The International League T20 (ILT20) is going to get a big shock a few months before the start of its fifth season. It is being said that one of the ILT20 franchises has decided to end its association with the competition.
The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) recently pushed the tournament to a different window so that it does not overlap with popular T20 leagues like South Africa’s SA20 and Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL). Now, ILT20 2026 is scheduled to be held from November 22 to December 20. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill denied? Indian captain retired hurt due to hamstring injury.
ILT20 could face major blow ahead of new season as Desert Vipers likely to be out
Despite the changes, the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) is set to find itself in a red-hot position due to the Desert Vipers. The Desert Vipers are likely to leave the ILT20 after the UAE decided to end their association with the competition, reports Cricbuzz.
This news comes as a big surprise as Desert Vipers won their first ILT20 title earlier this year. Now, the Vipers franchise is preparing to withdraw from the league despite being the defending champions, leaving little time for the ECB to find a new franchise.
It is being said that Desert Vipers have already informed the ILT20 organizers about their decision to pull out of the league. The franchise is owned by Lancer Capital, which is backed by American businessman Avraham Glazer. Meanwhile, Jonathan Trott takes up his first coaching role since leaving Afghanistan, joining Cricket Ireland.
Franchise Fees and Business Model Behind Desert Viper’s Decision
The report said that the main reason behind this decision is the ongoing disagreement over the franchise fee and the business model of the league. Both sides have reportedly been trying to resolve the issues for almost two years, but they are yet to reach an agreement.
The report further states that Paul Voigt, a close associate of Avram Glazer, had recently informed the league management about the franchise’s decision. Reports also claimed that he personally spoke to the owners of the other five ILT20 teams and informed them about the situation.
If Desert Viper goes official, ILT20 will have a big task on its hands. Since players have already been signed and the coaching staff is in place, the league should have six teams for the upcoming season. This means organizers will have to bring in a new owner before the tournament starts on November 22, 2026.
Despite replacement option being ready, ILT20 faces major challenge
However, this will not be that difficult as the league already has working relationships with the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation and Kuwait Cricket. However, with just a few months left for the next season to start, time will be the biggest challenge.
Interestingly, Desert Vipers are the only team in the ILT20 that does not have Indian ownership, making their potential exit even more shocking. However, neither ILT20 organizers nor Desert Viper have yet responded to the reports.
Interestingly, the Desert Vipers have recently released details about their preparations for the Guyana Global Super League, where they qualified after winning the ILT20 title under the captaincy of Sam Curran.
