UAE's IPL-style ILT20 tournament to start on National Day

The DP World International League T20 Season 4 will begin on December 2 — UAE National Day (Eid-Al-Etihad) with the six-team, 34-match tournament set to conclude with the final on January 4, Sunday, 2026.

The biggest T20 league in the Gulf region has moved out of its traditional January-February window as the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is scheduled to be played in February-March 2026.

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“We are delighted to confirm that the DP World International League T20 Season 4 will commence on the UAE National Day – Eid-Al-Etihad – which is one of the most important days on the UAE calendar," said Khalid Al Zarooni, Chairman ILT20 and Vice-Chairman Emirates Cricket Board.

“The UAE National Day is the day where we celebrate the United Arab Emirates which is home to people from around the world including millions of diehard cricket fans. It is a real honour for us to join the nation in the UAE National Day 2025 celebrations with the launch of the region’s biggest T20 league – the DP World ILT20 Season 4, on the same day.”

David White, CEO of ILT20, said December-January was the ideal window for the fourth season of the tournament.  

"The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup begins in early February hence it was important for us to start and finish Season 4 well before the tournament as it will allow the players playing both the DP World ILT20 and the T20 World Cup to prepare for national duty," White said.

"In addition, we feel that the December-January window will provide the teams’ the best opportunity to access a bigger pool of players.

The third season featured some of the biggest T20 stars including Nicholas Pooran, Sam Curran, who won the Player of the Tournament award, Shai Hope, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Jason Holder, Alex Hales, Fakhar Zaman, Lockie Ferguson, David Warner, Rovman Powell, Shimron Hetmyer, Tim Southee, Matthew Wade, Jason Roy, Adil Rashid and Adam Zampa.

Dubai Capitals won the glittering trophy, edging out the Desert Vipers in a thrilling final which was played in front of a full house at the Dubai International Stadium on February 9, 2025.  

“Season 3 was a big success with outstanding broadcast and digital numbers as the fans enjoyed a step-up in the quality of cricket," White said.

"The teams gave their absolute all across the hugely competitive 34-tournament matches which concluded with a nail-biting final won by the Dubai Capitals in the last over of the match. We are now fully focused on making an even bigger impact as we turn our attention to Season 4.”