DP World ILT20 Season 4 to Begin on UAE National Day, 2 Dec 2025; Final Set for 4 Jan 2026 Ahead of T20 World Cup

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The DP World International League T20 is all set to mark a grand return as its fourth edition will bowl off on Tuesday, 2 December 2025 - coinciding with the UAE National Day (Eid-Al-Etihad) - and culminate in a thrilling finale on Sunday, 4 January 2026.

This glittering cricket spectacle, featuring six teams and 34 riveting matches, has firmly established itself as the second-most watched T20 league in the world.

In a significant move, the tournament has been shifted from its traditional January-February slot to a December-January window, aligning with the global cricket calendar. With the ICC Men's T20 World Cup looming in early February 2026, the revised schedule ensures international stars have ample time to transition from franchise to national duties.

Khalid Al Zarooni, Chairman ILT20 and Vice-Chairman of the Emirates Cricket Board, expressed his pride in the league's new beginning:
"We are delighted to confirm that the DP World International League T20 Season 4 will commence on the UAE National Day - Eid-Al-Etihad - which is one of the most important days on the UAE calendar."

He further added, "The UAE National Day is the day where we celebrate the United Arab Emirates which is home to people from around the world including millions of diehard cricket fans. It is a real honour for us to join the nation in the UAE National Day 2025 celebrations with the launch of the region's biggest T20 league - the DP World ILT20 Season 4, on the same day."

David White, CEO of the DP World ILT20, echoed the excitement surrounding the tournament's timing and strategic planning:
"Following extensive discussions with all our stakeholders, we believe the 2 December 2025 to 4 January 2026 tournament window is ideal for the DP World International League T20 Season 4."

He added, "The ICC Men's T20 World Cup begins in early February hence it was important for us to start and finish Season 4 well before the tournament as it will allow the players playing both the DP World ILT20 and the T20 World Cup to prepare for national duty. In addition, we feel that the December-January window will provide the teams' the best opportunity to access a bigger pool of players."

Following a blockbuster Season 3, which saw the Dubai Capitals clinch the trophy in a final-ball thriller against the Desert Vipers, expectations are sky-high. The league witnessed a galaxy of global T20 stars, including Nicholas Pooran, Sam Curran (red belt winner), Shai Hope (green belt winner), Fazalhaq Farooqi (white belt winner), and icons like Andre Russell, David Warner, and Sunil Narine lighting up the desert skies.

With Season 4 promising a festive blend of cricketing brilliance and cultural celebration, fans across the UAE and beyond can brace themselves for another unforgettable chapter in the ILT20 saga.