Ahead of the fourth season of the International League T20 (ILT20), MI Emirates have appointed former West Indies all-rounder and longtime Mumbai Indians star Kieron Pollard as their new captain. Pollard takes over the role from Nicholas Pooran, who led the side in the previous edition.

Pooran’s availability for the full season remains uncertain, as the final week of ILT20 overlaps with the SA20, where he is likely to play for MI Cape Town. This could see him missing the concluding phase of the campaign with MI Emirates.

The ILT20 2025–26 season is scheduled to run from December 2 to January 4, with matches across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah.

Kieron Pollard’s experience as a leader

Pollard brings a wealth of experience and a winning mindset to MI Emirates. He has been an integral part of multiple title-winning Mumbai Indians squads, securing five IPL trophies and two Champions League T20 titles. Additionally, he guided MI New York to back-to-back Major League Cricket (MLC) championships in 2023 and 2025.

The franchise hailed Pollard as an “MI legend, MI leader, MI skipper” and highlighted his big sixes, clever bowling, sharp fielding, and tactical acumen as key factors for a successful campaign.

MI Emirates boasts a strong squad combining experienced performers and new talent. In addition to Pollard, the team features Nicholas Pooran, Andre Fletcher (the most expensive buy), Ackeem Auguste, and Romario Shepherd.

New additions this season include Muhammad Rohid, Jordan Thompson, Naveen-ul-Haq, Usman Khan, Arab Gul, Tajinder Dhillon, Zahoor Khan, and Shakib Al Hasan. Key retained players include Fazalhaq Farooqi, Chris Woakes, Jonny Bairstow, AM Ghazanfar, Muhammad Waseem, Kamindu Mendis, and Romario Shepherd.

MI Emirates will launch their campaign against Gulf Giants on December 4 in Dubai, with Pollard expected to lead from the front and guide the team through crucial matches.