Explained: What are the Green, White, Black, Red and Blue belts in ILT20 2023?

An image of Robin Uthappa posing with a Green belt during the initial stages of International League T20 2023 made rounds on social media and had fans wondering what are ILT20 belts? It made cricket fans around the world wonder what it was about. Belts have been in the spotlight in WWE for top wrestlers who win certain titles. 

While the concept of belts is still new to cricket, the Indian T20 League has awarded the Orange Cap and the Purple Cap for the player with the most runs and most wickets, respectively, in each edition of the tournament.

The organizers of the ILT20, meanwhile, have decided to award belts to the top performers instead of caps. Let us find out what each of the International League T20 belts mean.

What are the ILT20 belts?

The International League T20 introduced belts to recognize and reward the best-performing players featuring in the competition in an unique manner. Belts, instead of caps, bats or a trophy, were designed to add to the tournament’s uniqueness compared to all the other franchise T20 competitions around the globe.

In the inaugural edition of the ILT20, five belts - Green belt, White belt, Black belt, Red belt and Blue belt - will be awarded to the players. Each of these belts will reward a player for exceptional performances in a particular discipline (batting, bowling or fielding).

Green belt

The Green belt will be awarded to the cricketer with the most runs in ILT20 2023. The belt will pass on from one player to another, provided there is movement at the top of the run-scoring charts throughout the tournament. 

At the end of the tournament, the top run-scorer will take home the Green belt.

White belt

The player with the most wickets during International League T20's inaugural edition will be rewarded with the White belt. The concept is similar to the Purple Cap in the Indian T20 League.

Just like the Green belt, the White belt, too, will exchange hands throughout the tournament. It will depend on the edition’s top wicket-taker after the end of an innings. The top wicket-taker at the end of the tournament will get the White belt.

Black belt

The Black belt in the ILT20 2023 will not feature during the league stage of the tournament. It will only be presented during the closing ceremony of the inaugural edition.

Owners of the International League T20 winners will be presented with the Black belt after the final on February 12, 2023, at the Dubai International Stadium. 

Red belt

Meanwhile, the Red belt will be worn by the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament. Similar to the Black belt, the Red will also be awarded directly after the final awards ceremony in Dubai.

The MVP will be the most consistent player in ILT20 2023. The cricketer can be a batter, bowler, wicketkeeper or an all-rounder. 

Blue belt

While all the above belts can be awarded to global players, only a UAE player can get their hands on the Blue belt.

The best player from the 24 handpicked UAE players will receive the magnificent Blue belt. The ILT20 decided to hand it out to motivate and reward a UAE player in front of a global audience.

ILT20 2023 belts winners

Photo credits: Alamy