Dubai . The DP World ILT20 is set for its third edition, scheduled to begin from January 11, 2025, with cricket legends Virender Sehwag and Shoaib Akhtar acknowledging its vital role in developing talent from the region and providing invaluable experience to the players. Praised the league. The two legends spoke at the season 3 launch event held on a yacht in Dubai Marina last weekend.
Indian cricket legend and explosive batsman Virender Sehwag, while speaking on the impact of the league in the last two seasons, said, “When we look at the last two seasons of the DP World ILT20, we can see that many players, whether they are from UAE or from other countries like Afghanistan, have significantly improved their performance in ICC tournaments.”
He also emphasized the unique learning opportunities the league provides to UAE players, “For the UAE team, when the players play alongside nine international stars, they have the opportunity to learn from these experienced players. Not only During matches but also how international players practice, prepare and handle pressure situations, they won't get that kind of experience anywhere else.”
Sehwag also recalled his experiences with global stars and how those meetings shaped his career. He said, “When I got a chance to play with stars like Glenn McGrath, AB de Villiers and Tillakaratne Dilshan, it helped me a lot because they shared their experiences with me. I had very good seasons after that experience. DP The World ILT20 is providing similar opportunities to UAE cricketers.”
Rawalpindi Express' Shoaib Akhtar, who has been associated with the competition since Season 2, echoed the sentiments of his colleagues when discussing the wider implications of the league: “As I have always said, it is not just the UAE, but the GCC countries. It's a breeding ground for talent, and it's a great initiative. I'm blessed to be a part of it and help take the game forward.”
He also explained how ILT20 is different from other international leagues. “The efforts being made by DP World, the organisers, the broadcasters and the Emirates Cricket Board have been tremendous. They have made it easy to collaborate with them,” he said. Akhtar praised the league's ability to bring together cricket and entertainment, saying, “DPILT20 has created the magic of bringing together entertainment and cricket. In particular, they have brought high quality cricket to the region, Which we have not seen in Sharjah since the IndiaPakistan days.”
Season 3 of the DP World International League T20 will begin on Saturday, January 11, 2025. This tournament of 34 matches will run for a month and its final will be played on Sunday, 9 February 2025.
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Image Credit: KhasKhabar.