Under-23 Cricketers Picked For ILT20 2024

The recently concluded ILT20 Development Tournament in the UAE featured eight outstanding young talents under the age of 23. Their impressive performances caught the attention of ILT20 franchises, leading to their selection among the 13 players chosen for Season 2, scheduled for January-February next year. The remaining 13 spots for UAE players in Season 2 were determined through an online player selection process conducted earlier today.

11 UAE players retained for ILT20 2024

In a prior round of selections, 11 UAE players had already been retained by the franchises. To ensure the inclusion of local talent, each of the six ILT20 franchise squads is required to have a minimum of four UAE players. During the recent selection process, the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders made their picks, choosing the promising batsman Alishan Sharafu and the skilled spinner Aditya Shetty. Sharafu, who had previously represented the Sharjah Warriors in ILT20 Season 1, showcased his batting prowess by scoring 202 runs in the ILT20 Development Tournament. On the other hand, Shetty displayed his bowling prowess by taking eight wickets during the event.

The Desert Vipers made their selections for the upcoming ILT20 Season 2, opting for Karthik Meiyappan and Aryan Lakra. Meiyappan, a former member of the Warriors squad in Season 1, managed to secure two wickets in his two appearances during the ILT20 Development Tournament. Meanwhile, Lakra showcased his batting prowess by amassing 100 runs in six games.

The Dubai Capitals, having three out of their four UAE slots open, chose Rahul Chopra, Haider Ali, and Vriitya Aravind. Vriitya previously played for MI Emirates in the inaugural ILT20 Season 1. Chopra emerged as the second-highest run-scorer in the ILT20 Development Tournament with an impressive total of 269 runs, while Haider Ali claimed the top spot in the tournament's leading wicket-takers list, amassing an impressive 15 wickets.

The Gulf Giants, reigning champions, made their selections, which included the big-hitting opener Usman Khan and the leg-spinner Mohammad Zohaib Zubair. Zohaib showcased his bowling skills by taking eight wickets in his six games, while Usman Khan contributed with the bat, scoring a total of 204 runs.

MI Emirates, in their selections, chose the proficient batter Asif Khan and the versatile all-rounder Mohammad Rohid Khan. Asif Khan stood out as the top run-scorer in the ILT20 Development Tournament, amassing a remarkable 383 runs in seven innings, while Mohammad Rohid Khan made his presence felt with four wickets during the tournament.

Warriors, on the other hand, opted for the seasoned UAE batter Basil Hameed, who had previously represented MI Emirates in Season 1, and the all-rounder Nilansh Keswani. Basil contributed 72 runs in three development tournament innings, while Keswani showcased his bowling prowess by taking 10 wickets.

These new selections now complement the 11 UAE players retained by the respective franchises, as announced in the retentions list in August. The retained players include Ali Naseer (Desert Vipers), Aayan Afzal Khan (Gulf Giants), Junaid Siddique (Sharjah Warriors), Matiullah (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Mohammad Waseem (MI Emirates), Muhammad Jawadullah (Sharjah Warriors), Raja Akif (Dubai Capitals), Rohan Mustafa (Desert Vipers), Sabir Ali (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Sanchit Sharma (Gulf Giants), and Zahoor Khan (MI Emirates).

With the selections and retentions finalized, all six squads for ILT20 Season 2 are now complete. It's worth noting that teams still have the flexibility to replace injured or unavailable players leading up to and during the tournament.