KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
The fourth season of the DP World International League T20 (ILT20) kicked off on Tuesday at the Dubai Cricket Stadium, reaffirming its position as cricket's most globally inclusive franchise league.
Amid an entertaining start, where Emirati singer Ahmed Al Hosani sung the national anthem and joined by Pakistan's actor-singer Ali Zafar, the ILT20 has quietly initiated work on adding to its recent work of being a platform for all Associate member nations in the cricketing ecosystem.
While hosting international superstars, the UAE's flagship cricket tournament is actively strengthening the talent pool through structured development pathways, adding a major focus on Africa soon after establishing a foray into the Gulf region.
For the fourth season, the latest inclusion initiative sees the league partner with African cricket boards in a continental programme, which brings seven fully funded Under 25 fast bowlers from Africa to join ILT20 teams for the competition's duration, exposing them to an elite, high-performance environment.
Headlining this group is 22-year-old Ugandan quick Juma Miyagi. The star performer from the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, who boasts 57 T20I wickets, will link up with the Gulf Giants.
"It's a huge honour to represent Uganda in a global franchise league," said Miyagi. "I want to learn, bowl hard in the nets, fight for a place on the playing squad and show that Ugandan players can compete."
The six other fast bowlers nominated for this pathway, representing a diverse range of African cricketing nations, are: Katlo Piet (Botswana), Samuel Conteh (Sierra Leone), Martin Akayezu (Rwanda), Francis Mutua (Kenya), Peter Aho (Nigeria), Mohammed Issa (Tanzania).
The ILT20 has established a unique set of squad regulations designed to integrate emerging talent. Each franchise must draft a minimum of four UAE players and two other Associate players. Building on this foundation, the league has actively expanded its regional commitment in the past year.
Following a successful development tournament in Kuwait, all six teams are now mandated to include at least one Kuwaiti player.This was quickly followed by a partnership with the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation, requiring the inclusion of one Saudi Arabian player per squad, signaling the ILT20's ambition to become the premier Gulf region league. ILT20 CEO David White has previously indicated plans to potentially host future matches and establish a development league in Saudi Arabia.
Nigeria's Aho, who once held the T20I record for best bowling figures with 6/5, will join the Dubai Capitals. The pathway is a progression from the ILT20's support for the African Continental Cup in 2023 and 2024, demonstrating its long-term investment in the continent's cricket.
Meanwhile, the Season 4 opener was a rematch of last year's captivating final, pits reigning champions Dubai Capitals against Desert Vipers at the Dubai International Stadium. A spectacular opening ceremony matched the festive spirit of Eid Al Etihad.
Meanwhile, the Season 4 opener was a rematch of last year's captivating final, pits reigning champions Dubai Capitals against Desert Vipers at the Dubai International Stadium. A spectacular opening ceremony matched the festive spirit of Eid Al Etihad.