MCC Spirit of Cricket ILT20 Partnership
The Marylebone Cricket Club continues to promote cricket in different parts of the world. This time, the Club has partnered with the DP World International League T20, which gets underway in the UAE in late November. As part of the MCC-ILT20 partnership, the Spirit of Cricket Award will be presented during the tournament.
MCC Spirit of Cricket ILT20 Partnership: Marylebone Continues Its Mission
This is not the first time the MCC has presented its international Spirit of Cricket Award. Last year, it was presented in the Nepal Premier League. This year, the Club has already handed out three such awards alongside ICC Europe at regional qualifying tournaments for the World Cup. The MCC Spirit of Cricket ILT20 partnership is the Club’s next initiative. The award can go to either a team or an individual player. To receive it, they must embody the values of the sport: fair play, sportsmanship and respect.
The Marylebone Cricket Club is actively championing these values. Club representatives hope that presenting the award at tournaments outside England will do more than draw attention to individual events. They also want to help establish a strong cricketing spirit and promote fair play in the regions that host them.
Rob Lynch, the Club’s Director and Chief Operating Officer, commented on the latest initiative: “At the MCC, we see franchise leagues as a great example of how cricket should be played: with full commitment, a smile on your face and the principles of fair play always in mind. Since many players in these tournaments are also teammates in their national sides but have to face one another in franchise competitions, we see these events as an opportunity to promote a positive culture of player conduct in cricket.”
The MCC Spirit of Cricket Award was established by the Club and the BBC in 2013 in memory of Christopher Martin-Jenkins, a British sports journalist, radio commentator and writer who specialised in cricket. The Club now uses the trophy across a range of international tournaments.
MCC Spirit of Cricket ILT20 Partnership: Fair Play Is on the Agenda
The fifth season of the International League T20 begins on 22 November 2026 and will conclude with the final, scheduled for 20 December. The tournament is the largest of its kind in the Gulf region. Six teams will feature a host of well-known international players, including Tim Seifert, Jos Buttler, Mustafizur Rahman, Rashid Khan and other cricketers who have made their mark in tournaments around the world. One of these players-or perhaps one of the six teams-will receive the award as part of the MCC Spirit of Cricket ILT20 partnership.
Mike Fordham, Chief Operating Officer of DP World ILT20, spoke ahead of the season opener: “The ILT20 has become one of the leading tournaments in cricket. We bring together top players from around the world and attract an international audience. We are proud to say that 19 countries will be represented in the league this season. Our matches are always fiercely competitive and played to a high standard. That makes the partnership with the MCC a perfect fit for the ILT20. We look forward to presenting the first award, and I’m confident it will help the league continue to grow.”
All matches will be played in the United Arab Emirates, in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. The competing teams are Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Sharjah Warriorz, Dubai Capitals, Gulf Giants, MI Emirates and reigning champions Desert Vipers. The tournament will feature a group stage, playoffs and a final.
