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs MI Emirates, Abu Dhabi – 8:00pm
Wednesday, 22 January – Desert Vipers vs Sharjah Warriorz, Dubai – 8:00pm
Thursday, 23 January – Dubai Capitals vs Gulf Giants, Dubai – 8:00pm
Friday, 24 January – MI Emirates vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Abu Dhabi – 8:00pm
Saturday, 25 January – Sharjah Warriorz vs Desert Vipers, Sharjah – 3:30pm
Saturday, 25 January – MI Emirates vs Gulf Giants, Abu Dhabi – 7:30pm
Sunday, 26 January – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Dubai Capitals, Abu Dhabi – 3:30pm
Sunday, 26 January – Sharjah Warriorz vs Gulf Giants, Sharjah – 7:30pm
Monday, 27 January – MI Emirates vs Desert Vipers, Abu Dhabi – 8:00pm
Tuesday, 28 January – Dubai Capitals vs Sharjah Warriorz, Dubai – 8:00pm
Wednesday, 29 January – Desert Vipers vs Gulf Giants, Dubai – 8:00pm
Thursday, 30 January – Sharjah Warriorz vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Sharjah – 8:00pm
Friday, 31 January – Gulf Giants vs MI Emirates, Dubai – 8:00pm
Saturday, 1 February – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Gulf Giants, Abu Dhabi – 7:30pm
Sunday, 2 February – MI Emirates vs Sharjah Warriorz, Abu Dhabi – 3:30pm
Sunday, 2 February – Dubai Capitals vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Dubai – 7:30pm
Monday, 3 February – Desert Vipers vs Dubai Capitals, Sharjah – 7:30pm
Wednesday, 5 February – Qualifier 1 – Seed 1 vs Seed 2, Dubai – 8:00pm
Thursday, 6 February – Eliminator – Seed 3 vs Seed 4, Abu Dhabi – 8:00pm
Friday, 7 February – Qualifier 2 – Loser of Q1 vs Winner of Eliminator, Sharjah – 8:00pm
Sunday, 9 February – Final – Winner of Q1 vs Winner of Q2, Dubai – 7:30pm
IL T20 Venues:
Abu Dhabi – Zayed Cricket Stadium
Dubai – Dubai International Stadium
Sharjah – Sharjah Cricket Stadium
