The inaugural ILT20 Development Tournament will be held in Dubai starting on September 30 under the auspices of the International League T20. The competition will be tailored to UAE players and offer the chance to be selected for Season 2 of ILT20. There must be four UAE players for each franchise. Eleven UAE players have so far been kept by the six organizations, leaving 13 spaces open.
The ILT20 Development Tournament will include six teams, and in the group stage, each team will play five matches (one against each other). The top four teams from each group will advance to the semifinals. The ICC Academy Grounds will host the group stage contests. On October 10, the final will take place.
The ILT20 Development Tournament’s Tournament Director, Andy Russell, will oversee the selection process while the six head coaches will lead it with the help of their individual support staff. Andy Russell is the Development Manager for the Emirates Cricket Board.
Mubashshir Usmani, general secretary of the Emirates Cricket Board, said: “We are delighted to see UAE cricketers being given the chance to showcase their abilities through the ILT20 Development Tournament. For these sportsmen, this project represents a chance to change their lives.
“I am confident that the competition will be very helpful for the development of the game and will serve as a springboard for participation in the DP World ILT20 as well as assisting in the identification and selection of players for the UAE’s men’s teams in the years to come,” the author said.
All competitors (aside from the 11 retained) will be qualified for selection in DP World ILT20 Season 2 following the competition. Following the Development Tournament, a Player Draught conducted by DP World ILT20 will be held to fill the 13 open spots for UAE players across the six franchises.
