MUMBAI: Just two days to go! The countdown has begun for the DP World ILT20 Season 3, which will be broadcast exclusively on Zee starting 11 January at the Dubai International Stadium. The tournament kicks off with the Dubai Capitals hosting the defending champions, MI Emirates, in the opener at 8:45 PM IST. Over the next month, 34 action-packed matches will take place, concluding on 9 February 2025. These matches will also air on Dubai TV, Abu Dhabi TV, the ILT20 official YouTube channel, and Myco for viewers in the MENA region.
The broadcaster announced the teams and their compositions on 9 January, with the flexibility for changes in case of injuries or non-availability of selected players.
Among the key squad updates ahead of the opener, England opener Phil Salt and Pakistan left-arm wrist spinner Sufiyan Muqeem have joined the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. Salt has been added as a wildcard, while Sufiyan replaces the unavailable Hassan Khan. Afghanistan spinner Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar has been signed by MI Emirates, and Vijayakanth Viyaskanth will join the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.
Zee’s Chief Growth Officer – Digital & Broadcast Revenue, Ashish Sehgal, commented: “Zee is delighted to unveil the impressive squad line-up for Season 3, featuring some of the world’s finest and most popular players. With iconic locations like Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah, world-class infrastructure, and six powerhouse franchises, our aim is to solidify the league as one of the most widely followed global cricket events. We have significantly expanded our broadcast reach by adding five more linear channels, including South Indian channels, and are excited to present this thrilling cricketing spectacle to fans across the world.”
Cricket fans can watch the tournament on ZEE’s extensive network of 15 linear TV channels, including &Pictures SD, &Pictures HD, Zee Cinema HD, Zee Anmol Cinema 2, Zee Action, Zee Biskope, Zee Zest SD, Zee Cinemalu HD, Zee Telugu HD, Zee Thirai, Zee Tamil HD, Zee Kannada HD, Zee Zest HD, &Flix SD, and &Flix HD. Additionally, the matches will be free to view on Zee5, one of India’s leading OTT platforms. Zee aims to capture a viewership of 230 million for the season.
Here are the six DP World ILT20 Season 3 squads as of 9 January 2025:
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
New Signees: Gudakesh Motie, Ibrar Ahmad, Jason Holder, Kyle Mayers, Phil Salt (Wildcard), Roston Chase, Shahid Iqbal Bhutta, Sufiyan Muqeem, Terrance Hinds, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth Retentions: Aditya Shetty, Ali Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Andre Russell, Andries Gous, Charith Asalanka, David Willey, Joe Clarke, Laurie Evans, Michael Pepper, Sunil Narine.
Desert Vipers
New Signees: Dan Lawrence (Wildcard), David Payne, Dhruv Parashar, Fakhar Zaman, Kushal Malla (replacement for injured Bas de Leede), Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Lockie Ferguson, Max Holden, Sam Curran (played for Vipers in Season 2 as a wildcard) Retentions: Adam Hose, Alex Hales, Ali Naseer, Azam Khan, Luke Wood, Michael Jones, Mohammad Amir, Nathan Sowter, Sherfane Rutherford, Tanish Suri, Wanindu Hasaranga.
Dubai Capitals
New Signees: Adam Rossington (Wildcard), Aryaman Varma (replacement for Jake Fraser McGurk), Ben Dunk, Brandon McMullen, Garuka Sanketh (replacement), Farhan Khan, Gulbadin Naib, Joe Burns, Joe Weatherley, Najibullah Zadran, Obed McCoy, Scott Kuggeleijn, Sharafuddin Ashraf (replacement), Shai Hope, Shahrukh Ahmed, Zeeshan Naseer Retentions: 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 Signees: Adam Lyth, Dominic Drakes, Daniel Worrall (played for Giants in Season 2 as a wildcard), Dushan Hemantha (replacement), Ibrahim Zadran, Mark Adair, Ollie Robinson (wicketkeeper-batter), Tim David, Tom Curran, Tymal Mills, Muhammad Saghir Khan, Muhammad Uzair Khan, Wahidullah Zadran Retentions: Aayan Afzal Khan, Blessing Muzarabani, Chris Jordan, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gerhard Erasmus, James Vince, Jordan Cox, Mohammad Zuhaib Zubair, Rehan Ahmed, Shimron Hetmyer.
MI Emirates
New Signees: Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, Alzarri Joseph, Aryan Lakra, Ben Charlesworth, Fareed Ahmad, Romario Shepherd, Tom Banton, Thomas Draca, Zahoor Khan Retentions: Akeal Hosein, Andre Fletcher, Daniel Mousley, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Jordan Thompson, Kieron Pollard, Kusal Perera, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Muhammad Waseem, Nicholas Pooran, Nosthush Kenjige, Waqar Salamkheil.
Sharjah Warriorz
New Signees: Tim Southee (Captain), Adam Milne, Adil Rashid (played for Warriorz in Season 2 as a wildcard), Ashton Agar, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Daniel Sams, Ethan D’Souza, Harmeet Singh, Jason Roy, Karim Janat, Keemo Paul, Matthew Wade, Rohan Mustafa, Tim Seifert, Traveen Mathew, Virandeep Singh Retentions: Dilshan Madushanka, Johnson Charles, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah, Kusal Mendis, Luke Wells, Peter Hatzoglou, Tom Kohler-Cadmore.
