Mike Fordham takes charge as ILT20 interim COO after David White's exit

The International League T20 (ILT20) has appointed Mike Fordham as its interim Chief Operating Officer with immediate effect, less than a week after chief executive David White stepped down as the CEO.

Fordham, who has served as the league’s Head of Operations since the tournament’s launch in 2022, will now lead the execution of the fifth season of the UAE’s franchise T20 competition, scheduled to be held across November and December.

His appointment follows White’s decision to return to his native New Zealand after three years as ILT20 CEO. White joined the league in September 2023 and oversaw its first three completed seasons, helping establish the tournament as one of the leading T20 competitions outside the IPL.

A sports administrator with more than two decades of experience, Fordham has specialised in the sporting, governance and commercial development of leagues, competitions and franchises.

“It is a real honour to have been given the task to spearhead the ILT20 Season 5 execution,” Fordham said in a media note.

He also highlighted the upcoming ILT20 Development Tournament as a key pathway for young UAE cricketers to break into the main competition, while noting that the player auction has attracted some of the biggest names in T20 cricket.

Season 5 of the six-team, 34-match tournament will be played across three venues in the UAE, with the player auction set to finalise squad compositions ahead of the competition.