Cricket November 6, 2025

DP World ILT20 Schools Cup 2025 Begins in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah

The DP World ILT20 Schools Cup 2025 has officially launched across the Emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, marking a key milestone in the domestic cricket-development landscape of the UAE. Organised under the umbrella of the DP World ILT20, this third edition of the Schools Cup brings 39 school teams together—across boys’ and girls’ competitions—in a structured tournament that links school-level cricket to the franchise arena.

Taking Stock: What’s New This Year?

The Schools Cup 2025 commenced on 23 October 2025, across the three Emirates.
One of the most significant evolutions this year is the inclusion of a dedicated girls’ competition. Nine school teams are participating in the girls’ tournament, playing with leather cricket balls—an explicit signal of growing investment in female youth cricket.

Structure, Venues and Timing

The Schools Cup stages matches across Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, giving students access to venues used by professional franchises. The competition is aligned with a tournament format that mirrors the franchise game: pool stages leading into finals day.

Finals day is scheduled for 22 November 2025, concluding the Schools Cup and forming part of a junior-cricket festival that leads into the main ILT20 season.
This structure links school cricket to academy and franchise levels.

Many of the matches take place at established cricket facilities such as the ICC Academy in Dubai, the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi and the Sharjah Cricket Stadium—giving school players exposure to elite venues. The atmosphere, coaching standards and tournament logistics mirror what players experience at the development and franchise levels, creating an aspirational bridge between school and professional cricket.

Strategic Importance: The Pathway Vision

From inception, the Schools Cup has been framed as a strategic investment in talent development. The league’s leadership has emphasised that the Schools Cup is intended to provide schoolchildren with opportunities to play at major venues and to build stronger links between school sport and the franchise game.

Tournament Director Andrew Russell has consistently underlined that this competition is the base of a broader pyramid: it feeds into the ILT20 Development Tournament and ultimately into the franchise squads. In that way, the Schools Cup is a talent-identification and development mechanism.

According to Russell, “We’ve already seen players from past Schools Cups progress into the Development Tournament. That’s the whole idea—to ensure that every talented player has a chance to step up through clear and structured pathways.”

The Development Tournament itself, which took place in August 2025, featured six franchise-aligned teams and provided a showcase for players, including Khuzaima Tanveer and Saghir Khan, both of whom earned senior squad call-ups after strong performances.

Impacts and Opportunities

For schools participating, the Schools Cup enhances institutional sporting credibility, offers students exposure, and positions the school as a hub for talent. For students, playing in the Schools Cup means competing at recognised venues, being visible to coaches and scouts, and connecting into a real pathway. For girls especially, the leather-ball competition is a meaningful step toward parity. From the franchise and league perspective, the Schools Cup helps build local talent pools, strengthens brand engagement with youth, supports franchise-community links, and enhances the sustainability of the sport in the UAE.

ES Sport: Exclusive Hospitality Packages for the ILT20

At ES Sport, we are proud to be the exclusive hospitality provider for the DP World ILT20, offering a premium way to experience one of the region’s most exciting sporting events. Whether you’re entertaining clients, or planning a memorable outing with family and friends, our packages are designed to elevate your match-day experience.

We offer a variety of multi-option, all-inclusive ticketed access and hospitality packages tailored to individuals, groups, and corporate clients. Our options include:

VIP Suites (24-seater): Enjoy the game in privacy and comfort, with five-star international catering, private seating, multiple live screens, and exceptional views. Soft drinks are included, with optional alcohol packages available directly from the venue.

Sky Boxes (12-seater): Experience panoramic views of the stadium, premium high-tea, dinner service, and exclusive access with curated hospitality.

Each suite package covers up to ten matches—including the final—ensuring you and your guests don’t miss any of the action. Our post-match meet-and-greet opportunities with players add a personal, unforgettable touch to your ILT20 experience.

For parents of Schools Cup players, alumni groups, or school communities wanting to mark their tournament journey in style, our hospitality packages provide the ideal way to connect with the top tier of UAE cricket. We’re committed to delivering best-in-class experiences that combine sport, comfort and celebration.

For full package details or to reserve your space, visit https://www.es-sport.ae/sports-experience/dp-world-ilt20/.

What It Means to Participate

For players and coaches, this competition offers a sporting journey. Zoya Ahmed, a 16-year-old top-order batter in the girls’ pool, said playing in this year’s tournament felt “like a dream… we’re now playing leather-ball matches at proper stadiums. It feels like we’re being taken seriously. I’d love to keep going and maybe play for the UAE one day.”

Her coach, Farzana Khan, observed: “These girls have the passion and the skill. What they’ve needed is structure, visibility and a proper platform. The ILT20 Schools Cup has finally started to provide that.”

Other coaches agree. Jayant Chauhan, head coach of one of Sharjah’s leading boys’ teams, said, “This is not just about trophies. It’s about development, character, and giving our players a glimpse of where hard work can take them. We’re seeing the future of UAE cricket unfold in front of us.”

Looking Ahead

With finals day approaching and ILT20 Season 4 on the horizon (beginning 2 December 2025), attention is turning to how effectively the Schools Cup will feed talent into the next tiers. The number of players progressing from Schools Cup to Development Tournament and into franchise squads will be a key measure of the programme’s success. The inclusion of the girls’ competition and the expansion to 39 schools also points toward broader, long-term growth in UAE youth cricket.

As David White, CEO of ILT20, has said: “Cricket’s future in the UAE will be shaped not just by the players we import, but by the players we develop here. The Schools Cup is the foundation of that ambition.”