T20 Leagues all over the globe are experiencing an increasing amount of viewership and an opportunity to expand business across continents. Keeping an eye on the Indian Premier League, some other cricket playing nations now have their own franchise leagues. SA20 (South Africa), ILT20 (United Arab Emirates), Major League Cricket (MLC) are among few popular T20 leagues. 

But, from the arriving season, the Indian Premier League is able to secure a particular identity. Franchise owners of IPL, have already expanded their business wings in other countries as well, though BCCI registered Indian players have restrictions for participating in other T20 leagues. 

If the England and Wales cricket board (ECB) can break this barrier and make a knot with BCCI, then the T20 franchise league can touch new heights, feels Lancashire CEO Daniel Gidney. 

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According to a recently published report, Gidney shared his thoughts about a mutual passage so that Indian cricketers can also participate in overseas franchise leagues, It could be possible if BCCI and ECB come together for an agreement. According to him, "I think it's possible. If I was the ECB, I'd be talking about perhaps bringing the BCCI in as a minority ownership partner in the tournament as a whole. If you do that, then you are aligning interests." 

The BCCI has been really successful with protecting their brand by making sure they don't plan any T20 tournaments anywhere in the world… If I were the BCCI, then I would have to say I would need a significant incentive to relax the current policy because that has been extraordinarily successful and has grown the IPL into the massive commercial entity that it is," he added. 

Proposal for a possible bridge between BCCI and ECB 

Though Indian men's cricketers are not allowed to play any foreign club cricket, the country's women cricketers, like captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana, featured in England's The Hundred and Australia's Women's Big Bash League. For the Lancashire CEO, it is the right time to welcome Indian men's cricketers to other leagues. 

He said, 'That is probably your best chance of getting (Indian) players in The Hundred. It comes down to the will and the individuals on both sides."

Cricket is set to return to the Olympic Games after 128 years, and the United Kingdom may enter with a single team under the name of Great Britain. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Scotland have started talks to form a combined team for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The boards get on well and are cooperating to compile a Team GB cricket team, Cricket Scotland Chief Executive Trudy Lindblade says. The reason behind this is that the British Olympic Association (BOA) needs a British team that represents the country in the Olympics as one entity. The 2028 Olympics will include men’s and women’s T20 cricket tournaments. Only six teams will take part in each event, and each team will be allowed to select 15 players. The qualification process has not been confirmed yet by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) or the International Cricket Council (ICC).

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England and Scotland Working Together

England is currently ranked second in the world in men’s T20 cricket and third in the women’s rankings. Scotland, however, is outside the top ten in both formats. Forming a single Great Britain team could give both countries a better chance to qualify and compete under the limited six-team rule. In most Olympic sports, athletes from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland compete together as Great Britain. Football has been an exception, but even there, the BOA hopes to bring a Team GB men’s football team to the 2028 Olympics.

Cricket was last played at the Olympics in 1900 in Paris. Back then, a team from Great Britain beat France in the only match of the tournament. In 2028, the cricket matches will be held at a temporary venue in Pomona, California. The idea of a Great Britain cricket team is gaining strong support. Talks between the ECB and Cricket Scotland are ongoing, and both sides are hopeful. If everything goes well, cricket fans could see a united British team on the Olympic stage for the first time in over a century.

Former England skipper Charlotte Edwards has been appointed as England Women's cricket team head coach, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed on Tuesday (April 1). Edwards, who represented England in more than 300 games and was captain of the team for a decade, succeeds Jon Lewis after England's embarrassing 16-0 Ashes whitewash against Australia earlier this year.

A Return to the Three Lions

"I am thrilled to be back as part of the England Women's cricket team leadership, and I am not looking forward to taking this team forward and pushing us to success," Edwards said. "It means the world to me to have the three lions on my chest again. Being captain of England was my life for 10 years, and I will always be passionate about this team and our heritage. We have such a great bunch of players, and I am looking forward to working with them and developing them as individuals and as a team."

Her immediate challenge will be two home series against West Indies and India, followed by the ICC Women’s World Cup in India later this year and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup at home in 2026. She will also be responsible for restoring team morale after England’s recent poor performances, including their unexpected group-stage exit at the T20 World Cup in the UAE last October.

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A Decorated Career On and Off the Field

Through her 20-year career on the field, Edwards was a two-time World Cup and five-time Ashes series winner. Since retiring in 2017, she has lived a life of tremendous success as a coach. She took Mumbai Indians to two Women's Premier League (WPL) titles in three seasons and took Southern Vipers to five titles, two of which were in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, England's domestic T20 competition named for her.

Her coaching record also features taking Southern Brave to three Women's Hundred finals, claiming victory in 2023, and taking Sydney Sixers to the final of the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) for 2022-23. Edwards will now leave her position with the Sixers and Hampshire Women.

ECB Supports a "Proven Winner"

ECB deputy CEO and England Women's cricket managing director Clare Connor welcomed Edwards' appointment: "She has the experience, passion, and expertise to take this team to success. The results she has achieved as a head coach in various environments since retiring as one of the greatest-ever England players is a relentless and high standard."

Connor also recognized Edwards's extensive understanding of the game at home and abroad and stressed the need to create a competitive but also supportive atmosphere for the national team.

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Transition in Leadership and Challenges Ahead

Edwards' appointment comes as England changes leadership, with Heather Knight retiring as captain. The ECB has not yet announced her replacement, although vice-captain Nat Sciver-Brunt is the favorite to take over.

On Wednesday, Edwards and Connor will speak to the media at Lord's to set out their vision for England Women's cricket. With the growing professionalization of the women's game and the recent struggles of England, Edwards is likely to introduce more stringent fitness and performance requirements to restore the team's competitive swagger.

As England prepares for a key stage in women's cricket, including the possibility of the sport being added to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Edwards' appointment promises a new dawn. The ECB will expect that her record as a player and coach is replicated internationally.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is reportedly considering retiring the Pataudi Trophy, contested between England and India in Test series played in England. Sources indicate that the Pataudi family has been brought up to date on the issue, which appears to have divided the cricket community.

The Pataudi Trophy’s Legacy

Pursuant to Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, one of India’s most remembered captains, the trophy was created in 2007 to commemorate the 75th year since India’s inaugural Test tour to England. Over the years, it showcased the intense competition between the two cricketing superpowers, like India’s historic series victory in 2007, England’s supremacy in the game in 2011 and India’s revitalisation in 2018. 

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Why Retire the Trophy?

The ECB has yet to make an announcement about the initiative or provide any reasoning. Nevertheless, some have speculated that the ECB has opted to change the branding of the series as the context of cricket changes rapidly in light of T20 leagues. Another consideration could be that the cup naming of "trophy" is asymmetric and appears odd as to where one would play for the Pataudi Trophy in England while playing for the Anthony de Mello Trophy in a series in India.

If the old trophy is indeed retired, then a trophy could be reinserted that would simply rescale the naming and signify something juxtaposed with a common historical milestone.

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This move comes with a scheduled five-Test tour for India to England in June of 2025, making an announcement likely given its positioning within the calendar. Regardless of whether there is a trophy, the series contest will likely personify one of the greatest rivalries in cricket between England and India.

Joe Root has confirmed he is not in the running to become England’s next white-ball captain following Jos Buttler’s resignation after the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The 34-year-old batter, who led England’s Test team from 2017 to 2022, stated that his time as captain is over.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Root said, “I think that ship has sailed. I’ve done my time as a captain in an England shirt. I’m sure whoever gets the opportunity will be extremely proud and do a brilliant job.”

While Root never captained England in limited-overs formats, he returned to the ODI side this year and finished as one of the top performers in the Champions Trophy. He was England’s leading batter in the tournament, finishing as the fourth-highest run-scorer overall, and nearly took his team over the line in their final match against Afghanistan with a gritty century.

Despite his personal success, England endured a disappointing campaign, failing to reach the semifinals. Jos Buttler stepped down as captain shortly before their final group game against South Africa. Since then, England has yet to announce a new leader for the ODI side.

Among the contenders, vice-captain Harry Brook is currently seen as the front-runner. However, managing director Rob Key has hinted that Ben Stokes could be considered for the white-ball captaincy, potentially uniting both red and white-ball leadership under one figure. Brendon McCullum has not ruled out the option of having separate captains for ODIs and T20Is.

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Root acknowledged England’s recent struggles but remains confident in the squad’s potential. “We didn’t play anywhere near what we’re capable of. But there’s so much talent and so much more to come. This is a good opportunity to reset and move forward as a group.”

Despite not being a regular in England’s T20I squad since 2019, Root's form in franchise cricket has drawn attention. He impressed in this year’s SA20 tournament with the Paarl Royals, scoring 279 runs at an average of 55.80 and a strike rate of 140.20.

Looking ahead, Root turned his focus to the upcoming Test summer, starting with a five-match series against India at home from June 20. The series will kick off the new cycle of the World Test Championship.

“India coming over means there’s no hiding place. It’s a long series, and we’ll need to deliver match-winning performances consistently,” Root said.

With Root stepping aside from the leadership conversation, England’s white-ball future now rests on the next generation to take the team forward.

As England’s white-ball team attempts to revamp its structure, keeper batsman Sam Billings has made himself available for the captaincy. After Jos Buttler’s rough tenure post the England T20 World Cup victory in 2022, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) may seek new leadership in the limited overs after England's dismal performances in other competitions alongside his own underwhelming performance as a captain.

Billings is 32 years old and has been a part of the England white-ball setup for almost ten years. While it is true he has been ousted by some more famous players, his captaincy of Kent combined with other domestic and franchise leagues gives him ample experience. His strong mental fortitude with the ability to cope with an array of different match situations makes him suitable for the captaincy.

England's ODI World cup defense was lackluster at best, and their title as champions was stripped from them. This early exit placed further scrutiny on captain Buttler, who may consider one of the best white-ball played currently.If the ECB decides to make any changes, Billings would be a prime target after strongly reiterating his desire for increased responsibility.

🚨 SAM BILLINGS EYES ENGLAND CAPTAINCY! 🚨

- The wicketkeeper-batter has expressed his desire to lead England in white-ball cricket. (BBC Sport) 🏏🔥#SamBillings #EnglandCricket #WhiteBallCaptaincy #BBCSport pic.twitter.com/CmLXQTyHBR

— Akaran.A (@Akaran_1) March 15, 2025

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Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, and even fresh talents like Harry Brook are also options, so Billings is not the only name in dispute. For now, however, the obvious option is Billings, as his experience, tactical understanding, and leadership credentials can distinguish him from the others in the pack.

Everyone is focused as to what decision will be made in terms of Billings and the rest of the squad and the role he will play for the England team as they prepare in advance for their two assignments involving fifty over matches. If his appointment comes to pass, he will have an opportunity to change the current England philosophy of white ball cricket and reinvigorate the team with new energy.

Now, all that is left to see is the announcement, but it is certain that Sam Billings has come forward for the position.

ECB director Rob Key has been disappointed with England's recent performance in the Champions Trophy where they couldn't able to a single match. England had found themselves back to the conceptual era before 2015 despite having talented players in their squad. It was the man Eion Morgan and his co-supporter Ben Stokes who just reshaped England cricket after an early exit from the 2015 ODI World Cup.

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Morgan inspired us that we are still playing old-fashioned cricket where it has developed a lot, we have to change our thinking and be more aggressive. And they just revamped their brand of cricket which suited and helped them too. That resulted in them winning their first ODI World Cup title in 2019. But after that when their former players retired everything changed drastically. 

Rob Key Highlighting About Key Member

Key has highlighted that bringing back Ben Stokes will be an ideal solution for this and can be named as Captain for the team who can groom these players with his experience. He brings that quality and value to the team. The team needs some inspiration. After a poor outing in the Champions Trophy, their captain Jos Butler has resigned from captaincy. He tented and thanked the management for the opportunity. Now after him, there are several names aroused but Key is more worried about the quality because captaincy comes with added pressure. 

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Stokes is considered an inspiration in England who played a major role in the triumph of two world titles. Players like Stokes are generational, Stokes left limited-overs cricket after the 2023 World Cup.  Though he hinted at revoking back the retirement and being available in the Champions Trophy a sudden Hamstring injury during the New Zealand test series had penetrated him to do so. Stokes after his limited overs retirement has fully focused on test format. 

Mccllum And Stokes Partnership In Need For Odi

Former New Zealand player and explosive batsman Brenden McCullum was appointed as England test team coach and the combination of Bazzball has been surreal which revamped the English test cricket too. This was tried in the ODI too after a successful test regime Mccllum was handed over the ODI coaching, here it was a bit different for him and he wasn't able to produce the desired results despite having world-class players. 

11 out of 10 matches Mccllum has lost which includes the recent India series. It's been an idea to bring back Ben to calm the guys and to show them the path how it has to handle the pressure in most difficult times. 

Fast bowler all-rounder Brydon Carse has been ruled out due to a toe injury and replaced by Rehan Ahmed. He had been struggling with an injury on his left foot, which got worse during England’s loss against Australia on February 22. Carse tried to push through the pain but had a tough time, giving away 69 runs in seven overs. His struggles raised concerns about his fitness and he has been ruled out in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.  

He missed training on February 24, and after medical tests, doctors confirmed he couldn’t continue in this tournament. The injury first troubled him in England’s recent series in India, where he had to miss the last two ODIs due to stitches on his toe. Unfortunately, the problem didn’t heal in time, forcing him out of the Champions Trophy 2025.

Young leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed has been named as Brydon Carse's replacement for the remainder of the Champions Trophy for England. pic.twitter.com/C5PcBFemvj

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) February 24, 2025

Brydon Carse’s replacement for the Champions Trophy 2025

With Brydon Carse ruled out, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed that young leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed will replace him in the squad after getting approval from the ICC Tournament.  

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“The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 has approved Rehan Ahmed as a replacement for Brydon Carse in the England squad. Ahmed, who has played six ODIs, was named as a replacement after Carse was ruled out due to a toe injury. A player replacement requires the committee’s approval before the player can officially join the squad,”. 

At just 19 years old, Rehan Ahmed will strengthen England’s spin attack, which previously depended only on Adil Rashid. He has already shown his skills in ODIs, taking 10 wickets at an average of 23.3. He also made history in 2022 by becoming England’s youngest male Test debutant and impressed with a five-wicket haul against Pakistan.

James Anderson Set to Resume Playing Career with Lancashire at 43

James Anderson is conversing with Lancashire about getting back into playing this summer when he's going to be 43. It's been almost a year since his last game, but he's ready to get back and play in every type of match with Lancashire. Even though he's not playing in international Test cricket anymore, Anderson truly desires to continue and help out his favorite county cricket team.Mister Anderson's known as one of the top fast bowlers in cricket ever, and he's not done yet.

A Year After His Farewell Test at Lord’s

Anderson still thinks he has many things to offer, and his passion for cricket is making him consider returning to play with Lancashire, the team he started with when he was just a teenager. Since that special farewell match at Lord's against the West Indies in July 2024, he hasn't played at all. His incredible trip got him 704 test wickets, but then the England team leaders decided it was time to look ahead without him.

🚨 43 YEAR OLD JIMMY ANDERSON TO PLAY COUNTY. 🚨

- Anderson will be representing Lancashire in the County Championship. (Telegraph). pic.twitter.com/87tm0H70Ze

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 10, 2025

Fitness and Readiness

Anderson has been keeping himself fit by regularly bowling in the nets and doing conditioning work with England's strength and fitness coaches, during their tours to Pakistan and New Zealand, before Christmas. He believes he can continue performing well and have a strong season with Lancashire when it begins in April. This might be his goodbye season with his county team—but if things go well, he might think about playing for more time.

Balancing Playing and Coaching Duties

Anderson has decided to keep playing into his 40s because he really loves cricket, similar to how Sir Alastair Cook kept playing for Essex for five years after he retired, in 2018, from international Test cricket. Besides just playing, Anderson will also keep his job as a bowling coach for the England Test team. The result? He must handle playing for Lancashire, his coaching responsibilities with England, and any work he does with the media.

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Lancashire’s Hopes for the Season

Lancashire is very eager to return after getting bumped down from Division One of the County Championship last year, and having Anderson around is going to be a major boost for them to reach that level again. They want the experienced bowler, Anderson, to play in at least five rounds of the County Championship before he has to join up with the England team again for the Test summer. The team's management is eager to have him return.

A Return to Lord’s and Old Trafford

Anderson might play his last season in domestic cricket, starting with Lancashire's first game at their home ground, Old Trafford, against Northants on April 11. The season begins at Lord's on April 4, where Anderson can go back to the place where he started playing for England.

The Legacy Continues

Anderson coming back to play county cricket is very important news, not simply for him but also for the team. Young players get a great opportunity to bat against Anderson, who's a legend when it comes to fast bowling, especially with the Dukes ball in red-ball cricket. His being there is a big positive for Lancashire--but it's also wonderful for young hitters in the County Championship because they get to go against facing a very good bowler.

Despite being unsold at the IPL auction in January, Anderson’s passion for the game remains undiminished. The prospect of playing white-ball cricket again is not ruled out, and his return to Lancashire could mark the beginning of a final, memorable chapter in a career that has already spanned over two decades.

James Anderson Career Stats

Bowling

The third edition of the iconic ILT20 is about to commence on January 11, 2025. MI Emirates, the defending champions will take on Dubai Capitals in the season opener at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The tournament will comprise 34 games and a total of six teams will be vying to get their hands on the prestigious ILT20 trophy. This T20 carnival from the UAE promises to bring a lot of thrill and entertainment to fans within the country and overseas. ILT20 will be in direct clash with the ongoing SA20 edition which is currently being held in South Africa.

In the league stage, teams will compete with one another and the top four teams based on points will advance to the playoffs. Moving on, the playoffs will feature Qualifier 1 which will be played between the top two teams, and the Eliminator which will see the battle between 3rd and 4th position teams.

See also: SA20 2025: Schedule, Team Venues, Live Streaming & Squad Details - Cricket Winner

ILT20 Squads

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: New Signees: Gudakesh Motie, Hassan Khan, Ibrar Ahmed, Jason Holder, Kyle Mayers, Roston Chase, Shahid Iqbal Bhutta and Terrance Hinds, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Aditya Shetty, Ali Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Andre Russell, Andries Ghous, Charith Asalanka, David Willey, Joe Clarke, Laurie Evans, Michael Pepper, Sunil Narine.

Desert Vipers: Dan Lawrence, David Payne, Dhruv Parashar, Fakhar Zaman, Kushal Malla, Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Lockie Ferguson, Max Holden, Sam Curran, Adam Hose, Alex Hales, Ali Naseer, Azam Khan, Luke Wood, Michael Jones, Mohammad Amir, Nathan Sowter, Sherfane Rutherford, Tanish Suri, Wanindu Hasaranga. 

Dubai Capitals: Adam Rossington, Aryaman Varma, Ben Dunk, Brandon McMullen, Garuka Sanketh, Farhan Khan, Gulbadin Naib, Jeffrey Vandersay, Joe Burns, Joe Weatherley, Najibullah Zadran, Obed McCoy, Scott Kuggeleijn, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Shai Hope, Zeeshan Naseer, Dasun Shanaka, David Warner, Dushmantha Chameera, Haider Ali, Raja Akif, Rovman Powell, Sam Billings, Sikandar Raza, Zahir Khan, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Oliver Stone. 

Gulf Giants:  Adam Lyth, Dominic Drakes, Daniel Worrall, Ibrahim Zadran, Mark Adair, Tom Curran, Tymal Mills and Wahidullah Zadran, Aayan Afzal Khan, Blessing Muzarabani, Chris Jordan, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gerhard Erasmus, Jamie Overton, James Vince, Jamie Smith, Jordan Cox, Mohammad Zuhaib Zubair, Rehan Ahmed, and Shimron Hetmyer

MI Emirates: Romario Shepherd, Tom Banton, Fareed Ahmad, Thomas Jack Draca, Ben Charlesworth, Akeal Hosein, Andre Fletcher, Daniel Mousley, Dwayne Bravo, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Jordan Thompson, Kieron Pollard, Kusal Perera, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Muhammad Waseem, Nicholas Pooran, Nosthush Kenjige, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth and Waqar Salamkheil

Sharjah Warriorz: Adam Milne, Adil Rashid, Ashton Agar, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Daniel Sams, Gus Atkinson, Harmeet Singh, Jason Roy, Karim Janat, Keemo Paul, Matthew Wade, Virandeep Singh and Tim Seifert, Dilshan Madushanka, Johnson Charles, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah, Kusal Mendis, Luke Wells, Peter Hatzoglou and Tom Kohler-Cadmore

When and where to watch ILT20 in India?

ILT20 will run from January 11 to February 9 and the Indian viewers can catch all the live-action on Zee Network while watching it on TV. Additionally, the tournament will also be streamed on the Zee5 app/website. 

Full Schedule for ILT20 2025