DP World ILT20 franchises have retained top cricket stars for Season 3.

The six teams of the DP World International League T20 have retained a total of 69 players for the tournament's third season, scheduled to be held from 11th January to 9th February 2025 in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah.

The player retention window opened on 1st June, and the teams had two weeks to submit their lists of retained players. Season 3 is expected to feature numerous world-class T20 players from across the globe.

Of the 69 players retained, 26 were part of various ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 squads.

Some of the retained players include T20 heavyweights such as Andre Russell, David Willey, and Sunil Narine (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders); Alex Hales, Azam Khan, Muhammad Amir, Sherfane Rutherford, and Wanindu Hasaranga (Desert Vipers); Dasun Shanaka, David Warner, Rovman Powell, Sam Billings, and Sikandar Raza (Dubai Capitals); Chris Jordan, James Vince, and Shimron Hetmyer (Gulf Giants); Akeal Hosein, Dwayne Bravo, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kieron Pollard, and Nicholas Pooran (MI Emirates); Johnson Charles and Tom Kohler-Cadmore (Sharjah Warriors).

Each of the six franchises has retained two UAE players. The UAE players retained for Season 3 include Aditya Shetty and Alishan Sharafu (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders); Ali Naseer and Tanish Suri (Desert Vipers); Haider Ali and Raja Akif (Dubai Capitals); Aayan Afzal Khan and Mohammad Zohaib Zubair (Gulf Giants); Muhammad Rohid Khan and Muhammad Waseem (MI Emirates); Junaid Siddique and Muhammad Jawadullah (Sharjah Warriors).

After the completion of the player retention window, the teams can now sign new players in the ongoing Player Acquisition Window, which will remain open until 15th September.

Each franchise can sign a minimum of two additional UAE players to complete their quota of four UAE signings after the completion of the ILT20 Development Tournament, which will be held in October.