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- Franchise leaders outline title aspirations as battle for DP World ILT20 Season 4 glory begins tomorrow with a blockbuster clash between defending champions, Dubai Capitals and Desert Vipers
- The DP World International League T20 Season 4 six-team, 34-match tournament will conclude with the final on Sunday, 4 January 2026
- DP World ILT20 Season 4 opening ceremony, match and event’s photographs available here
- Fans can exclusively watch the LIVE action on ‘Z’s linear TV channels, OTT platform Zee 5 in India. Exclusive digital partner Zee 5 Hindi to offer free-to-view streaming
Dubai, 1st December 2025: The DP World ILT20 Season 4, exclusively on ‘Z’ arrives with a wave of excitement, ready to deliver world-class cricket to fans around the world. This edition marks a transformative chapter in the league’s journey, following the first-ever Season 4 Player Auction and the inclusion of players from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait for the first time.
With the region’s premier T20 league set to begin tomorrow, the captains and star players from all six franchises gathered ahead of the tournament, expressing their anticipation and outlining their expectations for the season ahead.
Representing the reigning champions Dubai Capitals for a second consecutive season, Afghanistan all-rounder Gulbadin Naib said: “It’s good to be here. We always love this tournament. Last year we won, but we’re looking forward to another successful season. It’s a huge platform for everybody. We have got some new faces and they are very keen to do something for the team. This is a mega event, so as professionals it’s important for us to get our mindset right. We know the conditions, so we should be able to adapt. We had amazing support and we’re looking forward to more of the same.”
Lockie Ferguson, who led the Desert Vipers to the finals last season – their second in the DP World ILT20 – highlighted the squad’s camaraderie and balance: “It feels like a family. The boys really get along, and we played great cricket throughout the tournament last season, so this year we’re looking to do even better. We have some new faces, so I’m excited about it. I’m looking forward to working alongside Naseem Shah, David Payne and Khuzaima Tanveer as well in a well-balanced bowling attack. What’s great about this tournament is that the young players get a chance to learn very quickly.”
West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder will be at the helm for the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. Eager to improve their bottom-of-the-table finish from last season, Holder said: “We all want to win. It’s simple for us – we just need to be disciplined and execute our plans. It’s a long tournament, so we’ll take each game as it comes. It’s good to have guys who are familiar with each other. We have a lot of power and depth in our line-up, so the task for us will be to figure out how to put it all together.”
For the Gulf Giants, who lifted the inaugural title in 2023 and finished outside the playoffs for the first time last season, England all-rounder Moeen Ali said: “The quality has gone up, and I’m excited to be part of a new team. We’ve gone in a different direction with our players. I think what’s important is how good our local players are, and we’re hoping to get back to where our squad belongs, which is competing for the title. As a side, we’re going to try and entertain our fans as much as we can.”
Taking over the reins from Nicholas Pooran for MI Emirates, Kieron Pollard added: “We love the place itself. The UAE is always exciting and it’s a good place to play cricket, which gives us an added incentive. We’re hoping things go our way. We just need to play consistent cricket – it’s a matter of understanding what’s needed at a particular time. Going into the season from a planning perspective, we got exactly the team we needed. We have great UAE players like Muhammad Waseem, Rohid, and Zahoor Khan. In this tournament, we always see the best international players, so the level of competition is very high.”
Tim Southee of the Sharjah Warriorz said: “I’m looking forward to the season. The quality of our side and the other teams is amazing, but even the quality of local players has been so good. Dinesh Karthik’s experience will be a wonderful addition to the team. We’re looking to build on what we did in Season 3 – there’s a lot of balance in the squad. We’ve seen the improvement in UAE cricket, and I’m sure the same will be true for the players from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.”
Cricket fans and sports enthusiasts across India can catch the LIVE action exclusively on &Pictures SD, Zee Cinema HD, Zee Action, Zee Thirai – SD, Zee Cinemalu and OTT platform Zee 5.
Commenting on the announcement, Laxmi Shetty, Head – Advertisement Revenue, Broadcast and Digital, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd, “India’s appetite for high-quality international cricket continues to rise, and DP World ILT20 Season 4 arrives at a moment when audiences are seeking deeper, more global sporting experiences. With the league introducing players from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait for the first time, and Indian stars like Dinesh Karthik Piyush Chawla, and Unmukt Chand join the league this season, adding tremendous depth, this season marks an important shift in the tournament’s evolution. Through the wide reach of our entertainment network and the accessibility of ‘Z’, we aim to bring this expanded pool of international and regional talent to millions of households across the country. Our focus is to ensure that fans enjoy a seamless month-long celebration of cricket, with world-class competition, blockbuster match-ups, and an unmatched viewing experience.”
The month-long cricket fest will see some of the world’s finest cricketers in action, including Kieron Pollard and Nicholas Pooran (MI Emirates), Gulbadin Naib and Dasun Shanaka (Dubai Capitals), Sunil Narine and Jason Holder (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Shimron Hetmyer and Lockie Ferguson (Desert Vipers), James Vince (Gulf Giants), Dinesh Karthik, Tim David and Tim Southee (Sharjah Warriorz).
Season 4 begins tomorrow Tuesday, 2 December with six teams competing in 34 matches, culminating in the grand finale on Sunday, 4 January 2026. The opening clash will see defending champions Dubai Capitals take on Desert Vipers at the Dubai International Stadium. The much-anticipated fixture, a rematch of the high-octane Season 3 finale, will begin at 8:00 pm IST.
Captains photo caption: From left: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders captain Jason Holder, Desert Vipers captain Lockie Ferguson, Gulf Giants player Moeen Ali, Sharjah Warriorz captain Tim Southee, Dubai Capitals player Gulbadin Naib and MI Emirates captain Kieron Pollard pose with the DP World ILT20 trophy at the Dubai International Stadium a day ahead of the opening game of the DP World ILT20 Season 4.
