Shoaib Akhtar and Virender Sehwag praise DP World ILT20’s impact on cricket in the region

The third edition of the DP World ILT20 is set to begin on January 11, 2025, and cricketing legends Virender Sehwag and Shoaib Akhtar have praised the league for its important role in nurturing talent from the region and giving players invaluable experience. Speaking at the Season 3 launch party last weekend on a yacht at Dubai Marina were the two legends.

"When we look back at the past two seasons of the DP World ILT20, we can see that many players, whether they are from the UAE or other countries like Afghanistan, have significantly improved their performances in ICC tournaments," said Virender Sehwag, the explosive Indian batsman and cricket legend.

"For the UAE team, when players play alongside nine international stars, they get the chance to learn from these experienced players," he said, underscoring the league's special educational opportunities for UAE players. Not just during games, but also in the way the international athletes train, get ready, and respond under duress. This is the only place they can find exposure like this.

Sehwag also talked back about his own encounters with international celebrities, emphasizing how those encounters influenced his professional life. "Playing with stars like Glenn McGrath, AB de Villiers, and Tillakaratne Dilshan helped me tremendously because they shared their experiences with me," the man stated. I had some excellent seasons following that exposure. The DP World ILT20 offers similar opportunities for cricketers from the United Arab Emirates.” 

Speaking about the league's wider ramifications, The Rawalpindi Express, Shoaib Akhtar, who has been a part of the competition since season 2, echoed his colleague's thoughts: "As I've always said, it's a breeding ground of talent for GCC countries, not just the United Arab Emirates." It is a fantastic initiative that will only benefit cricket. It is a blessing that I can participate and advance the game. He also mentioned the unique features that set the ILT20 apart from other global leagues. "There is an incredible amount of work being done by the Emirates Cricket Board, DP World, the organizers, and the broadcasters. They have made working with them simple," he said.

"The DP ILT20 has created the magic of bringing together entertainment and cricket," Akhtar said, going on to commend the league's ability to combine cricket with entertainment. Specifically, they have introduced a caliber of cricket to the area that hasn't been witnessed since the India-Pakistan era in Sharjah. The DP World International League T20 Season 3 will kick off on Saturday, January 11, 2025. The final of the 34-match competition is scheduled for Sunday, February 9, 2025, and will take place after a month of play.