On Tuesday, the first match of the fourth season of the DP World ILT20 tournament was played between the third season’s finalists — the Desert Vipers — and the defending champions, the Dubai Capitals. The Vipers won by four wickets. It does not seem long since the Season 3 final was held on Feb. 9, but there have been significant changes to squads and the organization of the tournament in the intervening months.
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In the ever-congested international cricket calendar, competing events struggle for oxygen. The third ILT20 season took place in January/February 2025. Retention of similar dates in 2026 would abut the men’s T20 World Cup, which begins in Sri Lanka and India on Feb. 7, 2026. The decision to hold ILT20 between Dec. 2, 2025, and Jan. 4, 2026, means a partial overlap with the Big Bash League in Australia, which starts on Dec. 14 this year, and the SA20 which starts on Dec. 26. There is no clash with the Pakistan Super League, which runs from March 1-April 29, 2026, although the Bangladesh Premier League has announced an opening date of Dec. 26.
In future, these tournaments are likely to be faced each year with having to fit around major international tournaments and bilateral series between the major full members of the International Cricket Council. In this environment, it is vital for them to create their own competitive advantages and identities.
