Dubai: The much-anticipated third season of the DP World International League T20 (ILT20) is set to captivate cricket fans across the globe, with Zee Network and its syndicate partners leading the worldwide broadcast of the tournament. Building on its success as the second-most-watched T20 league globally in its first two seasons (attracting over 220 million viewers in Season 2), Season 3 promises an even greater reach, with expanded coverage in traditional and emerging cricket markets.
The DP World ILT20 Season 3 will kick off with a grand opening ceremony on Saturday, 11 January 2025, at the Dubai International Stadium. Bollywood icons Shahid Kapoor, Pooja Hegde, and Sonam Bajwa will headline the evening with electrifying performances, hosted by actor-producer Jackky Bhagnani and Ridhima Pathak. The opening ceremony begins at 6:00 pm local time, followed by the tournament’s inaugural match at 7:15 pm, featuring defending champions MI Emirates and hosts Dubai Capitals in a thrilling rematch of last year’s grand finale.
Speaking on the announcement, Ashish Sehgal, Chief Growth Officer – Digital & Broadcast Revenue, Zee Entertainment Enterprise Limited said, “ZEE is thrilled to present the third edition of DP World ILT20, promising an exciting experience for cricket fans across India and the globe. This season, we have significantly expanded our broadcast reach by adding five more linear channels, including South Indian channels, to cater to a diverse regional audience. This strategic move allows us to expand our viewership and engagement across multiple languages, enhancing our connection with cricket enthusiasts across different regions. With the presence of world famous players, six top-tier sporting franchises, and iconic stadiums, we are confident that this season will elevate the league’s stature as one of the most popular and widely followed cricketing events globally.”
The DP World ILT20 will be broadcast live through Zee’s extensive network of 15 linear TV channels and its OTT platform ZEE5 across India. In the MENA region, the tournament will air on Dubai TV, Abu Dhabi TV, MYCO, and the ILT20 official YouTube channel.
Additional broadcast partnerships include:
Ariana Radio and TV Network – Afghanistan
RUSH Sports – Caribbean
Samsung TV Plus and Rakuten TV – Europe
Styx Sports – Nepal
TAPMAD – Pakistan
ILT20 on Zee YouTube – Rest of the world
Talk FM Radio 100.3 – United Arab Emirates (providing live ball-by-ball commentary for all 34 matches).
Zee Network’s Indian Broadcast Channels
The DP World ILT20 will air on Zee’s popular channels, including:
&Pictures SD, &Pictures HD, Zee Cinema HD, Zee Anmol Cinema 2, Zee Action, Zee Biskope, Zee Zest SD, Zee Cinemalu HD, Zee Telugu HD, Zee Thirai, Zee Tamil HD, Zee Kannada HD, Zee Zest HD, &Flix SD, and &Flix HD.
The six DP World ILT20 franchises boast some of the biggest names in T20 cricket:
- Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Jason Holder, Roston Chase
- Desert Vipers: Alex Hales, Sherfane Rutherford, Fakhar Zaman, Lockie Ferguson
- Dubai Capitals: David Warner, Rovman Powell, Shai Hope
- Gulf Giants: Chris Jordan, Shimron Hetmyer, Ibrahim Zadran
- MI Emirates: Nicholas Pooran, Akeal Hossein, Romario Shepherd
- Sharjah Warriorz: Adil Rashid, Johnson Charles, Tim Southee, Matthew Wade
New additions this season include T20 sensations such as Shai Hope, Tim Southee, and Romario Shepherd, alongside returning stars like Jason Roy and David Warner.
The DP World ILT20 will run from 11 January to 9 February 2025, promising 34 high-intensity matches filled with action and drama. Match tickets for the season are now available online.
With expanded global coverage and star-studded lineups, the DP World ILT20 Season 3 is set to redefine the cricketing experience.
