Season five of ILT20 launched amid fanfare at glittering ceremony in Dubai

DP World International League T20 (ILT20) Season 5 was officially launched at a dazzling event held in Dubai on Wednesday. Cricketing icons Brett Lee and Shoaib Akhtar were among the star attractions at the event.

Season 5 of the DP World ILT20 will be played in November-December this year at the UAE’s three iconic cricket venues – Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, Dubai International Stadium and Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Desert Vipers will begin the tournament as defending champions. Past winners include Gulf Giants - Season 1, MI Emirates - Season 2 and Dubai Capitals - Season 3.

During the event, Chairman ILT20 Khalid Al Zarooni and ILT20 League Commissioner/ICC Director Associates/General Secretary ECB Mubashshir Usmani spoke in depth about the DP World ILT20’s massive rise in recent years, especially the tournament’s contribution to the growth and expansion of cricket in the Gulf region.

Addressing the gathering, Al Zarooni said: “What began as a dream has grown into one of the world’s leading cricket leagues, bringing together top players and major franchises, while helping grow cricket in the UAE, the region and beyond.

“I would like to thank our stakeholders, franchise owners, commercial and strategic partners for their continued support. During the event, a special panel discussion hosted by former New Zealand international Simon Doull brought together senior representatives from cricket, sport, business and government to discuss the evolving landscape and future of the game both in the region and globally.

The panel featured Mubashshir Usmani, Dr Mohamed Abu Hamra, COO - Digital Technology, DP World GCC; Eisa Sharif, Director Sports Events, Dubai Sports Council; Mukund Galgali, Deputy CEO & CFO, ZEE Entertainment Enterprises; Venu Nair, President - Middle East & South Asia, SportFive; and Tushar Malhotra, Global Director Sales & Marketing, Bisleri.

Doull also hosted a panel discussion with Lee and Shoaib during the glittering launch.

The fast bowling legends spoke about the growing impact of the DP World ILT20 on UAE and regional cricket.

The duo also reminisced about their playing days and shared memories in an era where they dominated the game through their blistering pace bowling.

The evening also featured a spell-binding performance by celebrity mentalist Karan Singh Magic. The league also revealed the new brand identity for Season 5.