Dubai Capitals and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders will be in action in the blockbuster opening match, the organizers announced Tuesday.

The much-anticipated schedule sees the competition played from January 13 through to the final on February 12. Shaikh Zayed Cricket Stadium of Abu Dhabi will be the venue for a mouth-watering clash between MI Emirates and Sharjah Warriors on January 14.

The same two teams participate in the opening fixture at the famed Sharjah Cricket Stadium on January 17.

“This is a very exciting time for the league and, collectively, we are delighted to announce the 2023 ILT20 playing schedule,” said Mubashshir Usmani, General Secretary Emirates Cricket Board.

“To have superstars such as Dubai Capital’s Dasun Shanaka and Abu Dhabi Knight Rider’s Andre Russell open their teams’ accounts is very exciting. We cannot wait for the teams to arrive (in early January) and battle it out on the park and provide world-class entertainment to the cricket fans here, in the UAE, and around the globe.”

With 10 matches scheduled in Abu Dhabi, sixteen in Dubai and eight in Sharjah, the competition will set the UAE-cricketing stage on fire with stars such as Shimron Hetmyer, Moeen Ali, Kieron Pollard, and Wanindu Hasaranga.

The six franchises will play each other twice before the playoffs

Here is the complete schedule: