Posted on December 13, 2023
The ILT20, situated in the UAE, has achieved List A status from the ICC, marking a noteworthy accomplishment just ahead of its second season. Despite its relatively recent establishment, the league has quickly risen to prominence globally as a major franchise-driven T20 tournament, primarily due to the high-caliber players it has attracted. This recognition establishes it as the first T20 league administered by the board of an Associate nation to receive List A status.
This designation signifies that the tournament will now be officially acknowledged as a T20 competition, and all statistics from the event will be granted official status. The ILT20 expressed its enthusiasm in a statement, labeling this update as a “major milestone” and a “significant boost.”
David White, the chief executive of the league, conveyed gratitude to the ICC, stating, “Earning List A status is a significant milestone for the DP World International League T20. We extend our thanks to the ICC for this acknowledgment. This recognition is a clear testament to the strength and stature of our league.”
The upcoming second edition of the tournament is scheduled to kick off on January 19 and conclude on February 17. Despite overlapping with other T20 leagues such as the BPL, SA20 league in South Africa, Australian BBL, Super Smash in New Zealand, and possibly the PSL, notable T20 stars, including David Warner, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Alex Hales, Shimron Hetmyer, Chris Jordan, Trent Boult, Nicholas Pooran, Chris Woakes, Maheesh Theekshana, and others, are set to participate in the ILT20.
Currently featuring six teams, three of which are owned by groups with IPL team ownership stakes (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Dubai Capitals, and MI Emirates), the ILT20 witnessed Gulf Giants, led by James Vince, emerge as the champions in the inaugural edition by defeating Desert Vipers in the final.