Franchise activity has picked up ahead of the fourth season of the ILT20, with defending champions Dubai Capitals and MI Emirates unveiling their list of retentions and new additions.
The tournament has been advanced to a December-January window this time, avoiding clashes with the SA20 and finishing well ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Dubai Capitals have opted for continuity at the core, retaining Rovman Powell, Shai Hope, and Gulbadin Naib. They have also added Afghanistan wristspinner Waqar Salamkheil, England left-arm pacer Luke Wood, and UAE seamer Muhammad Jawadullah to strengthen their bowling options.
MI Emirates, meanwhile, have held on to Afghanistan’s mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar, UAE power-hitter Muhammad Waseem, and Romario Shepherd. Ghazanfar, still only 18, continues to impress with his consistency, while Waseem remains among the most prolific six-hitters in global T20Is. They’ve also brought in England all-rounder Chris Woakes and Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis.
Desert Vipers, last season’s finalists, have added American wicketkeeper-batter Andries Gous, currently featuring in MLC 2025 for Washington Freedom. Their key retentions include Lockie Ferguson, Sam Curran, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Dan Lawrence, keeping the spine of their squad intact.
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, who had a poor 2024-25 campaign, are banking on experience and firepower this time. England’s Liam Livingstone, West Indies’ Sherfane Rutherford, and veteran Alex Hales are their big signings. Hales, 36, has been prolific across leagues and is on the verge of overtaking Chris Gayle as the leading run-scorer in T20 cricket. He recently turned down a county deal to prioritise franchise leagues, underlining his focus on the global circuit.
The Knight Riders have also retained key overseas names, including Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Phil Salt, and Charith Asalanka.
Among other teams, the Gulf Giants have brought in Moeen Ali, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Azmatullah Omarzai, while retaining players like James Vince and Mark Adair. Sharjah Warriorz added Tim David, Maheesh Theekshana, and Sikandar Raza to their squad, with Kusal Mendis, Tim Southee, and Johnson Charles among their retained group.
The ILT20 franchises are expected to complete their squads in the upcoming player auction, the dates for which are yet to be announced. With the tournament shifting to a less congested window, the 2025-26 edition is expected to feature stronger line-ups and greater player availability across franchises.
