In addition to Chris Jordan, Alex Hales, Colin Munro, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Moeen Ali, Sunil Narine, Chris Lynn, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Shimron Hetmyer were also unveiled on Monday as some of the marquee sign-ons for the inaugural ILT20, which will take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in January-February of 2023.
Khalid Al Zarooni, Chairman, UAE ILT20, said, "Over the past few weeks, ILT20's six franchises have started conversations and engaged with players, as well as players' agents, to exercise their "Direct Acquisition" rights. We are extremely pleased to be in a position to announce the first set of players who will compete in UAE's Inaugural (T20) League today.
Cricketers from Australia, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan are not included in the first marquee list of players. Andre Russell, Dawid Malan, Evin Lewis, Fabien Allen, Sam Billings, Tom Curran, Dushmantha Chameera, Akeal Hosein, Tom Banton, Sandeep Lamichhane, Rovman Powell, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, and Mujeeb Ul Rahman are among the other stars on the marquee list.
Mubashshir Usmani, the general secretary of Emirates Cricket, said on the team composition, "It's interesting to watch how the squads are coming along for the ILT20's inaugural season. There will be 18 players on each side, including 2 players from ICC Associate nations and 4 players from the UAE. The calibre of the names that were revealed today is extraordinary, as is the level of elite athletes' enthusiasm in our league."
The league also released a second list of players, which includes: Lahiru Kumara, Seekugge Prassanna, Charith Asalanka, Isuru Udana, Colin Ingram, Paul Stirling, Kennar Lewis, Ali Khan, Brandon Glover, Ravi Rampaul, Raymon Reifer, Blessing Muzarabani, Niroshan Dickwella, Hazaratullah Zazai, Frederick Klassen, Sikandar Raza, George Munse.
It is very crucial to highlight that these (UAE) players will be a part of the team's starting XI. "We are really happy that a select number of UAE representative-players, from our existing pool, will also be considered and signed-on to compete in the League."
The ECB expresses its sincere gratitude to the six franchises for supporting its vision to develop the game and produce players who are stronger and more competitive. "One of the key goals of ILT20 is to give opportunities for players from the UAE and other Associate nations to perform on the big stage," Usmani added.
The inaugural edition of ILT20 will be played in a 34-match format across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. The six teams in the league are owned by Reliance Industries Limited, Lancer Capital, the GMR Group, Adani Sportsline, Kolkata Knight Riders and Capri Global.