The top four teams after the 10-game league stage will advance to the play-off stages, where the first and second will play in Qualifier 1 in Dubai on February 8, while the third and fourth will play in the Eliminator in Sharjah the next day. The winner of Eliminator and the loser of Qualifier 1 will play in Qualifier 2 to determine the second runner-up.
Speaking about the ILT20 schedule, Mubashshir Usmani, General Secretary of the Emirates Cricket Board, said: “It is a very exciting time for the league and collectively we are delighted to announce the schedule of play for the ILT20. ILT20 2023. Seeing superstars such as Dasun Shanaka of Dubai Capital and Andre Russell of Abu Dhabi Knight Rider open their team accounts is very exciting. We can’t wait for the teams to arrive (early January) and compete in the park and provide world class entertainment for cricket fans here in the UAE and around the world.
“It’s very important to us to kick off the first season in emphatic style, and league management is very pleased to have engaged with globally recognized performers in Badshah and Jason Derulo, who will no doubt energize the teams and the fans leading in the opening game. We are convinced that the ILT20 will be a huge success.
With ten matches scheduled in Abu Dhabi, 16 in Dubai and eight in Sharjah, the competition will set the UAE cricket scene on fire with stars such as Shimron Hetmyer, Moeen Ali, Kieron Pollard and Wanindu Hasaranga as well as a number of the elite of the United Arab Emirates. playing in a total of 34 matches.
The program includes five double weekends culminating with the thrilling final in Dubai on February 12.
Debuting in January (2023), the inaugural ILT20, which has received multi-year approval from the ICC, will be played at the UAE’s world-class cricket facilities in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Cricket fans all over the world can catch this thrilling cricket league live broadcast on ZEE’s linear channels.
Franchise teams, comprising 84 international players and 24 UAE-based players, include Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (Kolkata Knight Riders), Desert Vipers (Lancer Capital), Dubai Capitals (GMR), Gulf Giants (Adani Sportsline), MI Emirates (Reliance Industries), and Sharjah Warriors (Capri Global).