Joe Root to play for Dubai Capitals in inaugural ILT20 League

Veteran England batter Joe Root is set to ply his trade for the Dubai Capitals in the inaugural edition of the International League T20.

Root has been picked by the franchise, whose owners are also a part of the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The auction for the 2023 IPL is scheduled to take place on Friday, December 22 in Kochi and Root is on the radar of the Capitals franchise.

Root is yet to take part in any edition of the IPL and is also not a part of England’s current T20 setup. However, he registered for the auction at a base price of INR 1 crore and will go under the hammer on Friday in Kochi.

The Dubai Capitals already have Rovman Powell, Dushmantha Chameera,



Hazratullah Zazai, Fabian Allen, Mujeeb Ur Raman, Sikandar Raza, Niroshan Dickwella, Dasun Shanaka, Bhanuka Rajapaskha, Dan Lawrence, Blessing Muzarabani, Isuru Udana, George Munsey and Fred Klaassen in their squad.

In 88 T20s, Root has scored 2083 runs at an average of 32.54 and a strike-rate of 126.70 with 13 half-centuries to show for his efforts. He last played T20 cricket for England before the 50-over World Cup at home.

In T20Is for England, Root has notched 893 runs at an average of 35.72 and a strike-rate of 126.30 with five fifties to his name.

Root has played franchise T20 cricket for Yorkshire in the T20 Blast, Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League (BBL), and Trent Rockets in the Men’s Hundred.