ILT20 mandates Afghan, Irish presence across franchises ahead of season 5

The organisers of the International League T20 (ILT20) have introduced sweeping squad regulations ahead of Season 5, making it compulsory for each franchise to include four Afghanistan players and one Irish player within their contingent. These five cricketers must be accommodated inside the quota of 11 overseas players, with overall squad sizes capped between 21 and 23 players.

The directive arrives in advance of the tournament’s fifth edition, scheduled from November 22 to December 20, in what is widely seen as a strategic move to avoid direct clashes with Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL) and South Africa’s flagship domestic T20 competition, the SA20.

Revised squad composition rules

According to guidelines circulated to franchises, the following requirements will apply across all six teams:

• 11 Full Member players
• 4 UAE players (including at least one capped and one under‑23 player)
• 2 GCC players (one from Saudi Arabia and one from Kuwait)
• 1 Associate player (excluding UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait)
• Of the 11 Full Member players, at least 4 must be Afghan, and 1 must be Irish

The mandatory Afghan and Irish presence is expected to provide both nations with a valuable platform to showcase their talent on a global stage. For emerging players, it could serve as a gateway to regular national selection and lucrative contracts in other franchise leagues worldwide.

Financial framework

Each franchise will operate under a salary cap of USD 2 million, of which USD 1.5 million is earmarked for direct signings, retentions, and auction purchases. In addition, Season 5 may feature the introduction of a Wildcard Player, whose remuneration will sit outside the stipulated purse, offering teams an opportunity to secure marquee talent without breaching budgetary limits.

Notably, Desert Vipers are the defending champions. They defeated MI Emirates in the summit clash to clinch the title.

International League T20 winners list