The DP World International League T20 (ILT20) officially kicked off its fifth season on Wednesday with a high-profile launch event in Dubai. The ceremony featured appearances by fast-bowling icons Brett Lee and Shoaib Akhtar, who joined a panel discussion hosted by former New Zealand international Simon Doull to reflect on their careers and discuss the league’s growing influence on cricket within the UAE and the broader region.
Scheduled to take place between November and December, the upcoming 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 previous winners that includes Season 1 champions Gulf Giants, Season 2 winners MI Emirates, and Season 3 victors Dubai Capitals.
During the event, ILT20 Chairman Khalid Al Zarooni and League Commissioner Mubashshir Usmani highlighted the tournament’s significant expansion and its role in developing the sport. Al Zarooni remarked that the league, which began as a vision, has evolved into a premier global competition that unites elite players and major franchises while fostering cricket’s growth across the region. He also extended his gratitude to the franchise owners, stakeholders, and commercial partners for their ongoing commitment.
A special panel discussion moderated by Simon Doull explored the future of the sport, featuring key figures including Mubashshir Usmani, Dr. Mohamed Abu Hamra of DP World GCC, and Eisa Sharif from the Dubai Sports Council. The panel also included corporate leaders such as Mukund Galgali of ZEE Entertainment Enterprises, Venu Nair from SportFive, and Tushar Malhotra of Bisleri, who analyzed the evolving landscape of the game.
The evening concluded with a performance by mentalist Karan Singh Magic and the official unveiling of the new brand identity for the fifth season, marking a fresh chapter for the tournament as it prepares for its upcoming matches. The report also notes that dP World International League T20 (ILT20) Season 5 was officially launched at a dazzling event held in Dubai on Wednesday. The report also notes that during the event, Chairman ILT20 Khalid Al Zarooni and ILT20 League Commissioner/ICC Director Associates/General Secretary ECB Mubashshir Usmani spoke in depth about the DP World ILT20’s massive rise in recent years, esp. The report also notes that the duo also reminisced about their playing days and shared memories in an era where they dominated the game through their blistering pace bowling.
