ILT20, jo Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) ke under chalta hai, 2023 me launch hua tha aur IPL ke baad sabse zyada paisa dene wali T20 leagues me se ek ban gaya. Players ko yahan har season US$450,000 tak milta hai. League ke 6 teams hain — Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Dubai Capitals, Desert Vipers, Gulf Giants, MI Emirates, aur Sharjah Warriors. International stars jaise Andre Russell, David Warner, aur Nicholas Pooran ne yahan khela hai, saath hi UAE ke local players bhi.
ILT20 ka model mainly Zee TV ke saath US$120 million ke 10 saal ke broadcast deal pe based hai. Matches Dubai, Abu Dhabi, aur Sharjah ke stadiums me hote hain.
Pichle 3 seasons me har team ka salary cap US$2.5 million tha — isme player contracts, bonuses, aur incentives shamil the. Lekin January-February window me hone ki wajah se ILT20 ka clash SA20, BBL, aur BPL jaise leagues se ho jata tha. Is wajah se players ko choose karna padta tha, jiska asar team balance aur fans ke interest pe padta tha.
Salary Cap Reduction ke Peeche ki Badi Wajahen
- Financial Sustainability
Franchises ne bataya ki pichle kuch seasons me player wages pe zyada kharcha ho raha tha, jo unke budgets pe pressure daal raha tha. Broadcasting aur sponsorships pe dependent hone ke kaaran, US$2 million ka cap lagana zyada long-term sustainable hai. - Schedule Shift
ILT20 ab 2 December 2025 se 4 January 2026 ke beech hoga, jisse SA20 ke clash se bacha ja sake. SA20 ab 26 December se start hoga. Isse international players ka larger pool available hoga, jisse league ko top talent milne ka chance badh jaata hai. - Player Retention
Franchises ko lagta hai ki schedule clear hone ki wajah se kai bade players waapas aayenge, chahe salary thodi kam ho. Shorter duration aur less clash hone se ILT20 unke liye appealing rahega. - Dusre Leagues ka Faayda
ILT20 ke cap kam hone se BBL jaise leagues ko faayda ho sakta hai, kyunki ab unke paas overseas players ko attract karne ka zyada chance hai.
2025-26 Season ke naye changes
- Auction Model: Pehle ke direct signing approach ko hata ke ab September 2025 me player auction hoga. Har team ko squad banane ke liye US$2 million ka cap milega.
- Wildcard Signings: Teams ko ek extra US$250,000 diya jaayega wildcard players ke liye, jisse flexibility badhegi.
- Local Talent Debate: Abhi bhi har playing XI me sirf 2 UAE players hona mandatory hai, jo kaafi logon ko kam lagta hai. Lekin CEO David White ne bola ki future me local participation badhane ki planning hai — Mohammad Waseem aur Karthik Meiyappan jaise players ke achhe performance ke baad.
ILT20 aur Global T20 Market pe Asar
Salary cap cut aur schedule shift strategic steps hain jisse ILT20 apni jagah banaa ke rakh sake crowded T20 scene me. SA20 se clash na hone se fatigue kam hoga aur players jaise Lockie Ferguson aur Shai Hope ke liye scheduling simple hogi.
Broadcast quality aur fan engagement bhi better ho sakta hai agar top players available hon consistently. Yeh move dusre leagues ko bhi inspire kar sakta hai apni salary structures aur schedules ko revise karne ke liye. Jaise PSL ne April-May window me shift kiya hai aur SA20 ne apna cap US$2.65 million kar diya hai.
ILT20 ka yeh decision — salary cap ko US$2 million tak laana aur schedule ko December-January me shift karna — ek smart move hai. Yeh financial pressure ko balance karta hai aur top talent ke liye ek clear window provide karta hai. Auction model aur wildcard signings se teams ko zyada strategy aur flexibility milti hai. UAE players ke representation pe kaam jaari hai. Overall, yeh sab steps ILT20 ko ek strong aur sustainable global T20 league banaye rakhne me madad karega.
