The third edition of the UAE International League T20 2025 (ILT20) promises to entertain cricket fans with the tournament commencing on January 11 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. This season is promising to be quite an exciting event for cricket enthusiasts, as there are six competitive teams, thrilling lineups of players, and various venues.
Tournament Format and Schedule
The ILT20 will start on January 11 and will end on February 9, playing 34 matches in total: 30 league games, two qualifiers, one eliminator, and the final. Games will be hosted in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah, and the Dubai International Cricket Stadium will host the season opening and closing matches.
The format of the tournament remains the same as in earlier editions. All the teams will play each other twice in the league phase, and the top four teams will advance into the playoffs. Qualifier 1 and the final will be held in Dubai, while Abu Dhabi and Sharjah will host the eliminator and Qualifier 2, respectively.
Teams and Captains
The six teams taking part are the Dubai Capitals, MI Emirates, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Desert Vipers, Gulf Giants, and Sharjah Warriors. Some captaincy changes this year are as follows:
- Lockie Ferguson now leads the Desert Vipers as Colin Munro is not here.
- The Sharjah Warriors have Tim Southee as their new leader instead of Tom Kohler-Cadmore.
Returning captains: Sunil Narine (Knight Riders), David Warner (Capitals), Nicholas Pooran (Emirates), and James Vince (Giants).
Players to Watch in 2025 UAE International League T20
Some players really expected to stand out in this season:
- Nicholas Pooran, who is the T20 run-scorer of 2024 with 2331 runs and 170 sixes, will be the captain of MI Emirates.
- David Warner was unsold in the IPL 2025 auction. He has a lot to prove.
- Rovman Powell, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, and Mohammad Amir have firepower in their respective teams.
Muhammad Waseem and Aayan Afzal Khan are expected to shine for the UAE players. Young talents Alishan Sharafu and Ali Naseer will also come into play. Associate stars from Nepal, Kushal Malla, and Italy, Thomas Draca, give a flavor of internationality to the tournament.
Clash With Other Leagues
This season, ILT20 is going to face stiff competition as it coincides with South Africa’s SA20, Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL), and New Zealand’s Super Smash. Despite the busy cricket calendar worldwide, ILT20 remains an important event because of its perfect blend of local and international players.
Last Season Summary
The 2024 season was totally dominated by MI Emirates. They topped the league table and went on to win the title with a massive 208 in the final against the Dubai Capitals. The Capitals fought hard but fell short at 163.
Why ILT20 Stands Out
The way UAE and Associate players can shine alongside international stars is so evident in the ILT20. This tournament will be special as at least two UAE players in each XI and it focuses on the associate talents. And when the tournament starts, all eyes will be on whether MI Emirates manages to retain its title or not, and if someone else is ready to dethrone it.
Also, see: Watch: Rangpur Riders’ Nurul Hasan smashes third-highest final-over score in T20s