Overview: International League T20 Set to Kick Off Tomorrow

The third season of the International League T20 (ILT20) is set to kick off tomorrow (January 11, 2025) in Dubai, with the defending champions, MI Emirates, facing Dubai Capitals. ILT20 has become one of the marquee franchise tournaments, drawing attention alongside other top leagues like Australia’s Big Bash League, South Africa’s SA20, and New Zealand’s Dream11 Super Smash.

This season will see six teams competing: MI Emirates, Dubai Capitals, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Desert Vipers, Gulf Giants, and Sharjah Warriors. Matches will be held across three iconic venues in the UAE: Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi.

In the league stage, each of the six teams will play each other twice. The top two teams on the points table will face off in Qualifier 1, with the winner advancing to the final. The teams finishing in third and fourth will play an Eliminator, with the winner facing the loser of Qualifier 1 to determine the second finalist. Dubai will host Qualifier 1 and the final, Abu Dhabi will be the venue for the Eliminator, while Sharjah will host Qualifier 2.

This season promises some exciting talent. Nicholas Pooran, coming off a stellar 2024 where he scored 2331 runs in 74 T20 innings the most by any batter last year will be a key figure. He also hit 170 sixes, comfortably the highest. Other players to watch include Rutherford, Rovman Powell, and David Warner, who may be determined to prove a point after going unsold in the IPL 2025 auctions. Tom Kohler-Cadmore, coming off a fantastic Abu Dhabi T10 season with 278 runs at a strike rate of 198.5, will look to continue his excellent form. Afghanistan’s AM Ghazanfar, an offspinner, could also be a handful on UAE’s pitches.

Spotlight on Associate Players

There’s also a spotlight on Associate and local players. Muhammad Waseem and Aayan Afzal Khan are expected to play key roles but don’t miss rising stars like Alishan Sharafu and Ali Naseer. Sharafu was the fourth-highest run-scorer in T20Is last year, while Naseer, a fast-bowling all-rounder, was UAE’s second-highest wicket-taker in T20Is.

Thomas Draca (MI Emirates, Italy)

Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee made history as the first player from Nepal to feature in the ILT20 last year, and this season, his fellow countryman Kushal Malla joins him. Italy’s Thomas Draca, the first Italian player in the league, is also on the MI Emirates roster. Each team must include at least two UAE players in their XI and two Associate overseas players in their squad, ensuring a truly international flavor to the competition.

Teams to watch out for include MI Emirates, the defending champions, and Gulf Giants, who showed great dominance last season before faltering at a crucial time. Another team that could surprise is the Dubai Capitals, as they appear to have a well-balanced roster this season.

For more updates regarding the ILT20, stay tuned for live commentary, live updates, and fantasy team information.