ILT20 franchises announce retentions for 2024 season

After the success of the first ILT20, preparations have begun for the second edition beginning from the 13th of January 2024. 

Ahead of the second season, all teams have announced their list of players. The star-studded list includes the likes of Andre Russell, Joe Root and Nicholas Pooran amongst others. Some of the more noticeable exclusions are Moeen Ali and Bhanuka Rajapaksa, both of whom will instead be participating in SA20. While Moeen has been snapped up by the Joburg Super Kings, Rajapaksa will be playing for Durban's Super Giants.

Teams that did well predictably have retained a bulk of their core, while teams that featured in the bottom rung have let go of most of their players. 

There is no change in the maximum total salary cap for the second season, which remains at US$ 2.5 million, with a minimum spend of US$ 1.5 million.

The teams - which can have a maximum of 22 and minimum of 18 players in their rosters - can start signing new players right away with the window for overseas players closing on July 31.

"There was no restriction on the number of retentions for international players while the franchises could only retain a maximum of two UAE players," a press statement from the league said.

Run by the Emirates Cricket Board, ILT20 is the most overseas-friendly league in the world. They allow up to nine overseas players in a playing XI with a minimum of two local (UAE) players. The norm has generally been to have around four-five overseas players in the playing XI. 

In a bid to stem the drain of overseas players from international commitments to overseas leagues, an ICC working group recommended capping the number of overseas players in a playing XI to four. The recommendation will be debated at the ICC's chief executives' committee initially before it is taken up by the ICC Board, which will meet on Thursday.