Cricket’s biggest names will be in action in the UAE as the DP World International League T20 Season 4 gets underway today with a marquee encounter between reigning champions Dubai Capitals and Desert Vipers at the Dubai International Stadium – a rematch of last year’s captivating final.
All six franchises have finalised their squads following their retentions and the league’s inaugural Player Auction held in October, assembling rosters that blend international superstars with the finest UAE and Associate Nation talent. Squad regulations mandated a minimum of 11 players from ICC Full Member countries, four from the UAE, one from Kuwait, one from Saudi Arabia, and two from other ICC Associate Nations. Teams were also permitted to make direct and wildcard signings.
Adding to the excitement, a spectacular opening ceremony will raise the curtains on the season, headlined by the musical superstar Ali Zafar. Stadiums gates will open from 4 pm onwards. The first ball will be bowled at 6:45 p.m.
Some of the cricketing world’s biggest names are set to light up the field this season, including Phil Salt (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Sunil Narine (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Andre Russell (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Sam Curran (Desert Vipers), Lockie Ferguson (Desert Vipers), Naseem Shah (Desert Vipers), Shimron Hetmyer (Desert Vipers), Rovman Powell (Dubai Capitals), Mustafizur Rahman (Dubai Capitals), Jordan Cox (Dubai Capitals), Moeen Ali (Gulf Giants), Pathum Nissanka (Gulf Giants) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Gulf Giants).
Adding more star power are Kieron Pollard (MI Emirates), Nicholas Pooran (MI Emirates), Andre Fletcher (MI Emirates), Fazalhaq Farooqi (MI Emirates), Tim David (Sharjah Warriorz), Dinesh Karthik (Sharjah Warriorz), Sikandar Raza (Sharjah Warriorz), Johnson Charles (Sharjah Warriorz), and Adil Rashid (Sharjah Warriorz).
Limited tickets for the opening ceremony and the opening match are available across all categories, with stand tickets starting at AED 20 and hospitality packages from AED 325. Fans can also book the new Sixes Lounge experience for AED 395, which includes unlimited food and beverages. Tickets can be purchased by visiting tickets.ilt20.ae or Virgin Megastores.
DP World ILT20 Season 4 Full Squads
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
International Players: Alex Hales, Andre Russell, Brandon McMullen, George Garton, Jason Holder, Khary Pierre, Liam Livingstone, Michael Pepper, Olly Stone, Phil Salt, Piyush Chawla, Sherfane Rutherford, Sunil Narine.
UAE Players: Ajay Kumar, Alishan Sharafu, Ibrar Ahmed, Mayank Chowdary.
Associate Players: Abdul Manan (Saudi Arabia), Adnan Idrees (Kuwait), Shadley Van Schalkwyk, Unmukt Chand.
Dubai Capitals
International Players: David Willey, Dasun Shanaka, Dushmantha Chameera, Gulbadin Naib, Jimmy Neesham, Jordan Cox, Leus du Plooy, Mohammad Nabi, Mustafizur Rahman, Navin Bidaisee, Rovman Powell, Scott Currie, Sediqullah Atal, Toby Albert, Tymal Mills, Waqar Salamkhell.
UAE Players: Farhan Khan, Haider Ali, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah.
Associate Players: Anudeep Chenthamara (Kuwait), Rushil Ugarkar, Shayan Jahangir, Usman Najeeb (Saudi Arabia).
Desert Vipers
International Players: Daniel Lawrence, David Payne, Fakhar Zaman, Faridoon Dawoodzai, Hassan Nawaz, Lockie Ferguson, Max Holden, Naseem Shah, Noor Ahmad, Qais Ahmad, Sam Curran, Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga.
UAE Players: Khuzaima Tanveer, Matiullah Khan, Sanjay Pahal, Vriitya Aravind.
Associate Players: Andries Gous, Bilal Tahir (Kuwait), Faisal Khan (Saudi Arabia), Tom Bruce.
Gulf Giants
International Players: Azmatullah Omarzai, Chris Wood, James Vince, Liam Dawson, Lorcan Tucker, Mark Adair, Matthew Forde, Moeen Ali, Nuwan Thushara, Pathum Nissanka, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sean Dickson, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tom Moores, Kyle Mayers.
UAE Players: Aayan Khan, Asif Khan, Haider Razzaq, Zuhaib Zubair.
Associate Players: Fred Klaassen, Gerhard Erasmus, Ishtiaq Ahmad (Saudi Arabia), Meet Bhavsar (Kuwait).
MI Emirates
International Players: Ackeem Auguste, Allah Ghazanfar, Andre Fletcher, Arab Gul, Chris Woakes, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Jonny Bairstow, Jordan Thompson, Kamindu Mendis, Kieron Pollard, Naveen-ul-Haq, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Shakib Al Hasan, Tom Banton
UAE Players: Muhammad Rohid, Muhammad Waseem, Usman Khan, Zahoor Khan.
Associate Players: Mohammed Shafeeq (Kuwait), Nosthush Kenjige, Tajinder Dhillon, Zain Ul Abidin (Saudi Arabia).
Sharjah Warriorz
International Players: Adil Rashid, Dinesh Karthik, Dwaine Pretorius, James Rew, Johnson Charles, Mahesh Theekshana, Mark Chapman, Matheesha Pathirana, Nathan Sowter, Richard Ngarava, Sikandar Raza, Taskin Ahmed, Tim David, Tim Southee, Tom Abell, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Wafiqullah Tarakhil.
UAE Players: Ethan D’Souza, Junaid Siddique, Raees Ahmad, Wasim Akram.
Associate Players: Abdul Salman Khan (Saudi Arabia), Harmeet Singh, Mohamed Aslam (Kuwait), Saurabh Netravalkar, Shubham Ranjane.
