Roy, Ferguson, Hope Lead Exciting New Signings for UAE's ILT20

As anticipation builds for Season 3 of the DP World International League T20 (ILT20), cricket fans are eager to see some of the sport's biggest stars joining the six franchises. The player signing window, which opened in June, closed on September 15, unveiling a host of exciting new additions to the teams.

This season marks the debut of several international players, including Jason Roy with the Sharjah Warriorz, Fakhar Zaman and Lockie Ferguson with Desert Vipers, and Shai Hope with the Dubai Capitals. Other notable signings include Roston Chase for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Matthew Wade for Sharjah Warriorz, and Ibrahim Zadran for Gulf Giants.

Returning to the league is England's all-rounder Gus Atkinson, who has made a move to Sharjah Warriorz after an impressive previous season with the Desert Vipers. The Gulf Giants have also enhanced their lineup by bringing in fast bowler Tom Curran, among other prominent talents.

Stay informed with the latest news. Follow DXB News Network on WhatsApp Channel 

The Abu Dhabi Knight Riders have strengthened their squad with a solid mix, featuring West Indies players Roston Chase and Gudakesh Motie. Meanwhile, the defending champions MI Emirates have bolstered their roster by signing West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd, adding further depth to their already formidable team.

As teams prepare for the upcoming season, they will have additional opportunities to strengthen their squads following the DP World ILT20 Development Tournament.

Season 3 is set to kick off on Saturday, January 11, 2025, with the final scheduled for Sunday, February 9, 2025.

Current ILT20 Season 3 Squads as of September 19, 2024:

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders

• New Signings: Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, Gudakesh Motie, Hassan Khan, Roston Chase, Terrance Hinds
• Retained Players: Aditya Shetty, Ali Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Andre Russell, Andries Ghous, Charith Asalanka, David Willey, Joe Clarke, Laurie Evans, Michael Pepper, Sunil Narine

Desert Vipers

• New Signings: Dan Lawrence, David Payne, Fakhar Zaman, Lockie Ferguson, Max Holden
• Retained Players: Adam Hose, Alex Hales, Ali Naseer, Azam Khan, Bas de Leede, Luke Wood, Michael Jones, Mohammad Amir, Nathan Sowter, Sherfane Rutherford, Tanish Suri, Wanindu Hasaranga

Dubai Capitals

• New Signings: Adam Rossington, Brandon McMullen, Garuka Sanketh, Gulbadin Naib, Jeffrey Vandersay, Joe Burns, Joe Weatherley, Najibullah Zadran, Obed McCoy, Scott Kuggeleijn, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Shai Hope
• Retained Players: Dasun Shanaka, David Warner, Dushmantha Chameera, Haider Ali, Raja Akif, Rovman Powell, Sam Billings, Sikandar Raza, Zahir Khan, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Oliver Stone

Gulf Giants

• New Signings: Adam Lyth, Dominic Drakes, Daniel Worrall, Ibrahim Zadran, Mark Adair, Tom Curran, Tymal Mills, Wahidullah Zadran
• Retained Players: Aayan Afzal Khan, Blessing Muzarabani, Chris Jordan, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gerhard Erasmus, Jamie Overton, James Vince, Jamie Smith, Jordan Cox, Mohammad Zuhaib Zubair, Rehan Ahmed, Shimron Hetmyer

MI Emirates

• New Signings: Romario Shepherd, Tom Banton, Fareed Ahmad, Thomas Jack Draca, Ben Charlesworth
• Retained Players: Akeal Hosein, Andre Fletcher, Daniel Mousley, Dwayne Bravo, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Jordan Thompson, Kieron Pollard, Kusal Perera, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Muhammad Waseem, Nicholas Pooran, Nosthush Kenjige, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Waqar Salamkheil

Sharjah Warriorz

• New Signings: Adam Milne, Adil Rashid (who played for Warriorz in Season 2 as a wildcard pick), Ashton Agar, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Daniel Sams, Gus Atkinson, Harmeet Singh, Jason Roy, Karim Janat, Keemo Paul, Matthew Wade, Virandeep Singh, Tim Seifert
• Retained Players: Dilshan Madushanka, Johnson Charles, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah, Kusal Mendis, Luke Wells, Peter Hatzoglou, Tom Kohler-Cadmore

With a mix of returning stars and new talent, ILT20 Season 3 promises to deliver thrilling cricket action in the coming months.