Dubai: The Gulf’s premier cricket spectacle makes its return on Tuesday, December 2, as defending champions Dubai Capitals face the Desert Vipers in the opening clash of the DP World International League T20 Season 4. The fixture is a highly anticipated rematch of last season’s thrilling final.
The first ball will be bowled at 6:30pm local time, with fans expecting another gripping contest between two sides that delivered one of the tournament’s most memorable encounters in Season 3. On that occasion, the Capitals held their nerve to claim victory with just four deliveries remaining, lifting the trophy in front of a raucous 25,000-strong crowd.
Season 4 promises to build on that excitement, with the curtain-raiser once again pitting two of the league’s heavyweight franchises against each other in what is sure to set the tone for another blockbuster campaign.
The Season 4 opener will be played at the Dubai International Stadium – the venue for Season 3’s grand finish. The six-team tournament will once again feature a total of 34 matches. Dubai International Stadium will host 15 matches, Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Cricket Stadium will stage 11, and the Sharjah Cricket Stadium will be the venue for eight matches.
Following the tournament-opener, Sharjah Warriorz who qualified for the playoffs for the first time in the tournament’s history in Season 3 will take on Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the second match of the tournament – the first of the season at the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
The first-ever winners of the glittering DP World ILT20 trophy Gulf Giants will open their Season 4 campaign against Season 2 champions MI Emirates. The contest between the two former champions will take place at the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday, 4 December.
After the completion of the 30-match double-league round-robin stage, the top four teams on the points table will enter the DP World ILT20 Season 4 playoffs.
The top two teams on the table will compete in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday, 30 December at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Cricket Stadium. The Eliminator (Team 3 vs Team 4 on the points table) will be played on Thursday, 1 January at the Dubai International Stadium. Qualifier 2 (Loser of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Eliminator) will be played at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Season 4 will conclude with the title clash – the tournament finale – which will be played at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday 4 January from 6:30 pm local time.
DP World ILT20 Season 4 – Tournament schedule – all timings are local timings – Gulf Standard Time:
Tuesday, 2 December – Dubai Capitals vs Desert Vipers – 6:30pm, Dubai
Wednesday, 3 December – Sharjah Warriorz vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – 6:30pm, Sharjah
Thursday, 4 December – Gulf Giants vs MI Emirates – 6:30pm, Dubai
Friday, 5 December – Desert Vipers vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – 6:30pm, Sharjah
Saturday, 6 December – Dubai Capitals vs Gulf Giants – 6:30pm, Dubai
Sunday, 7 December – Sharjah Warriorz vs MI Emirates – 2:00pm, Sharjah
Sunday, 7 December – Dubai Capitals vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – 6:30pm, Dubai
Monday, 8 December – Desert Vipers vs Gulf Giants – 6:30pm, Dubai
Tuesday, 9 December – MI Emirates vs Desert Vipers – 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi
Wednesday, 10 December – Gulf Giants vs Sharjah Warriorz – 6:30pm, Dubai
Thursday, 11 December – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs MI Emirates – 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi
Friday, 12 December – Gulf Giants vs Desert Vipers – 6:30pm, Dubai
Saturday, 13 December – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Dubai Capitals – 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi
Sunday, 14 December – MI Emirates vs Sharjah Warriorz – 2:00pm, Abu Dhabi
Sunday, 14 December – Desert Vipers vs Dubai Capitals – 6:30pm, Dubai
Monday, 15 December – Sharjah Warriorz vs Gulf Giants – 6:30pm, Sharjah
Tuesday, 16 December – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Desert Vipers – 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi
Wednesday, 17 December – Dubai Capitals vs MI Emirates – 6:30pm, Dubai
Thursday, 18 December – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Gulf Giants – 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi
Friday, 19 December – Sharjah Warriorz vs Dubai Capitals – 6:30pm, Sharjah
Saturday, 20 December – MI Emirates vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – 2:00pm, Abu Dhabi
Saturday, 20 December – Desert Vipers vs Sharjah Warriorz – 6:30pm, Dubai
Sunday, 21 December – Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals – 2:00pm, Sharjah
Sunday, 21 December – Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates – 6:30pm, Dubai
Monday, 22 December – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Sharjah Warriorz – 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi
Tuesday, 23 December – MI Emirates vs Gulf Giants – 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi
Wednesday, 24 December – Dubai Capitals vs Sharjah Warriorz – 6:30pm, Dubai
Thursday, 25 December – Rest Day
Friday, 26 December – Sharjah Warriorz vs Desert Vipers – 6:30pm, Sharjah
Saturday, 27 December – MI Emirates vs Dubai Capitals – 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi
Sunday, 28 December – Gulf Giants vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – 6:30pm, Dubai
Monday, 29 December – Rest Day
Tuesday, 30 December – Qualifier 1 (Team 1 vs Team 2) – 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi
Wednesday, 31 December – Rest Day
Thursday, 1 January – Eliminator (Team 3 vs Team 4) – 6:30pm, Dubai
Friday, 2 January – Qualifier 2 (Loser of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Eliminator) – 6:30pm, Sharjah
Saturday, 3 January – Rest Day
Sunday, 4 January – Final (Winner of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Qualifier 2) – 6:30pm, Dubai
