DP World ILT20: A New Era in UAE Cricket
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has always been a hub for cricket, with the country hosting numerous international tournaments over the years. However, the inaugural edition of the DP World ILT20 cricket league marked a new era in UAE cricket, as the league received a strong response from cricket fans around the world. The Gulf Giants lifted the glittering trophy in the Feb. 12 final at the Dubai International Stadium, making history by becoming the first-ever champions of the UAE’s T20 league.
The tournament decider was played in front of a packed stadium, with high-quality performances by the biggest assembly of foreign players in any non-international cricket tournament, with 118 players from around the world competing. The league saw a reach of 255.4 million fans in India, with strong TV ratings boosting its profile. According to a research report by the global sports, sponsorship and entertainment research company YouGov Sport, DP World ILT20 Season One was the second most-watched league in India and worldwide.
The league received a quality broadcast that was available on Zee’s platforms with commentary in English, Hindi and Tamil. A high-quality broadcast of the tournament also included match highlights and clips available for fans not only on Zee’s platforms but also on the DP World ILT20’s digital platforms. The DP World ILT20 2023 edition also made a mark globally with an impressive worldwide unique viewership of 367 million people through TV and digital platforms.
“The support that the league got speaks volumes about the quality of cricket that the inaugural DP World ILT20 provided to the fans. We are fully focused on making the second season bigger and better,” said Emirates Cricket Board General Secretary Mubashshir Usmani.
Season two of DP World ILT20 is set to return on Jan. 13 next year, with a series of exciting announcements set to begin soon as teams prepare for the player retention process while lining up potential recruits from UAE. The league is here to stay, and with the support of the franchises, broadcast partner Zee, and all other stakeholders, the league will gain more popularity.
World-Class Roster of Players
The second season of DP World ILT20 promises to be even bigger and better than the first, with a world-class roster of players and home-grown UAE talent showcasing their cricketing skill and depth. The league is set to attract some of the biggest names in cricket, with teams preparing for the player retention process while lining up potential recruits from UAE.
The league has already made an impact globally, with an impressive worldwide unique viewership of 367 million people through TV and digital platforms. The league has proven to be an exceptional success story right from its inaugural season, which is truly commendable.
“Notably, DP World ILT20 has achieved a remarkable reach of over 367 million unique viewers globally … a monumental accomplishment unparalleled by any other T20 league, in its first season,” said Joseph Eapen, managing director of YouGov Sport India.
Zee’s president of business, Rahul Johri, said that DP World ILT20 season one “has been a phenomenal success in India and across the world. It was watched by over 250 million viewers on linear television and digital platforms. We are extremely proud of our relationship with the Emirates Cricket Board and are confident of scaling bigger milestones in the following years.”
Conclusion
The inaugural edition of the DP World ILT20 cricket league marked a new era in UAE cricket, with the league receiving a strong response from cricket fans around the world. The league saw a reach of 255.4 million fans in India, with strong TV ratings boosting its profile. The league received a quality broadcast that was available on Zee’s platforms with commentary in English, Hindi and Tamil. The DP World ILT20 2023 edition also made a mark globally with an impressive worldwide unique viewership of 367 million people through TV and digital platforms.
Season two of DP World ILT20 is set to return on Jan. 13 next year, with a world-class roster of players and home-grown UAE talent showcasing their cricketing skill and depth. The league is here to stay, and with the support of the franchises, broadcast partner Zee, and all other stakeholders, the league will gain more popularity.