ILT20 2025 set for January-February with 34 matches across three cities

The third season of the International League T20 (ILT20) is set to kick off on January 11, 2025, with MI Emirates and Dubai Capitals playing the opening match in Dubai. The tournament will also conclude in Dubai, with the final scheduled for February 9. The six-team league will host its last group-stage match on February 3, followed by playoffs starting February 5.  

Dubai will host the first qualifier, while the eliminator will take place in Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah will host the second qualifier.  

This year’s ILT20 faces tough competition as it overlaps with other major T20 leagues like South Africa’s SA20, Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL), Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), and New Zealand’s Super Smash. Players who are signed to multiple leagues must now decide where to play.  

The ILT20 runs from January 11 to February 9, while the SA20 is scheduled from January 9 to February 8. The BBL is set from December 15 to January 27, the BPL from December 30 to February 7, and the Super Smash from December 26 to February 2.  

Several high-profile players face scheduling challenges. David Warner has committed to captaining the Sydney Thunder in the BBL and will only be available for the Dubai Capitals in the ILT20 after January 17—or later if Thunder reach the BBL finals.  

New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson, on the other hand, will play for Sydney Thunder in the BBL initially but will leave mid-tournament to join Desert Vipers in the ILT20. Similar conflicts apply to players like Jake Fraser-McGurk, Matthew Wade, Chris Jordan, and Shai Hope, who are signed for teams in both leagues.    

The ILT20 will feature many top players, including Andre Russell and Sunil Narine (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Rovman Powell (Dubai Capitals), Nicholas Pooran (MI Emirates), and Shimron Hetmyer (Gulf Giants). New faces like Fakhar Zaman, Jason Roy, and Matthew Wade will also make their debut in the league.    

A total of 34 matches will be played across three venues: 15 in Dubai, 11 in Abu Dhabi, and eight in Sharjah. Weekday evening games will start at 6:30 PM, while weekend evening games begin at 6:00 PM. Double-header weekends will have afternoon matches starting at 2:00 PM.    

ILT20 CEO David White acknowledged the packed cricket calendar and the challenges of hosting the tournament during the January-February window. Despite exploring alternatives like shifting the league to October-November, the organizers decided to stick with the same schedule as the past two seasons.  

Meanwhile, the PCB has announced plans to move the Pakistan Super League (PSL) to April-May in 2025 to avoid this crowded period, even though it may overlap with the IPL.  

With a competitive line-up and a tight schedule, the ILT20 2025 promises exciting cricket but leaves players juggling commitments between multiple leagues.