MI Emirates has officially announced this Nicholas Pooran And Kieron Pollard as their wildcard signings for the upcoming season of the International League T20 (ILT20) in the UAE. The dynamic West Indian duo will reunite once again after sharing success earlier this year by lifting the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) trophy with Trinbago Knight Riders and the Major League Cricket (MLC) title with MI New York.
Pollard is a true MI franchise legend and continues to add to his illustrious T20 legacy. The all-rounder has 18 T20 titles, the most by any player in the history of the format, including five IPL titles, two Champions League T20 trophies, two MLC titles and the ILT20 trophy in 2024.
Meanwhile, Pooran, who also represents MI Cape Town in the SA20, remains one of the most explosive hitters in world cricket. Despite his surprise decision to retire from international cricket at the age of 29, the wicketkeeper-batsman remains in demand in the global T20 competitions. Pooran was part of MI Emirates’ ILT20 2024 title-winning campaign and has added two MLC championships with MI New York in 2023 and 2025.
Pooran and Pollard will join a strong Caribbean contingent in the MI Emirates line-up, with Andre Fletcher the most expensive purchase at the first ILT20 auction at $260,000, alongside Ackeem Auguste and Romario Shepherd.
With the squad now complete, MI Emirates will soon begin pre-season training under their coaching staff. The fourth season of the ILT20 will be played in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah from December 2, 2025 to January 4, 2026, with six teams and a total of 34 matches.
MI Emirates will kick off their campaign against Gulf Giants on December 4, two days after the tournament opener between Dubai Capitals and Desert Vipers on December 2.
MI Emirates
Signing sessions at the auction: Muhammad Rohid ($140,000), Jordan Thompson ($48,000), Naveen-ul-Haq ($100,000), Andre Fletcher ($260,000), Nosthush Kenjige ($10,000), Mohamed Shafeeq ($10,000), Zain Ul Abidin ($10,000), Usman Khan ($10,000), 10,000), Ackeem Auguste (USD 10,000), Arab Gul (USD 10,000), Tajinder Dhillon (USD 10,000), Zahoor Khan (USD 10,000), Shakib Al Hasan (USD 40,000).
Retention + direct signing: Fazalhaq Farooqi, Tom Banton, Romario Shepherd, Chris Woakes, Jonny Bairstow, AM Ghazanfar, Muhammad Waseem, Kamindu Mendis.
Wild cards: Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard
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