The International League T20 (ILT20) is set to face scheduling conflicts with the Big Bash League (BBL) and potentially the SA20 in 2025. The ILT20, a five-team franchise-based tournament in the UAE, has announced its schedule for 2025, running from January 11 to February 9.
The BBL’s dates have not been officially announced, but it is expected to run until January 26. The SA20 is likely to start shortly after the New Year’s Test between Pakistan and South Africa in Cape Town, which ends on January 7.
Another potential overlap is South Africa’s ODI series in Pakistan, scheduled for mid-February, as preparation for the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
The ILT20 may also clash with the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), although the ILT20 has been more lucrative for top players. These scheduling conflicts have led to a high turnover of players in the ILT20, with teams signing players for specific windows as they move between competitions.
The BBL experienced a mass exodus of overseas players for the finals series last season when the ILT20 began on January 19. However, some overseas players were able to play most of the regular season before leaving for the UAE. This will not be the case next summer for players contracted to the ILT20.
The BBL hoped to mitigate potential clashes by having Australia’s Test stars available after the Sydney Test against India on January 7. However, Australia has a two-Test tour of Sri Lanka scheduled for late January to early February, and it is understood that the Test players may only be available for three BBL games, if at all, depending on rest requirements after five Tests against India in seven weeks.
The scheduling conflicts highlight the challenges of coordinating international cricket calendars, particularly with the proliferation of franchise-based leagues. It remains to be seen how the ILT20, BBL, and SA20 will adjust their schedules to avoid overlaps and ensure the availability of top players.
