Players From This Country to Get Guaranteed Spot in Teams At ILT20 2026 Auction After New Partnership

Ahead of the upcoming ILT20 2026 auction tomorrow (October 1), the league has entered into a new strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia. This will be the first time the middle-east country will enter mainstream cricket. Under the agreement, all six participating teams will be required to include at least one player from the country when they come under the hammer.

ILT20 Games to Be Staged in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation (SACF) has sanctioned and licensed the ILT20 – already approved by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) – as an official men’s and women’s T20 league, paving the way for matches to be hosted in Saudi Arabia in forthcoming seasons.

“Saudi Arabia players will also have a direct pathway into the ILT20. The ILT20 Season 4 Player Auction, scheduled for Wednesday, will require each franchise to secure at least one player from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” read a statement from ILT20.

The ILT20 and SACF have also agreed to collaborate closely on talent identification and grassroots development, with a development tournament scheduled for Saudi Arabia next year. In the upcoming years, ILT20 matches will be held in Saudi Arabia to create a new ecosystem for the sport in the oil-rich Kingdom.

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ILT20 Attracts Top Indian Cricketers for Season 4

The tournament has already featured veteran cricketers such as Dwayne Bravo, David Warner, and Nicholas Pooran. For the first time, the fans can also see Indian cricketers Dinesh Karthik and Ravichandran Ashwin (potentially) in action this year. Karthik has already signed a deal with Sharjah Warriorz for season 4, replacing Kusal Mendis, while Ashwin has registered for the ILT20 auction, scheduled for October 1. Ashwin has listed a base price of USD 120,000, the highest for any player, at the inaugural ILT20 auction.

The tournament has been moved out of its traditional January-February window to avoid any clash with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled for February-March in India and Sri Lanka. The ILT20 Season 4 begins on December 2 and will feature 34 matches, with the all-important final slated for January 4, 2026.

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