The inaugural edition of the International League T20 is set to kick off on January 13 (Friday), with Dubai Capitals hosting Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
West Indies players are indispensable for T20 Leagues. But West indies Cricket, heavily impacted by the presence of West Indian players in leagues across the world for a number of years now. as well Several West Indies players have Joined UAE-based franchises T20 competition.
The International League T20 (ILT20), a UAE-based franchise T20 competition set to host its first edition early next year, announced its big-name international signings on Monday, August 8.
But No players from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh feature in the initial list of players.
“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,” an ILT20 release said.
Apart from the England all-rounder, others marquee players roped in are, Dawid Malan, Wanindu Hasiranga, Colin Munro, Sam Billings, Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Dushmantha Chameera, Chris Jordan, Tom Banton, Sandeep Lamichhane, Chris Lynn, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Mujeeb Ul Rahman.
Other players on board are Lahiru Kumara, Seekugge Prassanna, Charith Asalanka, Colin Ingram, Paul Stirling, Ali Khan, Brandon Glover, Isuru Udana, Blessing Muzarabani, Niroshan Dickwella, Hazaratullah Zazai, Frederick Klassen, Sikandar Raza, George Munsey, Dan Lawrence, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, David Wiese, Qais Ahmed, Richard Gleeson, James Vince, Noor Ahmed, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Navin Ul Haq, Saqib Mahmood, Ben Duckett, Benny Howell and Ruben Trumpelman.
West indies players on board are Evin Lewis, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Fabien Allen, Shimron Hetmyer, Akeal Hosein, Rovman Powell, Kennar Lewis, Ravi Rampaul, Raymon Reifer, Dominic Drakes and Sherfane Rutherford, Raymon Reifer
The maiden edition of the league, which has received multi-year approval from the International Cricket Council (ICC), will be held in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah in January-February.
Khalid Al Zarooni, chairman UAE ILT20, said, “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.”
Commenting on the team structure, Mubashshir Usmani, Emirates Cricket’s general secretary, said:
“It’s exciting to see how well the squads are shaping up for the first season of ILT20. Each team will consist of 18 players, including four UAE players and two other players from ICC Associate countries. The quality of the names announced is outstanding and so is the interest in our league from top players from all around the world.”
Each of the six teams will play the other five twice each in the ILT20 round-robin stage, with the structure of the playoffs to resemble that of the IPL.
Reliance Industries, Kolkata Knight Riders, Capri Global, GMR, Lancer Capital, and Adani Sportsline have bought the six franchises.
ILT20 2023 Teams & Squads
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
Sunil Narine (c), Andre Russell, Jonny Bairstow, Paul Stirling, Lahiru Kumara, Charith Asalanka, Colin Ingram, Akeal Hosein, Seekkuge Prasanna, Ravi Rampaul, Raymond Reifer, Kennar Lewis, Ali Khan, Brandon Glover
Dubai Capitals
Rovman Powell (c), Dushmantha Chameera, Hazratullah Zazai, Fabian Allen, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Sikandar Raza, Niroshan Dickwella, Dasun Shanaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dan Lawrence, Blessing Muzarabani, Isuru Udana, George Munsey, Fred Klaassen
MI Emirates
Kieron Pollard (c), Dwayne Bravo, Nicholas Pooran, Trent Boult, Andre Fletcher, Imran Tahir, Samit Patel, Will Smeed, Jordan Thompson, Najibullah Zadran, Zahir Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqui, Brad Wheal, Bas de Leede
Gulf Giants
Shimron Hetmyer, Chris Jordan, Chris Lynn, Tom Banton, Dominic Drakes, David Wiese, Jamie Overton, Richard Gleeson, Rehan Ahmed, Wayne Madsen, Liam Dawson, James Vince (c), Qais Ahmad, Ollie Pope
Sharjah Warriors
Evin Lewis, Dawid Malan, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Chris Benjamin, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Moeen Ali (c), Mohammad Nabi, Chris Woakes, JJ Smit, Mark Deyal, Noor Ahmad, Danny Briggs, Naveen-ul-Haq, Bilal Khan
Desert Vipers
Alex Hales, Ben Duckett, Benny Howell, Colin Munro (c), Ruben Trumpelmann, Sam Billings, Sandeep Lamichhane, Saqib Mahmood, Sheldon Cottrell, Sherfane Rutherford, Tom Curran, Wanindu Hasaranga