ILT20 2024: Full schedule, squads, format and everything else you need to know ahead of 2nd edition

After a successful inaugural season, the Emirates Cricket Board is all set to bring the second edition of the International League T20 (ILT20) starting on 19 January. The Sharjah Cricket Stadium, the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. in Abu Dhabi will be the three venues for the upcoming season that will once again clash with the ongoing SA20 in South Africa. Here’s all you need to know about the ILT20: What is ILT20? The International League T20 (ILT20), is a 20-over franchise-based competition, held in the United Arab Emirates. When will the ILT20 be held? The second edition of the ILT20 will go on from 19 January to 17 February. Where will ILT20 be hosted? The ILT20 will be hosted in the United Arab Emirates, with Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah serving as the venues for matches. Which are the teams in ILT20? There are six teams in the ILT20. Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Desert Vipers, Dubai Capitals, Gulf Giants, MI Emirates, and Sharjah Warriors are the teams vying for the title in the ILT20. Full squads Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: Ali Khan, Andre Russell, Brandon McMullen, Charith Asalanka, David Willey, Jake Lintott, Joe Clarke, Josh Little, Laurie Evans, Marchant de Lange, Matiullah Khan, Michael Pepper, Ravi Bopara, Sabir Ali, Sam Hain, Sunil Narine, Imad Wasim Desert Vipers: Adam Hose, Alex Hales, Ali Naseer, Azam Khan, Bas de Leede, Colin Munro, Dinesh Chandimal, Gus Atkinson, Luke Wood, Matheesha Pathirana, Michael Jones, Rohan Mustafa, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sheldon Cottrell, Sherfane Rutherford, Tom Curran, Wanindu Hasaranga Dubai Capitals: Andrew Tye, Dasun Shanaka, David Warner, Dushmantha Chameera, Joe Root, Mark Wood, Max Holden, Mohammad Mohsin, Nuwan Thushara, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Raja Akif, Roman Powell, Roelof van der Merwe, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Sam Billings, Sikandar Raza MI Emirates: Akeal Hosein, Ambati Rayudu, Andre Fletcher, Corey Anderson, Daniel Mousley, Dwayne Bravo, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Jordan Thompson, Kieron Pollard, Kusal Perera, McKenny Clarke, Muhammad Waseem, Nicholas Pooran (c), Nosthush Kenjige, Odean Smith, Trent Boult, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Waqar Salamkheil, Will Smeed, Zahoor Khan Sharjah Warriors: Chris Sole, Chris Woakes, Daniel Sams, Dilshan Madushanka, James Fuller, Joe Denly, Johnson Charles, Junaid Siddique, Kusal Mendis, Lewis Gregory, Mahesh Theekshana, Mark Deyal, Mark Watt, Martin Guptill, Muhammad Jawadullah, Qais Ahmad, Sean Williams, Tom Kohler-Cadmore Gulf Giants: Aayan Afzal Khan, Carlos Brathwaite, Chris Jordan, Chris Lynn, Dominic Drakes, Gerhard Erasmus, Jamie Overton, James Vince, Jamie Smith, Jordan Cox, Karim Janat, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, Rehan Ahmed, Richard Gleeson, Sanchit Sharma, Saurabh Netravalkar, Shimon Hetmyer What is the schedule? January 19: Sharjah Warriors vs Gulf Giants January 20: Dubai Capitals vs MI Emirates January 21: Desert Vipers vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders MI Emirates vs Gulf Giants January 22: Dubai Capitals vs Sharjah Warriors January 23: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs MI Emirates January 24: Gulf Giants vs Desert Vipers January 25: Dubai Capitals vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders January 26: Sharjah Warriors vs MI Emirates January 27: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Desert Vipers Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals January 28: MI Emirates vs Abu Dhabi Knight RidersDesert Vipers vs Sharjah Warriors January 29: Sharjah Warriors vs Dubai Capitals January 30: Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates January 31: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Gulf Giants February 1: Dubai Capitals vs Desert Vipers February 2: MI Emirates vs Sharjah Warriors February 3: Desert Vipers vs Gulf Giants Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Dubai Capitals February 4: MI Emirates vs Desert Vipers Gulf Giants vs Sharjah Warriors February 5: Sharjah Warriors vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders February 6: Dubai Capitals vs Gulf Giants February 7: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Sharjah Warriors February 8: Gulf Giants vs MI Emirates February 9: Desert Vipers vs Dubai Capitals February 10: Gulf Giants vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders MI Emirates vs Dubai Capitals February 11: Sharjah Warriors vs Desert Vipers February 13: Qualifier 1 February 14: Eliminator February 15: Qualifier 2 February 17: Final What’s the format? All six teams will be part of a double round-robin format, with two points awarded for a win and one for a tie. The top-four teams will qualify for the playoffs (13 February – 17 February), where the first and second-placed teams will compete for a direct entry to the final. The losing team will face the winner of the eliminator (third versus fourth) for a place in the trophy showdown. Overall, a total of 34 matches will be played. Who are the key overseas players? ILT20 overlaps with SA20 as well as the final stages of the Big Bash League. Still, ILT20 has attracted quality overseas players due to lucrative contracts. The tournament holds List A status, making it the first franchise T20 league run by an associate board with that label. Gulf Giants and Desert Vipers, which were the best teams last season, have retained key players. The competition features prominent overseas players, including Chris Lynn, Shimron Hetmyer, Finn Allen, and Carlos Brathwaite. ILT20 live streaming and broadcast details ZEE has the broadcast rights for ILT20. All 34 matches will be televised live across the company’s 10 linear channels, with coverage available in over 10 languages, including English, Hindi, and Tamil, as well as on ZEE5. In the UK, Zee TV can be accessed on Sky channel 709 and Virgin Media channel 809. In 2023, every match will also be available via BT Sport (TV/online/app).