The ILT20, a UAE-based franchise cricket league, is set to move its 2025-26 season to a December-January window. This adjustment aims to steer clear of the crowded January-February schedule and conclude ahead of the men’s T20 World Cup, scheduled from February to March.
Traditionally, the ILT20 has occurred at the start of the year, overlapping substantially with South Africa’s SA20, sections of Australia’s BBL, and Bangladesh’s BPL, in addition to previously overlapping with Pakistan’s PSL. However, for the forthcoming season, play will commence on 2nd December 2025 and conclude on 4th January 2026, coinciding with UAE’s National Day, known as Eid-al-Etihad. Some overlap with the BBL is still expected.
“Following extensive discussions with all our stakeholders, we believe the 2 December 2025 to 4 January 2026 tournament window is ideal for the DP World International League T20 Season 4,” explained ILT20 chief executive David White. “The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup begins in early February hence it was important for us to start and finish Season 4 well before the tournament as it will allow the players playing both the DP World ILT20 and the T20 World Cup to prepare for national duty.” He also noted, “We feel that the December-January window will provide the teams’ the best opportunity to access a bigger pool of players.”
As the tournament aligns with the UAE National Day, Khalid Al Zarooni, ILT20 chairman and vice-chairman of the Emirates Cricket Board, highlighted the significance, saying, “The UAE National Day is the day where we celebrate the United Arab Emirates which is home to people from around the world including millions of diehard cricket fans. It is a real honour for us to join the nation in the UAE National Day 2025 celebrations with the launch of the region’s biggest T20 league – the DP World ILT20 Season 4 – on the same day.”
The ILT20 has hosted six teams thus far, with the Gulf Giants, MI Emirates, and Dubai Capitals each having claimed the title in the initial three seasons. Whether this new scheduling will become the norm remains undecided.
