Fakhar Zaman joins Desert Vipers for ILT20 season 3

The International League T20 (ILT20) is set for a thrilling third season as teams have bolstered their squads with some of the biggest names in T20 cricket. The player signing window, which began in June and concluded on 15 September, saw numerous international stars join the six franchises. The tournament will run from 11 January to 9 February 2025 across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah.

Fans can look forward to watching the likes of Jason Roy, Fakhar Zaman, Shai Hope, and Lockie Ferguson making their ILT20 debuts. Roy will play for the Sharjah Warriorz, while Fakhar and Ferguson will strengthen the Desert Vipers. West Indies wicketkeeper-batter Hope joins the Dubai Capitals.

Season 3 will also see other top talents like Australia’s Matthew Wade (Sharjah Warriorz) and Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran (Gulf Giants) in action. West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd has signed with MI Emirates, adding to the team’s already impressive lineup.

England’s Gus Atkinson returns to the league, joining the Sharjah Warriorz after making his debut for the Vipers in Season 1. Atkinson, who had a stellar summer in English cricket, will look to make a big impact with both bat and ball. Tom Curran, who previously played for the Vipers, will now represent the Gulf Giants.

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ADKR) have made strategic additions, including West Indies all-rounder Roston Chase and left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie. Both players were key members of the West Indies squad at the recent ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. ADKR has also brought in upcoming talents like Afghanistan’s spinner Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar and USA’s all-rounder Hassan Khan.

Season 1 finalists Desert Vipers have added depth with signings like Dan Lawrence, Max Holden, and David Payne, while Dubai Capitals have secured the services of leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay, Afghanistan’s Gulbadin Naib, and Scotland’s Brandon McMullen. Former Italy international Joe Burns and West Indies pacer Obed McCoy also join the Capitals’ ranks.

Defending champions Gulf Giants have signed Tymal Mills and Ireland’s Mark Adair, along with seasoned players like Adam Lyth and Dominic Drakes. The Giants will be aiming to replicate their previous success with this formidable squad.

Teams have the option to make further signings or replacements with approval from the ILT20 Technical Committee. Additionally, squads can add more UAE players through a draft, which will take place after the ILT20 Development Tournament next month.

The six ILT20 Season 3 squads as of 19 September 2024:
 
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
New signees: Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, Gudakesh Motie, Hassan Khan, Roston Chase and Terrance Hinds.
 
Retentions: Aditya Shetty, Ali Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Andre Russell, Andries Ghous, Charith Asalanka, David Willey, Joe Clarke, Laurie Evans, Michael Pepper and Sunil Narine.
 
Desert Vipers
New signees: Dan Lawrence, David Payne, Fakhar Zaman, Lockie Ferguson and Max Holden.
 
Retentions: Adam Hose, Alex Hales, Ali Naseer, Azam Khan, Bas de Leede, Luke Wood, Michael Jones, Mohammad Amir, Nathan Sowter, Sherfane Rutherford, Tanish Suri and Wanindu Hasaranga.
 
Dubai Capitals
New signees: Adam Rossington, Brandon McMullen, Garuka Sanketh, Gulbadin Naib, Jeffrey Vandersay, Joe Burns, Joe Weatherley, Najibullah Zadran, Obed McCoy, Scott Kuggeleijn, Sharafuddin Ashraf and Shai Hope.
 
Retentions: Dasun Shanaka, David Warner, Dushmantha Chameera, Haider Ali, Raja Akif, Rovman Powell, Sam Billings, Sikandar Raza, Zahir Khan, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Oliver Stone.
 
Gulf Giants
New signees:  Adam Lyth, Dominic Drakes, Daniel Worrall, Ibrahim Zadran, Mark Adair, Tom Curran, Tymal Mills and Wahidullah Zadran.
 
Retentions: Aayan Afzal Khan, Blessing Muzarabani, Chris Jordan, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gerhard Erasmus, Jamie Overton, James Vince, Jamie Smith, Jordan Cox, Mohammad Zuhaib Zubair, Rehan Ahmed, and Shimron Hetmyer.
 
MI Emirates
New signees: Romario Shepherd, Tom Banton, Fareed Ahmad, Thomas Jack Draca, Ben Charlesworth.
 
Retentions: Akeal Hosein, Andre Fletcher, Daniel Mousley, Dwayne Bravo, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Jordan Thompson, Kieron Pollard, Kusal Perera, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Muhammad Waseem, Nicholas Pooran, Nosthush Kenjige, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth and Waqar Salamkheil.
 
Sharjah Warriorz
New signees: Adam Milne, Adil Rashid (played for Warriorz in Season 2 as a Wildcard pick), Ashton Agar, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Daniel Sams, Gus Atkinson, Harmeet Singh, Jason Roy, Karim Janat, Keemo Paul, Matthew Wade, Virandeep Singh and Tim Seifert.
 
Retentions: Dilshan Madushanka, Johnson Charles, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah, Kusal Mendis, Luke Wells, Peter Hatzoglou and Tom Kohler-Cadmore.