The UAE’s home T20 franchise competition starts on Saturday when the third season of the DP World International T20 gets under way.
The campaign will begin at Dubai International Stadium with a rerun of last year’s final between MI Emirates, the defending champions, and Dubai Capitals.
Opening ceremony
The organisers opted against a starry opening ceremony last year after Jason Derulo performed ahead of the debut season in 2023.
This time around the first match will be prefaced by a performance by Bollywood stars Shahid Kapoor, Pooja Hegde and Sonam Bajwa. That will start at 6pm, with the cricket due to start at 7.15pm.
Schedule
Other than Saturday’s opening night, most matches will start at 6.30pm, with early matches on weekends at 2pm, and the second match on weekends starting at 6pm.
How to watch
The matches can be watched live in the UAE on Abu Dhabi TV, Dubai TV and Myco, as well as the ILT20’s YouTube channel. Talk FM Radio 100.3 will also have commentary.
It will be shown on many of Zee TV’s channels in India, Samsung TV Plus and Rakuten TV in Europe, Tapmad in Pakistan, and Styx Sports in Nepal.
Tickets
Admission starts at Dh15 for six to 16 years, and Dh20 for adults. Tickets are available here.
Teams
The same six teams who started out the first ILT20 two years ago remain – with the only slight amendment being the fact the Sharjah Warriors now have a funky z added to their name, having become the Warriorz.
Gulf Giants were the first winners in 2023, before MI Emirates – an offshoot of IPL side Mumbai Indians – took their title last year.
Dubai Capitals and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders are also affiliates of IPL teams, while Desert Vipers have the same owners as Manchester United.
Players to watch
Phil Salt (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders): The world’s No 2-ranked T20I batter has a strong affinity with the UAE capital, having previously represented Team Abu Dhabi in T10.
ADKR’s first match: Sunday, January 12, 2pm, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi.
Fakhar Zaman (Desert Vipers): The big-hitting left-hander is the biggest name import from Pakistan. He will be back at the grounds where he first made his name in the Pakistan Super League.
Vipers’ first match: Sunday, January 12, 2pm, Zayed Cricket Stadium.
David Warner (Dubai Capitals): Retired from international cricket and in the IPL sidings, but the former Australia opener is likely to remain as competitive as ever.
Capitals’ first game: Saturday, January 11, 7.15pm, Dubai International Stadium.
Dipendra Singh Airee (Gulf Giants): One of a select group to have hit six sixes in an over in international cricket. The Nepal all-rounder is one of the most electric fielders in the world.
Giants’ first game: Sunday, January 12, 6pm, Dubai International Stadium.
Muhammad Waseem (MI Emirates): Everyone knows about his MI batting colleague Nicholas Pooran. But more people should know about the brilliance of the UAE captain.
MI’s first game: Saturday, January 11, 7.15pm, Dubai International Stadium.
Tim Southee (Sharjah Warriorz): Ended a great New Zealand Test career earlier this winter. Now he will be captaining the Sharjah franchise in ILT20.
Warriorz’s first game: Sunday, January 12, 6pm, Dubai International Stadium.
Home hopes
Two places per starting XI are reserved for UAE-based players. They do not need to be eligible just yet for the national team, but at least be in the process of qualifying.
Rohan Mustafa, the long-serving former national team captain, has switched from Desert Vipers to Sharjah Warriorz for the new season. He will play alongside fellow UAE players Mohammed Jawadullah and Junaid Siddique.
The Vipers have Dhruv Parashar, Ali Naseer and Tanish Suri, a young trio in whom great hopes are invested for the future of UAE cricket.
Big-hitting middle-order batter Saghir Khan is an intriguing signing for Gulf Giants, where spin duo Aayan Khan and Zuhaib Zubair excelled last season.
Alishan Sharafu remains key to AD Knight Riders’ hopes, having made his name with them last season against an all-star Vipers bowling attack.
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Unlike other mobile wallets and payment apps, a unique feature of eWallet is that there is no need to have a bank account, credit or debit card to do digital payments.
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- 600-seat auditorium
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