The DP World International League T20 (ILT20) officially kicked off its preparations for Season 5 during a high-profile launch event in Dubai this Wednesday. The ceremony drew significant attention, highlighted by the presence of fast-bowling icons Brett Lee and Shoaib Akhtar, who joined league officials to celebrate the upcoming tournament.
Scheduled for November and December, the fifth season will be hosted across the UAE’s three premier cricket venues: the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, the Dubai International Stadium, and the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Defending champions Desert Vipers will enter the competition looking to retain their title, joining a list of past winners that includes the Gulf Giants (Season 1), MI Emirates (Season 2), and Dubai Capitals (Season 3).
During the launch, ILT20 Chairman Khalid Al Zarooni and League Commissioner Mubashshir Usmani—who also serves as an ICC Director for Associates and General Secretary of the ECB—reflected on the league’s rapid development. Al Zarooni noted that what began as a vision has evolved into a premier global cricket league, fostering talent and bringing major franchises to the UAE. He extended his gratitude to the franchise owners, commercial partners, and stakeholders for their ongoing commitment to the league’s success.
The event included a series of expert panel discussions moderated by former New Zealand international Simon Doull. One session explored the future of cricket, featuring insights from Mubashshir Usmani, Dr. Mohamed Abu Hamra of DP World GCC, Eisa Sharif from the Dubai Sports Council, Mukund Galgali of ZEE Entertainment Enterprises, Venu Nair of SportFive, and Tushar Malhotra of Bisleri. A second panel saw Doull in conversation with Lee and Akhtar, who discussed the tournament’s positive influence on regional cricket while sharing personal anecdotes from their own careers as elite pace bowlers.
The evening concluded with a performance by mentalist Karan Singh Magic and the official unveiling of the new brand identity for the upcoming season, signaling a fresh chapter for the league as it continues to expand its footprint in the international cricketing landscape.
