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ILT20 Moves Up To Avoid Clash With SA20, PSL And T20 World Cup 2026

Aakash Saini

Dubai Capitals with ILT20 2025 trophy [Source: @ILT20Official/x]Dubai Capitals with ILT20 2025 trophy [Source: @ILT20Official/x]

The 2026 edition of the International League T20 (ILT20) has been brought up to a December-January window in a bid to avoid clash with several other leagues in a jumbled T20 calendar. The move was also initiated so that the next season of ILT20 concludes well before the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

Usually, each of the three editions of ILT20 so far have been organized during the January and February window by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB). ILT20 seasons often coincide with the likes of other prominent T20 leagues like SA20, and parts of Big Bash League, BPL and PSL.

ILT20 brought up to December-January window

ILT20 chief executive David White recently confirmed that the next season of the tournament will be played between December 2 and January 4 later this year. White added that the Emirates Cricket Board made the decision after holding extensive discussions with all stakeholders.

The executive further stated that they found it important for ILT20 players to get enough time for preparing for national duties before the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Notably, the revised start date of December 2 also happens to be a national holiday in the UAE.

The upcoming 2025-26 edition also marks the fourth chapter of the ILT20. Launched in 2023, Gulf Giants, MI Emirates and Dubai Capitals have won a title each so far in that order. The Capitals won the 2025 edition earlier this year and will start out the 2025-26 season as defending champions.

In a similar move a couple of months ago, Cricket South Africa (CSA) also confirmed that the next edition of SA20 (2026) will launch from December 26 onwards to give players a breathing space before the 2026 T20 World Cup.