(Cricket news) Defending champions Gulf Giants will take on the Sharjah Warriors in the opening match of the DP World ILT20 Season 2 – the biggest cricket league in the Gulf region – on Friday, 19 January. The 34-match ILT20 tournament will be played at the three iconic UAE venues Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah. The dazzling Ring of Fire – Dubai International Stadium (DIS) – will host the final on Saturday, 17 February.
A total of four fixtures of the ILT20 will be played across the three venues on what promises to be an action-packed opening weekend – Friday 19 January to Sunday 21 January. Following the opener in Sharjah, Dubai Capitals will host the MI Emirates at the DIS on Saturday 20 January. Last year’s runner-up Desert Vipers will open their campaign against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders on Saturday afternoon – 2:30pm at the DIS. MI Emirates will host the Gulf Giants in their first home game of the season at the picturesque Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi from 6:30 pm on Sunday 21 January.
A total of 15 matches will be played in Dubai, Abu Dhabi will host 11 and Sharjah will stage eight fixtures of the 2nd season of the ILT20
Each team will have five home and five away fixtures. The DIS will be the home venue for Dubai Capitals. Desert Vipers and Gulf Giants will play their five home fixtures across Dubai and Sharjah.
Sharjah Warriors will have Sharjah Cricket Stadium as their homebase. The Zayed Cricket Stadium will be the home venue for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and MI Emirates.
Match tickets for the ILT20 league will be launched online next month, the details will be shared in the next few days. The DP World ILT20 has entered a strategic partnership with the renowned tickets provider Virgin Megastore for Season 2 tickets. Tickets will be available online and at all 14 Virgin Megastore outlets across the UAE.
CEO DP World ILT20 David White: “We are excited to announce the DP World ILT20 Season 2 schedule. Just like the opening season we are set to deliver 34 action-packed matches at our three fantastic cricket venues. The tournament begins on 19 January and will finish with the final in Dubai on 17 February. Season 2 will be launched with riveting on-field action and entertainment for the entire family on the opening weekend in Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
“This year we have attracted some of the biggest cricket stars from around the world to the DP World ILT20 Season 2. We have three world-class stadiums that have a rich history of hosting some of the biggest cricket events including the T20 World Cup. The weather in UAE is absolutely ideal for cricket in the months of January and February. There is as always, a huge appetite and interest in the game here and we welcome local fans as well as international travellers as they have the greatest cricketing spectacle to enjoy with a number of entertainment opportunities on offer besides the action on the field.”
DP World ILT20 Season 2 Schedule:
Friday, 19 January – Sharjah Warriors vs Gulf Giants – Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Saturday, 20 January – Dubai Capitals vs MI Emirates – Dubai International Stadium
Sunday, 21 January – Desert Vipers vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – Dubai International Stadium
Sunday, 21 January – MI Emirates vs Gulf Giants – Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Monday, 22 January – Dubai Capitals vs Sharjah Warriors – Dubai International Stadium
Tuesday, 23 January – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs MI Emirates – Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Wednesday, 24 January – Gulf Giants vs Desert Vipers – Dubai International Stadium
Thursday, 25 January – Dubai Capitals vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – Dubai International Stadium
Friday, 26 January – Sharjah Warriors vs MI Emirates – Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Saturday, 27 January – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Desert Vipers – Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Saturday, 27 January – Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals – Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Sunday, 28 January – MI Emirates vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Sunday, 28 January – Desert Vipers vs Sharjah Warriors – Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Monday, 29 January – Sharjah Warriors vs Dubai Capitals – Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Tuesday, 30 January – Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates – Dubai International Stadium
Wednesday, 31 January – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Gulf Giants – Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Thursday, 1 February – Dubai Capitals vs Desert Vipers – Dubai International Stadium
Friday, 2 February – MI Emirates vs Sharjah Warriors – Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Saturday, 3 February – Desert Vipers vs Gulf Giants – Dubai International Stadium
Saturday, 3 February – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Dubai Capitals – Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Sunday, 4 February – MI Emirates vs Desert Vipers – Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Sunday, 4 February – Gulf Giants vs Sharjah Warriors – Dubai International Stadium
Monday, 5 February – Sharjah Warriors vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Tuesday, 6 February – Dubai Capitals vs Gulf Giants – Dubai International Stadium
Wednesday, 7 February – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Sharjah Warriors – Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Thursday, 8 February – Gulf Giants vs MI Emirates – Dubai International Stadium
Friday, 9 February – Desert Vipers vs Dubai Capitals – Dubai International Stadium
Saturday, 10 February – Gulf Giants vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – Dubai International Stadium
Saturday, 10 February – MI Emirates vs Dubai Capitals – Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Sunday, 11 February – Sharjah Warriors vs Desert Vipers – Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Tuesday, 13 February – Qualifier 1 – Dubai International Stadium
Wednesday, 14 February – Eliminator – Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Thursday, 15 February – Qualifier 2 – Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Saturday, 17 February – Final – Dubai International Stadium
*All single-headers (night matches) begin at 6:30pm local time.
*Afternoon match on double-headers day begin at 2:3opm local time.
