The T20 season rolls on with the third edition of the International League T20 (ILT20) set to begin on January 11, 2025, culminating in the final on February 9, 2025. UAE’s premier franchise cricket league has gained a reputation for attracting some of the biggest names in T20 cricket, and this season is no different. Superstars like Nicholas Pooran, Alex Hales, and Sam Curran will headline the action.

Whether you’re a cricket enthusiast or a fantasy trader, here’s your complete guide to ILT20 2025, covering squads, format, and key players to keep an eye on.

ILT20 2025 Format and Key Dates

The league will maintain its classic structure:

• 6 teams will play in a double round-robin format.
• The top 4 teams will progress to the playoffs, similar to the IPL format.

Key Dates:

• Start Date: January 11, 2025
• Qualifier 1: February 5, 2025
• Eliminator: February 6, 2025
• Qualifier 2: February 7, 2025
• Final: February 9, 2025

ILT20 2025 Full Squads

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ADKR)

Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, Gudakesh Motie, Hassan Khan, Roston Chase, Terrance Hinds, Aditya Shetty, Ali Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Andre Russell, Andries Ghous, Charith Asalanka, David Willey, Joe Clarke, Laurie Evans, Michael Pepper, Sunil Narine

Desert Vipers (DV)

Dan Lawrence, David Payne, Fakhar Zaman, Lockie Ferguson, Max Holden, Adam Hose, Alex Hales, Ali Naseer, Azam Khan, Bas de Leede, Luke Wood, Michael Jones, Mohammad Amir, Nathan Sowter, Sherfane Rutherford, Tanish Suri, Wanindu Hasaranga

Dubai Capitals (DC)

Adam Rossington, Brandon McMullen, Garuka Sanketh, Gulbadin Naib, Jeffrey Vandersay, Joe Burns, Joe Weatherley, Najibullah Zadran, Obed McCoy, Scott Kuggeleijn, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Shai Hope, Dasun Shanaka, David Warner, Dushmantha Chameera, Haider Ali, Raja Akif, Rovman Powell, Sam Billings, Sikandar Raza, Zahir Khan, Aryaman Varma, Oliver Stone

Gulf Giants (GG)

Adam Lyth, Dominic Drakes, Daniel Worrall, Ibrahim Zadran, Mark Adair, Tom Curran, Tymal Mills, Wahidullah Zadran, 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, Shimron Hetmyer

MI Emirates (MIE)

Romario Shepherd, Tom Banton, Fareed Ahmad, Thomas Jack Draca, Ben Charlesworth, 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, Waqar Salamkhei

Sharjah Warriorz (SW)

Adam Milne, Adil Rashid, Ashton Agar, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Daniel Sams, Gus Atkinson, Harmeet Singh, Jason Roy, Karim Janat, Keemo Paul, Matthew Wade, Virandeep Singh, Tim Seifert, Dilshan Madushanka, Johnson Charles, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah, Kusal Mendis, Luke Wells, Peter Hatzoglou, Tom Kohler-Cadmore

Players to Watch Out For

• Tom Kohler Cadmore (SW): Tom Kohler-Cadmore had a slightly low year in 2024 with only 879 runs at a strike rate of 127. However, TKC did end the year on a high with his T10 performances, holding him in good stead ahead of the ILT20.
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• Allah Ghazanfar (MIE): Allah Ghazanfar is the next big spinner out of Afghanistan and has already made a mark on the international stage. Ghazanfar has 20 wickets in 11 ODIs in 2024 and was also picked by Mumbai Indians in the IPL Auction. Watch out for his bamboozling deliveries for the MI Emirates.
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• Tom Curran (GG): Tom Curran has been on the T20 circuit for a while now and is slowly becoming a force with bat and ball. His batting has improved in recent years with over 800 runs at a strike rate in excess of 140 since 2023. He should be a vital cog in the Gulf Giants side in this ILT20 season.
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• Brandon McMullen (DC): Brandon McMullen may not start the season in the playing 11. However, McMullen is perhaps the best Associate Nations player there is with the Scottish batter also having a good 2024 season. Given his form for Scotland, McMullen is surely one to watch out for.
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• Luke Wood (DV): Luke Wood has been amazing in the last few months, impressing for Deccan Gladiators in the Abu Dhabi T10 League. The left-armer can generate decent pace and can also give it a fair whack with the bat, making him a worthwhile stock pick too.
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• Andries Gous (ADKR): Andries Gous is another Associate Nations player who had a good 2024 season. Gous amassed 306 runs at an average of 28 across T20 tournaments and also had a sensational T10 campaign with 225 runs at a strike rate of 185. Given his exploits in the previous ILT20 season, Gous is ready for another go this season.