The end of 2025 is shaping up to be a landmark moment for cricket in the Middle East. The DP World ILT20 (International League T20) will return for its fourth season on 2 December 2025, aligning perfectly with the UAE’s National Day celebrations, and will run until 4 January 2026. With a new player auction, expanded development tournaments, headline signings, and premium hospitality options for fans, Season 4 is set not only to deliver fireworks on the pitch but also to demonstrate how far the DP World ILT20 league has come in just a few short years.
This year, the excitement around the DP World ILT20 has reached new heights with fans eagerly anticipating the upcoming matches.
A Platform for Emerging Talent
The commitment to local talent continues to thrive in the DP World ILT20, showcasing both emerging players and established stars.
This year’s development tournaments will serve as a crucial stepping stone for players aspiring to join the ranks of the DP World ILT20.
One of the defining features of the ILT20 has been its emphasis on nurturing local and regional talent alongside global stars. That commitment is clear again this summer, with two development tournaments laying the foundations for Season 4.
The DP World ILT20 Development Tournament is generating immense interest and excitement among fans and players alike.
The DP World ILT20 continues to set a high standard for regional leagues, further establishing itself as a premier competition.
The Dubai leg begins on 24 August 2025 at ICC Academy Oval 1, featuring six development squads linked to each franchise — Gulf Giants Development, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Development, Desert Vipers Development, Dubai Capitals Development, MI Emirates Development, and Sharjah Warriorz Development. These teams, stocked with UAE’s emerging cricketers, are competing not just for silverware but for recognition. Last year’s edition produced breakout names like Farhan Ahmed and Saghir Khan, both of whom earned ILT20 call-ups after impressing scouts.
Tournament Director Andrew Russell summed up the importance of the competition:
The upcoming DP World ILT20 Player Auction promises to be an exciting event, attracting talent from all over.
“The DP World ILT20 Development Tournament is one of the most sought-after events in the Emirates Cricket Board’s domestic calendar. The platform is ideal for young and emerging players from all over the country to showcase their talent and stake a claim for a place in the DP World ILT20.”
With the DP World ILT20 Player Auction, fans can expect thrilling moments as teams bolster their rosters.
In September, the league will expand further by launching a new Kuwait leg, to be held from 4 to 12 September at Sulaibiya Cricket Ground. Four regional teams — the Failaika Guardians, Pearl Strikers, Kuwait Falcons, and Boubyan Warriors — will compete in a round-robin competition, with the top two contesting the final on 12 September. The Kuwait Cricket Board has hailed the initiative as a partnership that could transform their domestic scene, giving local cricketers an international stage to showcase their skills.
For players, the incentive could not be clearer. The development tournaments are offering a direct pathway into the upcoming Season 4 Player Auction, described by organisers as a “golden opportunity” to break into franchise cricket. For the league, it ensures that the talent pipeline continues to grow, securing the ILT20’s long-term future.
The DP World ILT20 showcases a blend of strategy and excitement as franchises prepare for the upcoming season.
Shimron Hetmyer’s signing is just one example of the caliber of players drawn to the DP World ILT20.
A New Era: The First-Ever Player Auction
If the development tournaments build the foundation, the Player Auction will provide the spectacle. In a significant shift from its draft system, ILT20 will hold its first-ever auction on 30 September 2025 in Dubai. Each of the six franchises will have 13 slots to fill, creating 78 opportunities for cricketers to step onto the global stage. A collective purse of USD 4.8 million means bidding battles are expected to be fierce.
The DP World ILT20 teams are strategically planning to ensure a competitive edge this season.
Fans can engage with the DP World ILT20 through exclusive hospitality packages, enhancing their experience.
Players wishing to enter the auction must register by 10 September, giving scouts a clear pool of talent to analyse. For fans, the introduction of the auction will inject fresh excitement into team building, promising the same high-stakes theatre that leagues like the IPL have long thrived on.
League CEO David White called the auction a milestone moment:
“We are delighted to confirm the DP World International League Season Four Player Auction date. The auction is a big milestone for the league as we continue to grow as a world-class T20 tournament. The auction will be a great opportunity for our franchises to add local and international firepower to their Season 4 squads.”
Teams Set to Take Shape: Retentions and Signings
Before stepping into the auction hall, franchises have been allowed to retain up to eight players each, giving them a backbone of familiar names around which to build. This mix of continuity and fresh opportunity mirrors the balance the league itself is striving for.
Among the standout developments ahead of the season is the Desert Vipers’ capture of West Indies batter Shimron Hetmyer as a wild-card signing. His arrival will bolster their top order with experience and flair. Speaking about the Vipers’ ambitions, head coach Tom Moody admitted:
“Not lifting the trophy is frustrating, but we’re close.”
His words reflect both the hunger within his squad and the competitive intensity the league has fostered. With Hetmyer joining their ranks and retentions in place, the Vipers look primed to challenge again.
Across the league, retained squads give a hint of what to expect come December: MI Emirates sticking with their powerful batting order, Gulf Giants leaning on pace depth, and Dubai Capitals balancing youth with seasoned internationals. The auction will add the final touches to these line-ups.
Premium Fan Experiences: ES Sport’s Hospitality Packages
While the cricket promises to be riveting, the ILT20 is also about the fan experience. For Season 4, ES Sport will offer exclusive hospitality packages that allow supporters to enjoy the tournament in style. These packages are designed not only for passionate cricket lovers but also for businesses and groups seeking a world-class day out.
The DP World ILT20 is not only a sports event but a cultural celebration, drawing fans from far and wide.
As Season 4 of the DP World ILT20 approaches, the anticipation among fans and players is palpable.
Guests can look forward to:
With 34 matches scheduled, the DP World ILT20 is set to offer thrilling cricketing action all month long.
The DP World ILT20 has a significant impact on the growth of cricket in the region.
- Prime seating with unbeatable views of the action.
Through the DP World ILT20, local talent is given unprecedented opportunities to shine on an international stage.
- Access to VIP lounges with gourmet catering, refreshments, and premium service.
- Opportunities to network in a relaxed yet electric environment.
- Exclusive add-ons, including potential meet-and-greet opportunities with cricketing personalities.
By combining top-level sport with five-star hospitality, we will ensure that attending ILT20 is more than just watching cricket — it will be a complete entertainment experience. For international visitors and local fans alike, these packages will provide the best way to savour the atmosphere of the UAE’s fastest-growing sporting event. For more information please visit: https://www.es-sport.ae/sports-experience/dp-world-ilt20/
Season 4: A Cricket Festival in the Gulf
Season 4 will officially be known as the 2026 International League T20, running from 2 December 2025 to 4 January 2026, with 34 matches to be played in a double round-robin format followed by playoffs. The timing is symbolic: opening on UAE National Day ties the competition directly to the nation’s identity, embedding cricket within a broader cultural celebration.
The fixtures are expected to deliver packed stadiums, with Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah all hosting games. With international stars joining local heroes and the development graduates eager to make their mark, the league’s mix of glamour and grassroots has rarely looked more compelling.
The DP World ILT20 is committed to providing an unforgettable fan experience at each match.
Why It Matters
As we look forward to the DP World ILT20, fans are reminded to secure their hospitality packages early.
The developments around Season 4 tell a bigger story about cricket’s expansion in the Gulf:
- Talent Pipeline: The Dubai and Kuwait tournaments show that ILT20 is not just about imported stars but about creating pathways for regional players.
- Innovation with Auctions: The move to auctions will put ILT20 alongside the world’s leading leagues, offering transparency and spectacle.
- Balanced Team Planning: Retentions will safeguard team identities, while the auction and wild-card signings inject unpredictability.
- Unforgettable Fan Experience: ES Sport’s hospitality packages will elevate the tournament into a premium lifestyle event.
- Cultural Integration: By launching on UAE National Day, the tournament will be woven into the nation’s fabric, showcasing sport as part of a larger celebration.
Looking Ahead
From the high-energy development tournaments to the tension of the auction room, the luxury of hospitality lounges, and the grandeur of December’s opening match, everything about ILT20 Season 4 suggests a competition entering a new phase of maturity. It has evolved from an ambitious start-up into a fixture on the global cricket calendar, one that balances international star power with genuine investment in local ecosystems.
Fans across the region and beyond will be watching closely. For the players impressing in Dubai, for those preparing to shine in Kuwait, for the seasoned internationals waiting for the hammer to fall at the auction, and for fans seeking the ultimate matchday experience through ES Sport’s premium packages — the stage is set.
Season 4 will be more than a tournament. It will be a statement: that the Gulf is ready to host and grow world-class cricket, rooted in development and fuelled by ambition. And when the first ball is bowled on 2 December, the journey of the ILT20 will feel like it has reached its most exciting chapter yet.
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