DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, (CMC) – International League T20 (ILT20) defending champions, Dubai Capitals have retained the services of West Indies T20 captain Shai Hope and Rovman Powell ahead of the 2025 season.

Hope was the leading run scorer in last year’s tournament, finishing with 527 runs in 12 innings at an average of 58.55 and a strike rate of 124.29. He also scored one century and three half centuries.

Meanwhile, Powell scored 202 runs from his 12 innings at an average of 33.66 with a strike rate of 145.32.
The Capitals also retained Gulbadin Naib, while adding Afghanistan wrist spinner Waqar Salamkheil, England left-arm quick Luke Wood and UAE left-arm seamer Muhammad Jawadullah to their squad.

All-rounder Romario Shepherd has been retained by the MI Emirates, which has also added Chris Woakes and Kamindu Mendis.
Johnson Charles will once again turn out for the Sharjah Warriorz, who retained his services for the new season.

Also, the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, who retained Andre Russell and Sunil Narine, have made moves to improve on their last place finish last season by adding Sherfane Rutherford, Liam Livingstone, and Alex Hales.

The six franchises will complete their squads through a player auction, details of which will be announced soon, according to a statement from the ILT20.

The next edition of the ILT20 has been brought forward to a December-January window with an eye on avoiding the cluttered January-February period, as well as finishing up well before the men’s T20 World Cup, which will run from February to March.