ILT20 Season 2 to be played from January 19 to February 18 in 2024

The second season of the DP World ILT20, the UAE's IPL-style franchise T20 league, will be played between January 19 and 18 February, the organisers announced on Wednesday.

The full schedule for Season 2 will be unveiled soon. 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 glittering ILT20 trophy.

The tournament will see 34 matches, including 30 group games and four play-offs and the final.

The James Vince-led Gulf Giants are the defending champions, having defeated Desert Vipers by seven wickets in the inaugural season’s final in front of a packed Dubai International Stadium.

The inaugural edition was the second most watched cricket league in India with a viwership of 367 million people views gathered from around the world

Earlier this week, the league unveiled a star-studded line-up of new signings for Season 2.

Australian superstar David Warner, Pakistan pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi, England's Ashes star Mark Wood, Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan and Chennai Super Kings legend Ambati Rayudu will feature in the second season of the league.

Full list of new and returning players for DP World ILT20 Season 2:

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

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