For the fourth year running, the International League T20 is set to showcase some of the game’s biggest T20 luminaries, with stars from across the globe descending on the Gulf for what promises to be another riveting season.
England’s power-packed contingent, Alex Hales, Chris Woakes, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Phil Salt, and Sam Curran (last season’s Red Belt winner for Most Valuable Player), will once again light up the tournament with their versatility.
Joining them are West Indies heavyweights Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Sherfane Rutherford, and Shai Hope, who clinched the Green Belt last season as the tournament’s standout batter. Zimbabwe’s dynamic all-rounder Sikandar Raza and Afghanistan’s incisive new-ball spearhead Fazalhaq Farooqi, the White Belt recipient for best bowler in Season 3, add further quality to an already dazzling line-up.
Fans can also look forward to Australia’s hard-hitting finisher Tim David and New Zealand’s experienced pace duo Lockie Ferguson and Tim Southee bringing their firepower to the month-long spectacle.
The teams have now completed the halfway stage in the squads’ selection process for Season 4 (eight players each). The first phase for Season 4 squad selection included the retention window for players from Season 3 and the new signings window which finished on 16 and 30 June respectively.
In the second phase of the Season 4 squad selection process, the teams will complete their respective squads at the ILT20 Season 4 Player Auction, with the date and details to be announced in the next few days.
Defending champions Dubai Capitals have added more depth to their bowling stocks by including Season 2 White Belt Winner, Afghanistan left-arm-wrist spinner Waqar Salamkheil as a new signing (previous team – MI Emirates) alongside left-arm pacers Luke Wood (previous team – Desert Vipers) and Muhammad Jawadullah (previous team – Sharjah Warriorz).
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders have added real firepower to their batting by adding three explosive T20 batters Alex Hales (previous team – Desert Vipers), Liam Livingstone (previous team – Sharjah Warriorz) and Sherfane Rutherford (previous team – Desert Vipers).
The Desert Vipers have included former ADKR opener Andries Gous as their new signing; the Season 1 and Season 3 finalists have retained the core of their Season 3 squad. Dan Lawrence, David Payne, Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Lockie Ferguson, Max Holden, Sam Curran and Wanindu Hasaranga will be rejoining the Vipers for Season 4.
Season 1 winners Gulf Giants have signed Afghanistan’s globally recognised all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai who will be making his ILT20 debut this season while donning the Giants kit as one of their new signings. England’s Moeen Ali (previous team Sharjah Warriorz) returns to the LT20, the T20 great will be playing for the Giants as a new signing. Dashing Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz is the other new Giants’ Season 4 signing. Gurbaz’s earlier ILT20 stints were with Sharjah Warriorz (Season 1), Dubai Capitals (Season 2) and Desert Vipers (Season 3).
Season 2 winners MI Emirates have added all-round strength to their squad by including the all-format all-rounder – Chris Woakes (previous team Sharjah Warriorz) as a new signing. Sri Lanka’s upcoming all-rounder Kamindu Mendis is the other MI Emirates new signing for Season 4 – Mendis will be making his ILT20 debut.
Sharjah Warriorz have added Sikandar Raza (previous team Dubai Capitals) – the globetrotting Zimbabwe all-rounder was the Season 2 Red Belt Winner – Most Valuable Player. Sri Lanka’s star white-ball spinner Maheesh Theekshana returns to the side as a new signing, he had appeared in eight games for the Warriorz in Season 2 of the ILT20.
Warriorz have also bolstered their batting prowess for Season 4 with the inclusion of Australia’s big-hitting batter Tim David as a new signing. David played for MI Emirates in Season 1 and the Gulf Giants in Season 2. USA left-arm fast bowler Saurabh Netravalkar has also joined the Warriorz.
ILT20 Season 4: Players rejoining their Season 3 teams
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: Alishan Sharafu, Andre Russell, Charith Asalanka, Phil Salt and Sunil Narine.
Desert Vipers: Dan Lawrence, David Payne, Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Lockie Ferguson, Max Holden, Sam Curran and Wanindu Hasaranga.
Dubai Capitals: Dasun Shanaka, Dushmantha Chameera, Gulbadin Naib, Rovmann Powell and Shai Hope.
Gulf Giants: Aayan Afzal Khan, Blessing Muzarabani, Gerhard Erasmus, James Vince and Mark Adair.
MI Emirates: AM Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kusal Perera, Romario Shepherd, Tom Banton and Muhammad Waseem.
Sharjah Warriorz: Johnson Charles, Kusal Mendis, Tim Southee and Tom Kohler-Cadmore.
ILT20 Season 4: New signings
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: Alex Hales, Liam Livingstone and Sherfane Rutherford.
Desert Vipers: Andries Gous.
Dubai Capitals: Luke Wood, Waqar Salamkheil and Muhammad Jawadullah.
Gulf Giants: Azmatullah Omarzai, Moeen Ali, Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
MI Emirates: Chris Woakes and Kamindu Mendis.
Sharjah Warriorz: Maheesh Theekshana, Sikandar Raza, Saurabh Netravalkar and Tim David