Dubai, 19th November 2024: ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL), the official broadcaster of DP World ILT20, is all set to kick off its third season on January 11, 2025, featuring the return of West Indian all-rounder Jason Holder to the tournament. After a campaign with the Dubai Capitals in the previous edition, Holder will now represent the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, bringing his experience to a new franchise. As the league continues to grow in both profile and competitiveness, Holder is particularly excited about the increasing role of UAE players, noting that the initiative is not only raising the standard of play but also providing crucial opportunities for local talent to thrive.
The veteran of 261 T20s including 63 T20Is, praised the highly competitive nature of the DP World ILT20, emphasising the impact of the league’s unique structure. In particular, the presence of nine international players, along with two players from the United Arab Emirates.
Jason Holder will bolster the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders’ line up next year, joining an impressive roster featuring the likes of Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Michael Pepper, Charith Asalanka, and David Willey, as they aim for a strong campaign. On his excitement about playing for a new franchise and witnessing the tournament’s expanding reach, Holder remarked, “I am very excited to be part of the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders for the upcoming season and to see the tournament grow is honestly a prosperous feeling. I’m sure the organizers were very happy to see it grow and hopefully we can get more and more fans coming into the stands and create a really great atmosphere.”
The 33-year-old debuted in the second edition of the DP World ILT20. His time with the Dubai Capitals saw him score 121 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 159. He also picked up nine wickets in just as many matches. He explained, “When you have nine international players [in a playing eleven], the competition levels are incredibly high. Things like that obviously boost the tournament and its competitive nature as well. I’m really looking forward to seeing more of that. This tournament brilliantly blends the best overseas players with local talent, creating great competition and amazing cricket. I really enjoyed playing last year, as it was my first time. It’s a tournament that showcases a lot of local talent and also features experienced players. Seeing the fans come out in large numbers to support us has honestly been a very pleasing experience across Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi. I’m looking forward to the next edition—it will be bigger and better.”
Announcing the highly anticipated return of the third edition of ILT20, Ashish Sehgal, Chief Growth Officer – Digital & Broadcast Revenue, Zee Entertainment Enterprise Limited said, “At Zee Entertainment, we are thrilled to mark the return of the third edition of DP World ILT20, a month-long tournament will offer an innovative and immersive experience for cricket fans across the globe. The return of world-class players like Jason Holder, who brings immense experience and versatility, adds a new dimension to the competition. Holder’s enthusiasm for the league and his appreciation for local talent reflects the spirit of DP World ILT20 — a platform that celebrates excellence while fostering future cricket talents. At Zee, we are proud to amplify this vision and deliver an unmatched cricketing carnival for fans around the globe.”
Holder praised the reservoir of talent in the UAE, and the DP World ILT20’s role in facilitating opportunities for cricketers in the region. “It’s always good to see the local talent prospering. There are plenty of players from UAE who are worthy of playing not only in this tournament but in other international tournaments as well. As this tournament continues to grow bigger, the talent here will also keep improving and UAE cricket will become much stronger. So, I think the tournament is in good hands, and hopefully, we can continue to help everyone develop.”
Cricket fans and sports enthusiasts in India and around the world can watch the LIVE action exclusively on ZEE’s 15 linear TV channels, OTT platform ZEE5 and its syndicate partners’ TV and digital networks across the world. Aiming to capture a viewership of 230-million for the upcoming season, ZEE will expand its reach by including South Indian channels, offering a month-long cricket carnival experience.
DP World ILT20, in its second season, drew an impressive 200,000 attendees across over 30 games. The league is the second most-watched T20 cricket league globally, with a total of 348 million unique viewers from around the world, including a staggering 221 million viewers from India. This success was bolstered by ZEE Network’s robust broadcasting strategy, which leveraged a combination of ZEE’s 10 Linear TV Channels and its OTT Platform ZEE5. With a notable 46% share of female viewership and 55% share of youth viewership, the league’s broad appeal in India underscores its status as household entertainment.