David White, the recently appointed Chief Executive Officer of DP World ILT20, the United Arab Emirates’ franchise T20 league in the style of the Indian Premier League (IPL), is widely recognized as one of the foremost cricket administrators in the world.
Having previously played Test cricket, White served as the CEO of New Zealand Cricket for a decade, during which time the national team reached three World Cup finals (in 2015 and 2019 for the One Day International World Cup, and in 2021 for the T20 World Cup).
Now, as a seasoned cricket administrator, White is confident in his ability to deliver exceptional results as the leader of the UAE’s ambitious franchise tournament. This tournament has attracted renowned players and prominent owners such as Shahrukh Khan, Mukesh Ambani, and Avram Glazer, the owner of Manchester United who possesses the ILT20 team Desert Vipers.
Following a successful inaugural season, ILT20 will commence its second season on January 19th of the upcoming year. This season will feature the participation of Australian star David Warner and Pakistani pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi, further enhancing the prestige of this emerging franchise tournament.
White expressed his belief that ILT20 will contribute to the UAE’s cricket development, ushering in a new era of growth for the sport.The ILT20 tournament plays a crucial role in the advancement of local players. The positive impact on young players in India following the IPL is evident. The success stories from the inaugural season of ILT20 are numerous. Notably, Aayan Afzal Khan, a 17-year-old player, progressed to become a key player for the UAE senior team after a successful stint with the tournament champions, Gulf Giants. Sanchit Sharma also demonstrated impressive progress last season. Ali Naseer, who represented the Desert Vipers, exhibited great promise with excellent performances for the UAE. Muhammad Waseem, who captained the senior team after his heroics for MI Emirates last season, is a prime example of the tournament’s ability to develop talent. This year, the ILT20 Development Tournament provides players with an opportunity to stake a claim for the main event. The UAE boasts a wealth of talent, and we anticipate the emergence of new stars in Season 2. The ILT20 tournament remains committed to identifying, nurturing, and developing local talent, and we are confident that UAE cricket will continue to thrive on this magnificent platform.