Andre Russell, Mohammad Amir and David Warner among retained players for ILT20

Third season of tournament will be held from January 11 to February 9 next year

Waqar Salamkheil of MI Emirates celebrates the wicket of Sam Billings of Dubai Capitals during the DP World International League T20 final at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday, February 17, 2024. All photos: CREIMAS / ILT20

Akeal Hosein of MI Emirates celebrates the wicket of Dubai Capitals' Leus du Plooy

MI Emirates captain Nicholas Pooran scored a match-winning fifty on Saturday

Nicholas Pooran hits a boundary at the Dubai International Stadium

MI Emirates opener Muhammad Waseem hits a brisk 43

Fans turned out in good numbers to watch the DP World International League T20 final on Saturday

Andre Fletcher of MI Emirates also scored a fifty

While the T20 World Cup is still going on in the Caribbean, preparations have already started for the next season of the DP World International League T20 in the UAE with a number of star players lining up to feature in the tournament.

On Friday, organisers announced that franchises had retained a total of 69 players for the third season which begins on January 11 and concludes on February 9 next year, with matches taking place in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.

Some of the top T20 talent in the world will head to the UAE early next year to take part in a tournament that has quickly become one of the most lucrative in the sport. They include star West Indies all-rounders and IPL champions Andre Russell and Sunil Narine, Aussie veteran David Warner, Sri Lankan star Wanindu Hasaranga, Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir and bunch of other T20 heavyweights.

Since the tournament is the showpiece event of UAE cricket, local players will once again get an opportunity to rub shoulders with the biggest names in cricket.

They include UAE T20 regulars like Muhammad Waseem, Junaid Siddique, Aayan Afzal Khan, Alishan Sharafu and many more.

All six franchises were allowed to retain up to two UAE players each. Now they must sign a minimum of two more players to complete their quota of four UAE signings after the completion of the ILT20 Development Tournament which will be held in October.

MI Emirates lifted the ILT20 crown earlier this year when they defeated Dubai Capitals by 45 runs. UAE captain Waseem stole the show in the final, smashing 43 from 24 balls to help post a match-winning total of 208-3.

Retained players for ILT20 season three

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: Aditya Shetty (UAE), Ali Khan, Alishan Sharafu (UAE), Andre Russell, Andries Ghous, Charith Asalanka, David Willey, Joe Clarke, Laurie Evans, Micheal Pepper and Sunil Narine

Desert Vipers: Adam Hose, Alex Hales, Ali Naseer (UAE), Azam Khan, Bas de Leede, Luke Wood, Micheal Jones, Mohammad Amir, Nathan Sowter, Sherfane Rutherford, Tanish Suri (UAE) and Wanindu Hasaranga

Dubai Capitals: Dasun Shanaka, David Warner, Dushmantha Chameera, Haider Ali (UAE), Akif Raja (UAE), Rovman Powell, Sam Billings, Sikandar Raza, Zahir Khan, Jake Fraser McGurk and Oliver Stone

Gulf Giants: Aayan Afzal Khan (UAE), Blessing Muzarabani, Chris Jordan, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gerhard Erasmus, Jamie Overton, James Vince, Jamie Smith, Jordan Cox, Mohammad Zohaib Zubair (UAE), Rehan Ahmed, Richard Gleeson and Shimron Hetmyer

MI Emirates: Akeal Hosein, Andre Fletcher, Daniel Mousley, Dwayne Bravo, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Jordan Thompson, Kieron Pollard, Kusal Perera, Muhammad Rohid Khan (UAE), Muhammad Waseem (UAE), Nicholas Pooran, Nosthush Kenjige, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth and Waqar Salamkheil

Sharjah Warriors: Dilshan Madushanka, Johnson Charles, Junaid Siddique (UAE), Muhamad Jawadullah (UAE), Kusal Mendis, Luke Wells, Peter Hatzoglou and Tom Kohler-Cadmore