ILT20 set to move its competition window so as to avoid a clash with other T20 leagues in the cluttered January-February window.
In order to avoid the crowded January-February window and to wrap up well before the men’s T20 World Cup, which will take place in February and March, ILT20 has been moved to a December-January window.
The UAE’s franchise-based league, the ILT20, has been played at the beginning of the year for the past three seasons. It primarily competes with South Africa’s SA20, as well as with portions of the Australian BBL, Bangladesh’s BPL, and, prior to this year, the Pakistan PSL. However, it will start on December 2, 2025, and end on January 4, 2026, this time. Eid-al-Etihad, the UAE’s national holiday, falls on December 2. However, there will be some crossover with the BBL.
“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,” ILT20 chief executive David White said in a statement. “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.
“In addition, we feel that the December-January window will provide the teams’ the best opportunity to access a bigger pool of players.”
Whether this is a one-time event or the tournament’s regular window moving forward is yet unknown.
Khalid Al Zarooni, the vice-chairman of the Emirates Cricket Board and chairman of the ILT20, stated: “On UAE National Day, we honour the United Arab Emirates, which is home to millions of ardent cricket fans and people from all over the world. With the opening of the largest T20 competition in the area, the DP World ILT20 Season 4, on the same day, we are very honoured to join the country in celebrating UAE National Day 2025.”
The Gulf Giants, MI Emirates, and Dubai Capitals have won the trophy in the first three seasons of the ILT20, which currently consists of six teams.