In an announcement that has sparked significant buzz within the cricketing community, the who’s who of West Indies’ T20 stars have been retained by the six International League T20 (ILT20) franchises ahead of the third edition of the United Arab Emirates franchise tournament. With 69 players retained, the spotlight falls on marquee names like Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Akeal Hosein, Shimron Hetmyer, and Rovman Powell, all of whom will be pivotal players in the forthcoming 2025 edition of ILT20.
While the retention news brings a wave of excitement for cricket fans, it also comes with notable omissions that have raised eyebrows. Standing out among those not retained are prolific players Trent Boult, Shaheen Afridi, and Ambati Rayudu. Sources close to Afridi suggest his absence is linked to his likely participation in The Hundred, as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) allows its contracted players to partake in only two leagues outside their own Pakistan Super League (PSL). Imad Wasim, another Pakistani player, has also been released by his franchise, the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.
Adding to the intrigue of the retention drama, the defending champions MI Emirates retained the largest squad. Comprised of 14 players, big names such as Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kusal Perera, and Andre Fletcher are set to make another appearance, ensuring that the champions have a robust lineup to defend their title.
Another heavy hitter retained includes Australian star David Warner, who remains with the Dubai Capitals. Following a successful campaign that saw the team reach the final of ILT20 2024, the Capitals have elected to retain the core of their squad. This includes international talents like Sam Billings, Sikandar Raza, Jake Fraser-McGurk, and Rovman Powell.
Meanwhile, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine will continue to lead the ADKR lineup, although Jason Roy has opted out of the tournament. This move concentrates the team’s firepower on the two West Indian veterans, who have proven to be match-winners on many an occasion.
For the Desert Vipers, the retention strategy has also focused on retaining a slate of formidable players.
. Apart from the Pakistani duo of Azam Khan and Mohammad Amir, the squad includes heavyweights like Sherfane Rutherford, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Alex Hales. The inaugural ILT20 champions, Gulf Giants, have also largely retained their original squad, showing confidence in the team’s established chemistry and capabilities.
Here’s a comprehensive rundown of the players retained by each franchise:
**Abu Dhabi Knight Riders:** Aditya Shetty, Ali Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Andre Russell, Andries Gous, Charith Asalanka, David Willey, Joe Clarke, Laurie Evans, Michael Pepper, and Sunil Narine.
**Desert Vipers:** Adam Hose, Alex Hales, Ali Naseer, Azam Khan, Bas de Leede, Luke Wood, Michael Jones, Mohammad Amir, Nathan Sowter, Sherfane Rutherford, Tanish Suri, and Wanindu Hasaranga.
**Dubai Capitals:** Dasun Shanaka, David Warner, Dushmantha Chameera, Haider Ali, Raja Akif, Rovman Powell, Sam Billings, Sikandar Raza, Zahir Khan, Jake Fraser-McGurk, and Oliver Stone.
**Gulf Giants:** Aayan Afzal Khan, Blessing Muzarabani, Chris Jordan, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gerhard Erasmus, Jamie Overton, James Vince, Jamie Smith, Jordan Cox, Mohammad Zohaib Zubair, 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, Muhammad Waseem, Nicholas Pooran, Nosthush Kenjige, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, and Waqar Salamkheil.
**Sharjah Warriors:** Dilshan Madushanka, Johnson Charles, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah, Kusal Mendis, Luke Wells, Peter Hatzoglou, and Tom Kohler-Cadmore.
The retention of these key players ensures that the ILT20 2025 will feature a blend of experienced veterans and dynamic newcomers, promising a riveting tournament that is set to captivate cricket fans worldwide. Each team has concentrated on building a balanced squad while maintaining their core strengths, which sets the stage for a highly competitive and exhilarating series of matches.
With the retentions now public, the anticipation builds as fans await the start of ILT20 2025. Eyes will be on how these stars perform and the fresh strategies their respective franchises will deploy. The only certainty is that the ILT20 2025 promises to bring top-tier T20 cricket action to the UAE, reaffirming the tournament’s spot as a premier event in the cricketing calendar.
