ILT20 Launches Development Tournament for UAE Cricketers

The International League T20 (ILT20) is set to kick off the first edition of the ILT20 Development Tournament in Dubai starting from September 30. This tournament is exclusively dedicated to UAE cricket players and serves as an opportunity for them to secure a place in Season 2 of ILT20.

As part of the tournament rules, each franchise participating in ILT20 must include four UAE players in their squads. Currently, the six franchises have retained a total of 11 UAE players, leaving 13 spots available for selection.

The retained players include Ali Naseer (Desert Vipers), Aayan Afzal Khan (Gulf Giants), Junaid Siddique (Sharjah Warriors), Matiullah (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Mohammad Waseem (MI Emirates), Muhammad Jawadullah (Sharjah Warriors), Raja Akif (Dubai Capitals), Rohan Mustafa (Desert Vipers), Sabir Ali (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Sanchit Sharma (Gulf Giants), and Zahoor Khan (MI Emirates). All these players are expected to participate in the ILT20 Development Tournament.

Six teams will compete in the tournament, and each team will play five matches in the group stage, facing every other team once. The top four teams at the end of the group stage will advance to the semi-finals. The group stage matches will be held at the ICC Academy Grounds, with the final scheduled for October 10.

The selection process for this tournament will be led by the six head coaches, along with support from their respective staff. Andy Russell, the Development Manager of the Emirates Cricket Board and Tournament Director of the ILT20 Development Tournament, will oversee the selection process.

Secretary said

Mubashshir Usmani, the General Secretary of the Emirates Cricket Board, expressed his satisfaction with this initiative, stating, “We are very happy to see UAE players being provided an opportunity to show their skills through the ILT20 Development Tournament. This initiative is truly a life-changing opportunity for these players.”

He also emphasized the potential benefits of the tournament for the growth of cricket in the UAE, serving as a platform for participation in the DP World ILT20 and aiding in the identification and selection of players for the UAE’s men’s teams in the future.

Following the ILT20 Development Tournament, all participating players (excluding the 11 retained players) will be eligible for selection in DP World ILT20 Season 2. The 13 available spots for UAE players across the six franchises will be filled through a DP World ILT20 organized Player Draft that will take place after the Development Tournament.

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