By Zainab Shafiq 
Defending champions MI Emirates will kick off the upcoming ILT20 2025 on January 11 with a match against the Dubai Capitals at the Dubai International Stadium. The match will represent a rematch of last season’s final and surely promises an electrifying start to the tournament. The league goes on till February 9, with a packed schedule, featuring 34 matches within almost a month of T20 action.
The games will be held at three of the UAE’s premier venues. Dubai will host the lion’s share with 15 matches, while Abu Dhabi and Sharjah will stage 11 and eight games respectively. Matches on weekdays will begin at 6:30 pm local time, while weekend games will start a little earlier at 6:00 pm. On double-header days, the first game will start at 2:00 pm, so cricket fans can enjoy back-to-back action.
ILT20 2025 will clash with these leagues
ILT20’s third edition comes amidst a bustling T20 cricket calendar, overlapping with leagues such as the Big Bash League (BBL), Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), New Zealand’s Super Smash, and South Africa’s SA20. This scheduling clash might force players signed to multiple leagues to prioritize one or play limited roles. For example, the captain of Sydney Thunder in the BBL, David Warner, will only come aboard the Dubai Capitals after January 27 if his team progresses into the finals in Australia.
The league has already managed to get a star-studded roster of T20 superstars, including Andre Russell and Sunil Narine for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Shimron Hetmyer for Gulf Giants, and Nicholas Pooran for MI Emirates. Several players are also likely to make their ILT20 debut, including Jason Roy (Sharjah Warriorz), Fakhar Zaman (Desert Vipers), and Matthew Wade (Sharjah Warriorz).
With star-studded lineups and a history of thrilling contests, the ILT20 promises to be a spectacle for cricket enthusiasts worldwide.
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