Key points
- The ILT20 Development Tournament is a T20 competition for players based in the UAE, played in Dubai shortly before the ILT20 auction.
- Gulf Giants Development won the 2026 edition, beating Desert Vipers Development by four wickets in the final on 24 September.
- All six ILT20 teams have entered a development side since 2025, and a separate Kuwait edition has run since 2025.
- Most of the UAE players bought at the 2026 auction had played in the tournament a week earlier.
The ILT20 Development Tournament, officially the DP World ILT20 Development Tournament, is a T20 competition for cricketers based in the UAE. The International League T20 runs it with the Emirates Cricket Board at the ICC Academy in Dubai, in the weeks before the ILT20 player auction, so the six teams can watch the UAE players they must have in their squads. The fourth edition ended on 24 September 2026, when Gulf Giants Development beat Desert Vipers Development by four wickets. Facts last checked on 4 October 2026.
ILT20 Development Tournament at a glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Official name | DP World ILT20 Development Tournament |
| Run by | The International League T20 with the Emirates Cricket Board |
| Who plays | Cricketers based in the UAE, picked in a draft |
| Teams | Six development sides, one for each ILT20 team |
| Venue | ICC Academy, Dubai |
| Format | 15 league matches, two semi-finals and a final |
| 2026 dates | 14 to 24 September 2026 |
| 2026 champions | Gulf Giants Development |
| Kuwait edition | Since 2025; Kuwait Falcons won in 2026 |
What is the ILT20 Development Tournament?
It is the league’s competition for players based in the UAE, from UAE internationals to players hoping for their first ILT20 contract. Each ILT20 team enters a development side under its own name, such as Gulf Giants Development, and the matches are played over about ten days at the ICC Academy in Dubai. You may also see it called the UAE ILT20 Development League.
The tournament works as a shop window. It finishes shortly before the ILT20 auction, and the teams use it to judge the UAE players they will bid for. It is also part of the Emirates Cricket Board’s domestic season.
Why it matters for UAE players
Every ILT20 team must include UAE players. For Season 5, each squad needs at least four, including at least one capped UAE international and one under-23 player, and every playing XI must include at least two. That means at least 24 UAE players win ILT20 contracts each season, and this tournament is where most of them make their case.
In 2026, 102 players were drafted into six squads of 17 on 2 September. A week after the final, most of the 27 UAE players bought at the auction on 1 October had played in the tournament. They included its player of the tournament, Sagar Kalyan, who joined Gulf Giants, and its top wicket-taker, Wali Muhammad, who joined Desert Vipers. Muhammad Waseem, named in MI Emirates’ development squad, then became the most expensive UAE player in auction history at $210,000. Each team could also use its UAE Right to Match card on a player from its 2026 development squad. See every 2026 auction price.
How the tournament works
The six development sides play each other once, which makes 15 league matches. The top four reach the semi-finals, and the two winners meet in the final, so there are 18 matches in all. Matches are played at the ICC Academy in Dubai.
Players are picked in a draft before the tournament. Squads had 15 players in 2023 and 2025, and 17 in 2026. No age limit has been published, and the squads mix UAE internationals with uncapped players. In 2026, former India Test wicketkeeper KS Bharat, who has moved to Dubai, was in the MI Emirates Development squad. Our guide explains which Indian players can play in ILT20.
The six development teams
Every ILT20 team has entered its own development side since 2025. Their records so far:
| Team | Titles | Best finish |
|---|---|---|
 Gulf Giants Development | 2 (2024, 2026) | Champions |
 Sharjah Warriorz Development | 1 (2025) | Champions |
 Desert Vipers Development | 0 | Runners-up in 2025 and 2026 |
 Abu Dhabi Knight RidersAbu Dhabi KR Development | 0 | Semi-finals in 2026 |
 Dubai Capitals Development | 0 | Yet to reach a final |
 MI Emirates Development | 0 | Yet to reach a final |
ILT20 Development Tournament winners
UAE
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Final |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | ILT20 Braves | ILT20 Blitzers | Won by 9 wickets, 10 October |
| 2024 | Gulf Giants Development | ILT20 Pearls | Won by 6 wickets, 16 October |
| 2025 | Sharjah Warriorz Development | Desert Vipers Development | Won by 4 runs, 3 September |
| 2026 | Gulf Giants Development | Desert Vipers Development | Won by 4 wickets, 24 September |
Kuwait
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Final |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boubyan Warriors | Failaka Guardians | Won by 5 wickets, 12 September |
| 2026 | Kuwait Falcons | Pearl Strikers | Won by 57 runs, 25 September |
2026: Gulf Giants Development win the fourth edition
The 2026 tournament ran from 14 to 24 September at the ICC Academy, with league matches until 22 September, the semi-finals on 23 September and the final the next day. Gulf Giants Development topped the league table:
| Place | Team | Won | Lost | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gulf Giants Development | 4 | 1 | 8 |
| 2 | Sharjah Warriorz Development | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| 3 | Desert Vipers Development | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| 4 | Abu Dhabi Knight RidersAbu Dhabi KR Development | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 5 | Dubai Capitals Development | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 6 | MI Emirates Development | 1 | 4 | 2 |
In the semi-finals, Gulf Giants Development beat Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Development, and Desert Vipers Development beat Sharjah Warriorz Development. In the final, Desert Vipers Development were bowled out for 143 in 19.5 overs, and Gulf Giants Development reached 144 for 6 with eight balls to spare. It was the Vipers’ second final defeat in a row.
Sagar Kalyan was player of the tournament and its top scorer, with 280 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 189, and Wali Muhammad took the most wickets, 15.
Earlier editions
2023: ILT20 Braves win the first tournament
The first tournament ran from 30 September to 10 October 2023 at the ICC Academy. The franchises did not enter teams yet: 90 players were drafted into six league-run sides, ILT20 Blitzers, Braves, Dynamos, Marvels, Pearls and Thunderbolts, with 15 players each. ILT20 Braves beat ILT20 Blitzers by nine wickets in the final.
2024: Gulf Giants Development win
The first franchise development sides took part in 2024, alongside league-run teams. The tournament ran from 6 to 16 October, and Gulf Giants Development beat ILT20 Pearls by six wickets in the final.
2025: Sharjah Warriorz Development win
All six franchises entered development sides for the first time in 2025. After a draft on 18 August, the tournament ran from 24 August to 3 September. Sharjah Warriorz Development made 134 in the final and bowled Desert Vipers Development out for 130 to win by four runs. Sanjay Pahal of Desert Vipers Development was player of the tournament, with 157 runs at a strike rate of 215 and 12 wickets. Reports at the time called this edition Season 3, which is why it is sometimes mixed up with the main league’s seasons.
The Kuwait edition
In June 2025 the league, the Emirates Cricket Board and Kuwait Cricket agreed a partnership that added a Kuwait edition of the tournament for players based in Kuwait. It has four teams, Boubyan Warriors, Failaka Guardians, Kuwait Falcons and Pearl Strikers, who play 12 league matches before a third-place match and the final.
The first Kuwait tournament ran from 4 to 12 September 2025 at the Sulaibiya Cricket Ground. Boubyan Warriors chased 205 to beat Failaka Guardians by five wickets in the final, and Meet Bhavsar was the best batter, with 399 runs. The second ran from 17 to 25 September 2026. Kuwait Falcons made 163 and bowled Pearl Strikers out for 106 to win the final by 57 runs, and Ummer Abbas was player of the tournament, with 239 runs and five wickets.
The Kuwait edition matters because every ILT20 squad must now include a Kuwait player. Six Kuwait-based players were signed for Season 4, and at the 2026 auction Gulf Giants used a Right to Match card to keep Meet Bhavsar.
Players who moved up
- Sanjay Pahal: player of the tournament in 2025, then in the Desert Vipers squad for Season 4. The Vipers bought him again for $22,000 at the 2026 auction.
- Haider Ali: came through Dubai Capitals’ development side, has played for the UAE, and was bought by Dubai Capitals for $38,000 in 2026.
- Sagar Kalyan and Wali Muhammad: the 2026 player of the tournament and top wicket-taker, bought a week later for $10,000 each by Gulf Giants and Desert Vipers.
- Muhammad Waseem: named in MI Emirates’ development squad in 2026, then kept by MI Emirates for $210,000, a record for a UAE player.
Our guide to how ILT20 players are paid explains what these fees mean.
Where to watch the ILT20 Development Tournament
The tournament has been streamed live on FanCode in India and by Styx Sports in the rest of the world, and in 2026 the league also showed it on its YouTube channel in the UAE and the Gulf. The 2026 Kuwait edition was shown on Cricket Lounge TV. For the main league, see where to watch ILT20.
Development Tournament v ILT20
| Development Tournament | ILT20 | |
|---|---|---|
| Players | Players based in the UAE (in Kuwait for the Kuwait edition) | International stars with UAE and other Associate players |
| Teams | Six development sides | Six ILT20 teams |
| When | August to October, before the auction | 21 November to 20 December 2026 |
| Matches | 18 | 34 |
| Venues | ICC Academy, Dubai | Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah stadiums |
| Current champions | Gulf Giants Development (2026) | Desert Vipers (2025-26) |
Read more about the main league in our guide: what is ILT20.
When is the next ILT20 Development Tournament?
The 2027 dates have not been announced. Past editions were played between late August and mid-October, always before the ILT20 draft or auction: 30 September to 10 October in 2023, 6 to 16 October in 2024, 24 August to 3 September in 2025 and 14 to 24 September in 2026. We will add the 2027 dates when the league announces them.
ILT20 Development Tournament: questions
What is the ILT20 Development Tournament?
A T20 competition for players based in the UAE, run by the ILT20 with the Emirates Cricket Board. The six ILT20 teams enter development sides, and it is played at the ICC Academy in Dubai before the player auction.
Who won the ILT20 Development Tournament in 2026?
Gulf Giants Development, who beat Desert Vipers Development by four wickets in the final on 24 September 2026. Kuwait Falcons won the Kuwait edition.
Who won the ILT20 Development Tournament in 2025?
Sharjah Warriorz Development, who beat Desert Vipers Development by four runs. Boubyan Warriors won the first Kuwait edition.
Who won in 2024 and 2023?
Gulf Giants Development won in 2024, and ILT20 Braves won the first tournament in 2023.
Who can play in the ILT20 Development Tournament?
Players based in the UAE, picked in a draft by the six development sides. The Kuwait edition is for players based in Kuwait.
Is the Development Tournament part of the ILT20 season?
No. It is a separate competition played before the auction. ILT20 Season 5 runs from 21 November to 20 December 2026.
When is the 2027 ILT20 Development Tournament?
The dates have not been announced. Recent editions have been played in August, September or October.
Where can I watch the ILT20 Development Tournament?
On FanCode in India and Styx Sports elsewhere, and in 2026 on the league’s YouTube channel in the UAE and the Gulf.
Sources: Wisden on the 2026 tournament, ANI on the 2026 squads, Gulf News on the 2026 final, Arab News on the 2026 final, Khaleej Times on the 2025 final, Gulf News on the 2025 final, Gulf Giants on the 2024 final, Gulf News on the 2024 tournament, Gulf Today on the 2023 final, Sportskeeda on the 2023 tournament, Arab Times on Kuwait 2025, Kuwait Times on Kuwait 2025, Arab Times on Kuwait 2026, Times Kuwait on Kuwait 2026, CricTracker on the MI Emirates squad, The National on UAE players, Wisden auction live blog.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@internationaleaguet20.com and we will correct it, noting the change at the top of the article.
