International League T20 Season 2 is all set to start on January 19, 2024. However, ILT20 2024 will be without top English players. Even though Joe Root, Mark Wood and Chris Woakes have all been retained, they will miss the tournament as ILT20 clashes with India vs England Test series. The ILT20 final is on February 18 while IND vs ENG Test series begins on Jan 25. It will run till March 11. It is likely that all three stars won’t get NOC from England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
England Test stars in ILT20 2024:
- Joe Root (Dubai Capitals)
- Mark Wood (Dubai Capitals)
- Rehan Ahmed (Gulf Giants)
- Chris Woakes (Sharjah Warriors)
Also Read: Shaheen Afridi, David Warner among other Stars set to participate in ILT20 Season 2
England are set to arrive in India at least two weeks before the IND vs ENG Test series starts. Hence they will miss the ILT20. While Dubai Capitals, Gulf Giants and Sharjah Warriors have not announced any replacements yet, they will eventually have to opt for other players.
India vs England Test Series
Joe Root is England’s mainstay in batting. Mark Wood and Chris Waokes will have a greater role to play in the absence of Stuart Broad. The veteran pulled down the curtains on his illustrious career after the Ashes 2023.
Rehan Ahmed made his debut in Pakistan and bagged 7 wickets including a fifer. With Indian pitches set to assist spinners, the wrist spinner may find his way into the England Test squad for India tour. After a 1-3 series loss last time and a 2-2 draw at home, England will be desperate to make amends in India.
Joe Root smashed 214 runs in five matches in the first season of the International League T20. Rehan Ahmed bagged 8 wickets in six games. Chris Woakes returned with 7 wickets and scored 67 runs.
International League T20
For the second consecutive year, six teams – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Desert Vipers, Dubai Capitals, Gulf Giants, MI Emirates and Sharjah Warriors – will compete for the ILT20 trophy. It will once again be a 34-match format. ILT20 2024 will include 30 group games and four play-offs including the final.
Gulf Giants will defend their title. The James Vince-led Giants defeated Desert Vipers by seven wickets in the inaugural season’s final.
ILT20 2024 Squads:
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: New signings: Brandon McMullen, David Willey, Jake Lintott, Josh Little, Laurie Evans, Michael Pepper, Ravi Bopara and Sam Hain.
Retentions: Ali Khan, Andre Russell, Charith Asalanka, Joe Clarke, Sabir Ali, Sunil Narine, Marchant de Lange and Matiullah Khan.
Desert Vipers: New signings: Adam Hose, Azam Khan, Bas de Leede, Michael Jones, Shadab Khan and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Retentions: Alex Hales, Ali Naseer, Colin Munro, Dinesh Chandimal, Gus Atkinson, Luke Wood, Matheesha Pathirana, Rohan Mustafa, Sheldon Cottrell, Sherfane Rutherford, Tom Curran and Wanindu Hasaranga.
Dubai Capitals: New signings: Andrew Tye, Dasun Shanaka, David Warner, Mark Wood, Max Holden, Mohammad Mohsin, Nuwan Thusara, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Roelof van der Merwe, Sadeera Samarawickrama and Sam Billings.
Retentions: Dushmantha Chameera, Joe Root, Raja Akif, Rovman Powell and Sikandar Raza.
Gulf Giants: New signings: Dominic Drakes, Jamie Smith, Jordan Cox, Karim Janat, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, Saurabh Netravalkar.
Retentions: Aayan Afzal Khan, Carlos Brathwaite, Chris Jordan, Chris Lynn, Gerhard Erasmus, James Vince, Jamie Overton, Rehan Ahmed, Richard Gleeson, Sanchit Sharma and Shimron Hetmyer.
MI Emirates
New signings: Akeal Hosein, Ambati Rayudu, Corey Anderson, Kusal Perera, Nosthush Kenjige, Odean Smith, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth and Waqar Salamkheil.
Retentions: Andre Fletcher, Daniel Mousley, Dwayne Bravo, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Jordan Thompson, Kieron Pollard, McKenny Clarke, Muhammad Waseem, Nicholas Pooran, Trent Boult, Will Smeed and Zahoor Khan.
Sharjah Warriors
New signings: Chris Sole, Daniel Sams, Dilshan Madhushanka, James Fuller, Johnson Charles, Kusal Mendis, Lewis Gregory, Maheesh Theekshana, Mark Watt, Martin Guptill, Sean Williams and Qais Ahmed.
Retentions: Chris Woakes, Joe Denly, Junaid Siddique, Mark Deyal, Muhammad Jawadullah and Tom Kohler-Cadmore.
Editors pick
