Culture, Sports, Cricket, T20 Cricket

The Emirates Cricket Board confirmed on Monday that the inaugural ILT20 League will be held in 2023 from January 6 to February 12.

The new league will be known as the "International League T20," or "ILT20."

Reliance Industries, Kolkata Knight Riders, Capri Global, GMR, Lancer Capital, and Adani Sportsline are among the Indian companies that have purchased franchises in the new league.

The new league, according to Sheikh Nahyan bin Mabarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Chairman of the Emirates Cricket Board, would help the sport develop in the UAE.

As quoted by the Khaleej Times, Sheikh Nahyan said, “As we begin this long journey I am confident that together we will achieve new heights and in the process provide entertainment and excitement to the millions of fans around the globe who are waiting for the first ball of the UAE T20 League to be bowled.”

He assured that in addition to being entertained on the field with cricket, people will also be entertained by traditional UAE hospitality off the field.

The six-team franchise-style League will be played at world-class stadiums in the UAE over a 34-match schedule.

The tournament will also provide a valuable platform for Emirates Cricket to take their local talent development to the next level, with UAE-based players currently integrated into the Board's programme, as well as those identified by the High-Performance Coaching and Selection Committee teams, given the opportunity to train and play alongside some of the world's best players.

Chairman of ILT20, Khalid Al Zarooni, said that Emirates Cricket, and the UAE, have a proven history of identifying and embracing initiatives that underpin success of the game. It is vitally important that through this tournament UAE-based players continue to flourish, he said.

“We look forward to introducing to the world a T20 event that will provide unmatched competition and entertainment to the ardent followers of this game,” Al Zarooni further added.

According to the publication, Dr Tayeb Kamali, Chairman of the Selection Committee Emirates Cricket Board, said such an international league would play a significant part in attracting and fostering a wider pool of players who will represent the UAE in the future.