MI Emirates: ILT20 Franchise Profile and History

MI Emirates is one of the six franchises in the International League T20, the Twenty20 competition staged in the United Arab Emirates. The team belongs to the same ownership group as the Indian Premier League’s Mumbai Indians and shares that club’s blue and gold identity.

Origins

The ILT20 was launched by the Emirates Cricket Board, and its first season took place in early 2023. Each of the six teams is owned by a company or group with links to other franchise cricket, and MI Emirates is part of a wider MI family that also includes MI Cape Town in South Africa’s SA20 and MI New York in Major League Cricket.

Achievements

MI Emirates won the ILT20 title in the league’s second season in 2024, beating Dubai Capitals in the final. That success established the team as one of the competition’s leading sides in its early years. Results from seasons after 2024 are not covered here.

Home venues

ILT20 matches are shared between the major grounds in the UAE, including Dubai International Stadium, Sharjah Cricket Stadium and Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. MI Emirates are associated with the Dubai International Stadium, though fixtures and allocation can change between seasons.

The MI network

The appeal of the franchise lies partly in its connection to a global brand. Shared scouting, coaching philosophy and branding link the sister teams, and players move between them across the year’s different leagues. For fans in the UAE, the team offers a local identity within that wider network.

Why it matters

The ILT20 gives the UAE a major franchise league during the winter window and brings international players to a country with a large cricket-loving population. MI Emirates, with their established branding and early title, are among its best-known teams.