News DeskDubai, UAE – Cricket’s future stars are set to light up Dubai as the third edition of the DP World International League T20 (ILT20) Development Tournament gets underway on Sunday, 24 August at ICC Academy Oval 1.
Defending champions Gulf Giants Development will face tough competition from Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Development, Desert Vipers Development, Dubai Capitals Development, MI Emirates Development and Sharjah Warriorz Development in an 18-match, round-robin battle.
The Player Selection Draft – where all squads of 15 UAE-based players will be finalised – takes place on 18 August at Dubai International Stadium. For aspiring cricketers, it’s the golden ticket: impress here and you could earn a spot in ILT20 Season 4, which kicks off with a blockbuster UAE National Day opener on 2 December and runs until 4 January 2026.
Tournament Director Andrew Russell called the event “one of the most sought-after on the Emirates Cricket Board’s domestic calendar,” noting that last year’s tournament unearthed stars like Farhan Ahmed, who went from development pick to title-winner with Dubai Capitals, and Saghir Khan, who shone for Gulf Giants.
With the UAE national team away for the Sharjah Tri-Series (29 August–7 September) and ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup, this edition promises even more opportunities for fresh talent to break through. ILT20 Season 4 franchises must sign at least four UAE players each, with a Player Auction after the Asia Cup adding 78 more to the squads.
The tournament runs until 3 September, with semi-finals on 2 September and the final under lights on 3 September at ICC Academy.
