By Zainab Shafiq 
The third season of the UAE International League T20 (ILT20) is just around the corner! Cricket enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the action-packed tournament, which kicks off on January 11, 2025, with last season’s runners-up Dubai Capitals taking on defending champions MI Emirates at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. This thrilling league will feature 34 matches played across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. Here’s a complete guide to the ILT20 2025, including the schedule, squads, and more.
Tournament Format and Venues
The ILT20 will feature six teams competing in an IPL-style format:
- Dubai Capitals
- MI Emirates
- Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
- Desert Vipers
- Gulf Giants
- Sharjah Warriors
Each team will face every other team twice during the league stage. The top two teams in the points table will compete in Qualifier 1, with the winner advancing to the final. Teams ranked third and fourth will face off in an Eliminator. The Eliminator winner will take on the loser of Qualifier 1 in Qualifier 2, to secure the second spot in the final.
Matches will be hosted at three venues:
- Dubai International Cricket Stadium
- Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
- Sharjah Cricket Stadium
ILT20 2025 Full Schedule
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 11 | Dubai Capitals vs MI Emirates | Dubai International Stadium |
| Jan 12 | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Desert Vipers | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| Gulf Giants vs Sharjah Warriors | Dubai International Stadium | |
| Jan 13 | MI Emirates vs Dubai Capitals | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| Jan 14 | Gulf Giants vs Desert Vipers | Dubai International Stadium |
| Jan 15 | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Sharjah Warriors | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| Jan 16 | Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates | Dubai International Stadium |
| Jan 17 | Sharjah Warriors vs Dubai Capitals | Sharjah Cricket Stadium |
| Jan 18 | Desert Vipers vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Dubai International Stadium |
| Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals | Sharjah Cricket Stadium | |
| Jan 19 | Sharjah Warriors vs MI Emirates | Sharjah Cricket Stadium |
| Gulf Giants vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Dubai International Stadium | |
| Jan 20 | Dubai Capitals vs Desert Vipers | Dubai International Stadium |
| Jan 21 | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs MI Emirates | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| Jan 22 | Desert Vipers vs Sharjah Warriors | Dubai International Stadium |
| Jan 23 | Dubai Capitals vs Gulf Giants | Dubai International Stadium |
| Jan 24 | MI Emirates vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| Jan 25 | Sharjah Warriors vs Desert Vipers | Sharjah Cricket Stadium |
| MI Emirates vs Gulf Giants | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi | |
| Jan 26 | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Dubai Capitals | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| Sharjah Warriors vs Gulf Giants | Sharjah Cricket Stadium | |
| Jan 27 | MI Emirates vs Desert Vipers | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| Jan 28 | Dubai Capitals vs Sharjah Warriors | Dubai International Stadium |
| Jan 29 | Desert Vipers vs Gulf Giants | Dubai International Stadium |
| Jan 30 | Sharjah Warriors vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Sharjah Cricket Stadium |
| Jan 31 | Gulf Giants vs MI Emirates | Dubai International Stadium |
| Feb 1 | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Gulf Giants | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| Feb 2 | MI Emirates vs Sharjah Warriors | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| Dubai Capitals vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Dubai International Stadium | |
| Feb 3 | Desert Vipers vs Dubai Capitals | Sharjah Cricket Stadium |
| Feb 5 | Qualifier 1 | Dubai International Stadium |
| Feb 6 | Eliminator | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| Feb 7 | Qualifier 2 | Sharjah Cricket Stadium |
| Feb 9 | Final | Dubai International Stadium |
Complete Squads
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
Sunil Narine (C), Andre Russell, Joe Clarke, David Willey, Laurie Evans, Roston Chase, Michael Pepper, Charith Asalanka, Terrance Hinds, Gudakesh Motie, Ali Khan, Hassan Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Andries Gous, Aditya Shetty, Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar.
Desert Vipers
Lockie Ferguson (C), Alex Hales, Wanindu Hasaranga, Fakhar Zaman, Sherfane Rutherford, Luke Wood, Mohammad Amir, Azam Khan, Dan Lawrence, Nathan Sowter, David Payne, Michael Jones, Max Holden, Adam Hose, Ali Naseer, Tanish Suri.
Dubai Capitals
David Warner (C), Rovman Powell, Shai Hope, Sikandar Raza, Dasun Shanaka, Obed McCoy, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Scott Kuggeleijn, Zahir Khan, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Gulbadin Naib, Najibullah Zadran, Jeffrey Vandersay, Joe Burns, Adam Rossington, Sam Billings.
Gulf Giants
James Vince (C), Shimron Hetmyer, Chris Jordan, Blessing Muzarabani, Tom Curran, Tymal Mills, Rehan Ahmed, Gerhard Erasmus, Jamie Overton, Aayan Afzal Khan, Wahidullah Zadran, Jordan Cox, Jamie Smith, Dipendra Singh Airee, Ibrahim Zadran.
MI Emirates
Nicholas Pooran (C), Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Akeal Hosein, Romario Shepherd, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Tom Banton, Muhammad Waseem, Waqar Salamkheil, Ben Charlesworth, Thomas Draca, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Nosthush Kenjige, Andre Fletcher.
Sharjah Warriors
Jason Roy (C), Matthew Wade, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Kusal Mendis, Tim Seifert, Karim Janat, Adam Milne, Dilshan Madushanka, Junaid Siddique, Ashton Agar, Adil Rashid, Daniel Sams, Gus Atkinson, Harmeet Singh, Virandeep Singh.
Also, see:
ILT20 2025 Overview: Teams, Format, Captains, Coaches, Players to Watch, and Much More