Key points
- Thomas Lyte, a firm of silversmiths in London, designed and made the ILT20 trophy.
- It is 830mm tall, a nod to the Burj Khalifa, and its shape comes from the falcon, the UAE’s national bird.
- It was unveiled in Dubai on 10 October 2022, and Gulf Giants lifted it first, in February 2023.
- Desert Vipers hold it. The Season 5 final is on Sunday 20 December 2026.
The ILT20 trophy, also called the DP World ILT20 trophy, is the cup the International League T20 champions lift after the final. This guide explains who made it, what its design means and who has lifted it. Facts last checked on 12 October 2026.
ILT20 trophy at a glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Made by | Thomas Lyte, London, England |
| Unveiled | Monday 10 October 2022, Dubai |
| Height | 830mm (83cm) |
| Weight | 12.2kg |
| Made of | Sterling silver, with 24-carat gold plating on parts, says Thomas Lyte |
| First winners | Gulf Giants, 12 February 2023 |
| Holders | Desert Vipers (Season 4, 2025-26) |
| Next final | Sunday 20 December 2026, Dubai International Stadium |
| Price | Not published |
What the ILT20 trophy looks like
The trophy is a silver cup with two handles, on a black plinth. The league says its design draws on the UAE:
- The falcon: the teardrop-shaped body comes from the falcon, the UAE’s national bird. Thomas Lyte says the handles are the bird’s shoulders, tucked in for a dive.
- The seven emirates: a seven-pointed crown stands for the seven emirates. It is shaped like the sand dunes of Tel Moreeb in Al Dhafra, Abu Dhabi.
- The cricket ball: the crown holds a cricket ball at the very top.
- The Burj Khalifa: the trophy’s 830mm height is a nod to the famous Dubai tower.
- Jebel Jais: Thomas Lyte says the UAE’s highest mountain is engraved by hand on the trophy’s shoulders.
The words International League T20 are engraved across the front, above a pendant with the league logo, which Thomas Lyte says can be taken off.
The photo at the top of this page is the league’s own, from its Season 4 final preview in January 2026. Captains Sam Curran of Desert Vipers and Kieron Pollard of MI Emirates stand beside the trophy, whose plinth reads Thomas Lyte England.
Who made the ILT20 trophy?
Thomas Lyte, a firm of silversmiths and trophy makers in London, designed and made the trophy, and the league’s website still lists the firm as its official trophy maker.
No single designer has been named. Thomas Lyte says its in-house team in London drew 28 different ideas over several months before choosing the final design. The firm then made the trophy by hand in its London workshop in 2022. According to Thomas Lyte:
- It took 230 hours to make.
- It has 30 parts, each polished separately and put together on the last day.
- It is hallmarked sterling silver, with 24-carat gold plating on parts. The gold band around the neck was spun by hand and sandblasted to look like sand dunes.
The firm also made the men’s and women’s trophies for The Hundred in England. Its founder, Kevin Baker, has called the ILT20 trophy one of the finest the firm has made.
When and where the trophy was unveiled
Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Chairman of the Emirates Cricket Board and the UAE’s Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, unveiled the trophy on the evening of Monday 10 October 2022. It was at a league event in Dubai, three months before the first season.
Brett Lee, Wasim Akram and Dwayne Bravo were among the guests, along with people from all six teams. Mubashshir Usmani, the Emirates Cricket Board’s General Secretary, said the trophy “truly reflects the essence and the spirit of the league”.
How the trophy is presented
Every ILT20 final so far has been at Dubai International Stadium, and the winners receive the trophy on the field after the match. In January 2026, Desert Vipers lifted it on a stage under a Champions arch, with fireworks behind them.
Players also pose with it before the season and before the final, as players from all six teams did the day before Season 4 began, on 1 December 2025.
Thomas Lyte said in 2022 that a second pendant, kept in a drawer in the plinth, would go to one fan on the day of the final. The league has not said who has received it, or whether the champions keep the original trophy or a copy.
Who has lifted the ILT20 trophy?
Four teams have won the trophy once each. Each result links to the scorecard of the final.
| Season | Champions | Captain | Final |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 (Season 1) |  Gulf Giants | James Vince | Beat Desert Vipers by 7 wickets, 12 Feb 2023 |
| 2024 (Season 2) |  MI Emirates | Nicholas Pooran | Beat Dubai Capitals by 45 runs, 17 Feb 2024 |
| 2025 (Season 3) |  Dubai Capitals | Sam Billings | Beat Desert Vipers by 4 wickets, 9 Feb 2025 |
| 2025-26 (Season 4) |  Desert Vipers | Sam Curran | Beat MI Emirates by 46 runs, 4 Jan 2026 |
| 2026 (Season 5) | To be decided | To be decided | Final on Sunday 20 December 2026 |
Our ILT20 winners list has every final in full.
How many ILT20 trophies has each team won?
Gulf Giants, MI Emirates, Dubai Capitals and Desert Vipers have one ILT20 title each. Desert Vipers have reached the most finals, three, losing the first two. MI Emirates and Dubai Capitals have reached two each. Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and Sharjah Warriorz have not yet won the trophy or reached a final. Their best finish is third: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in 2025-26 and Sharjah Warriorz in 2025.
The trophy, the Black Belt and the other belts
The trophy goes to the champion team. In Season 4 the champions also received $700,000 and the Black Belt, which the league says is for the franchise owner. The runners-up received $300,000.
Four more belts, worth $15,000 each in Season 4, go to players: the Red Belt for the most valuable player, the Green Belt for the best batter, the White Belt for the best bowler and the Blue Belt for the best UAE player. In 2025-26 Sam Curran won the Red and Green Belts, Waqar Salamkheil the White Belt and Muhammad Waseem the Blue Belt. The winners list has every belt winner, and our all-time ILT20 stats show the top run-scorers.
How much is the ILT20 trophy worth?
Neither the league nor Thomas Lyte has published a price or value for the trophy, so any figure you see elsewhere is not an official one. The only published sums are the prize money above. Prize money for Season 5 has not been announced.
Other ILT20 trophies
Other ILT20 events have their own trophies. Gulf Giants Development won the gold-coloured ILT20 Development Tournament cup in Dubai in September 2026, and Kuwait Falcons won the Kuwait edition’s silver cup the same month. Kenya won the ILT20 Continent Cup in Kigali, Rwanda, in September 2026.
The ILT20 2026 final and the Season 5 trophy
No new trophy has been announced for Season 5, and the league’s Season 5 poster shows the same Thomas Lyte design at its centre.
Desert Vipers start their defence against MI Emirates in Dubai on Saturday 21 November, and the final is at Dubai International Stadium on Sunday 20 December 2026. See every fixture on the ILT20 2026 schedule, and read how the ILT20 playoffs work.
ILT20 trophy: questions
Who made the ILT20 trophy?
Thomas Lyte, a firm of silversmiths and trophy makers in London. The firm says it is sterling silver with 24-carat gold plating on parts.
What is the price of the ILT20 trophy?
No price or value has been published by the league or by Thomas Lyte.
Who won the ILT20 trophy in 2025?
Dubai Capitals won the final on 9 February 2025. Desert Vipers won the Season 4 final on 4 January 2026.
Have Desert Vipers won any trophy?
Yes. They won the ILT20 in Season 4, beating MI Emirates by 46 runs in the final.
How many trophies have MI Emirates won?
One ILT20 title, in 2024.
How many trophies have Abu Dhabi Knight Riders won?
None yet. They have not reached an ILT20 final.
Is there a new ILT20 trophy for Season 5?
None has been announced. The league’s Season 5 poster shows the same design.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@internationaleaguet20.com and we will correct it, noting the change at the top of the article.
