The DP World International League T20 (ILT20) Season 5 will run from November 22 to December 20, 2026, in the UAE. Organized by the Emirates Cricket Board, the tournament features six franchise teams playing 34 matches across the league’s usual UAE venues in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah.
Each ILT20 franchise can field up to nine overseas players in its playing XI, alongside a required quota of UAE and Associate Nation players. This is significantly more than the four- or five-player overseas caps used by most other major T20 leagues, and it’s one of the format’s defining features.
Desert Vipers enter the 2026/27 season as defending champions, having won their maiden ILT20 title in the 2025–26 final. Gulf Giants, MI Emirates, and Dubai Capitals have each won one previous title, making all four former champions part of this year’s six-team field.
International League T20 (ILT20) 2026/27 Details
| Administrator | Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) |
| Dates | 22 November – 20 December 2026 |
| Host(s) | United Arab Emirates |
| Cricket format | Twenty20 |
| Tournament format(s) | Round-robin and playoffs |
| Participants | 6 Teams |
| Matches played | 34 |
| Defending Champion | Desert Vipers |
| Most Runs In League | Alex Hales (1156 Runs) |
| Most Wickets In League | Fazalhaq Farooqi (50 Wickets) |
| Official Website | www.ilt20.ae |
ILT20 2026/27 Start Date
The Emirates Cricket Board has confirmed that DP World ILT20 Season 5, the ILT20 2026/27 season, will begin on November 22, 2026, and run through December 20, 2026, its earliest-ever window. Defending champions Desert Vipers, who won their maiden title in the 2025–26 final, will return to defend their crown alongside five-time rivals Gulf Giants, MI Emirates, Dubai Capitals, Sharjah Warriorz, and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.
ILT20 2026/27 Schedule & Fixtures With Match Time Table
The ILT20 2026/27 Schedule will feature the tournament’s usual format. Six teams will play 34 T20 matches, including 30 in the double round-robin league stage followed by four playoffs, across the league’s three regular UAE venues in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. The final will once again be held in Dubai.
The full match-by-match fixture list, including the opening-match details and timings, hasn’t been officially released yet. Based on how the league has handled past seasons, it’s likely to arrive closer to the start date. Below is the complete schedule for the ILT20 2026/27. We’ll update this article as soon as the fixtures are announced.
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (Local / IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2 | Dubai Capitals vs Desert Vipers | Dubai | 6:30 PM / 8:00 PM |
| Dec 3 | Sharjah Warriorz vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Sharjah | 6:30 PM / 8:00 PM |
| Dec 4 | Gulf Giants vs MI Emirates | Dubai | 6:30 PM / 8:00 PM |
| Dec 5 | Desert Vipers vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Sharjah | 6:30 PM / 8:00 PM |
| Dec 6 | Dubai Capitals vs Gulf Giants | Dubai | 6:30 PM / 8:00 PM |
| Dec 7 | Sharjah Warriorz vs MI Emirates | Sharjah | 2:00 PM / 3:30 PM |
| Dec 7 | Dubai Capitals vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Dubai | 6:30 PM / 8:00 PM |
| Dec 8 | Desert Vipers vs Gulf Giants | Dubai | 6:30 PM / 8:00 PM |
| Dec 9 | MI Emirates vs Desert Vipers | Abu Dhabi | 6:30 PM / 8:00 PM |
| Dec 10 | Gulf Giants vs Sharjah Warriorz | Dubai | 6:30 PM / 8:00 PM |
| Dec 11 | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs MI Emirates | Abu Dhabi | 6:30 PM / 8:00 PM |
| Dec 12 | Gulf Giants vs Desert Vipers | Dubai | 6:30 PM / 8:00 PM |
| Dec 13 | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Dubai Capitals | Abu Dhabi | 6:30 PM / 8:00 PM |
| Dec 14 | MI Emirates vs Sharjah Warriorz | Abu Dhabi | 2:00 PM / 3:30 PM |
| Dec 14 | Desert Vipers vs Dubai Capitals | Dubai | 6:30 PM / 8:00 PM |
| Dec 15 | Sharjah Warriorz vs Gulf Giants | Sharjah | 6:30 PM / 8:00 PM |
| Dec 16 | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Desert Vipers | Abu Dhabi | 6:30 PM / 8:00 PM |
| Dec 17 | Dubai Capitals vs MI Emirates | Dubai | 6:30 PM / 8:00 PM |
| Dec 18 | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Gulf Giants | Abu Dhabi | 6:30 PM / 8:00 PM |
| Dec 19 | Sharjah Warriorz vs Dubai Capitals | Sharjah | 6:30 PM / 8:00 PM |
| Dec 20 | MI Emirates vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Abu Dhabi | 2:00 PM / 3:30 PM |
| Dec 20 | Desert Vipers vs Sharjah Warriorz | Dubai | 6:30 PM / 8:00 PM |
| Dec 21 | Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals | Sharjah | 2:00 PM / 3:30 PM |
| Dec 21 | Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates | Dubai | 6:30 PM / 8:00 PM |
| Dec 22 | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Sharjah Warriorz | Abu Dhabi | 6:30 PM / 8:00 PM |
| Dec 23 | MI Emirates vs Gulf Giants | Abu Dhabi | 6:30 PM / 8:00 PM |
| Dec 24 | Dubai Capitals vs Sharjah Warriorz | Dubai | 6:30 PM / 8:00 PM |
| Dec 26 | Sharjah Warriorz vs Desert Vipers | Sharjah | 6:30 PM / 8:00 PM |
| Dec 27 | MI Emirates vs Dubai Capitals | Abu Dhabi | 6:30 PM / 8:00 PM |
| Dec 28 | Gulf Giants vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Dubai | 6:30 PM / 8:00 PM |
| Dec 30 | Qualifier 1: No. 1 vs No. 2 | Abu Dhabi | 6:30 PM / 8:00 PM |
| Jan 1 | Eliminator: No. 3 vs No. 4 | Dubai | 6:30 PM / 8:00 PM |
| Jan 2 | Qualifier 2: Loser Qualifier 1 vs Winner Eliminator | Sharjah | 6:30 PM / 8:00 PM |
| Jan 4 | Final: Winner Qualifier 1 vs Winner Qualifier 2 | Dubai | 6:30 PM / 8:00 PM |
ILT20 2026/27 Venues
The matches will be played across three major venues in the UAE, creating a lively atmosphere throughout the tournament. Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah will host all the games, with Dubai leading the schedule by hosting 15 matches, including the eliminator and the final. Abu Dhabi will stage 11 matches and will also host Qualifier 1, while Sharjah will feature eight matches, including Qualifier 2.
ILT20 2026/27 Grounds
- Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
- Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
- Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
The Dubai International Cricket Stadium will serve as the home ground for Dubai Capitals and Desert Vipers, Sharjah Cricket Stadium will host Sharjah Warriorz and Gulf Giants, and Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi will be the base for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and MI Emirates, giving each team strong home support during the season.
ILT20 2026/27 Teams
The 5th season of ILT20 will feature the same six franchises from previous seasons, ensuring strong team rivalries and a familiar competitive balance throughout the tournament.
ILT20 2026/27 Team List
| Team | Owner | Captain | Coach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ADKR) | Knight Riders Group | Sunil Narine | Abhishek Nayar |
| Gulf Giants | Adani Sportsline | James Vince | Andy Flower |
| Desert Vipers | Lancer Capital LLC | Colin Munro | James Foster |
| Sharjah Warriors | Capri Global Capital Limited | – | Paul Farbrace |
| MI Emirates | Reliance Strategic Business Ventures Limited | Kieron Pollard | Shane Bond |
| Dubai Capitals | GMR Group | Rovman Powell | Phil Simmons |
ILT20 2026/27 All Team Squad Players List
All teams in the 2026 International League T20 have officially announced their squads, building strong lineups for the upcoming ILT20 Season.
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Squad 2026/27
Batters: Alex Hales, Alishan Sharafu, Sherfane Rutherford
All-rounders: Adnan Idrees, Andre Russell, Brandon McMullen, Jason Holder, Khary Pierre, Liam Livingstone, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Sunil Narine
Wicketkeepers: Manan Ali, Mayank Choudhary, Michael Pepper, Phil Salt, Unmukt Chand
Bowlers: Ajay Kumar, George Garton, Ibrar Ahmad, Olly Stone, Piyush Chawla
Desert Vipers Squad 2026/27
Batters: Bilal Tahir, Faisal Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz, Max Holden, Shimron Hetmyer, Tawanda Muyeye, Tom Bruce
All-rounders: Dan Lawrence, Sam Curran, Sanjay Pahal, Wanindu Hasaranga
Wicketkeepers: Andries Gous, Vriitya Aravind
Bowlers: David Payne, Faridoon Dawoodzai, Khuzaima Tanveer, Lockie Ferguson, Matiullah Khan, Naseem Shah, Qais Ahmad
Dubai Capitals Squad 2026/27
Batters: Leus du Plooy, Rovman Powell, Sediqullah Atal, Toby Albert
All-rounders: Dasun Shanaka, David Willey, Gulbadin Naib, James Neesham, Mohammad Nabi, Navin Bidaisee, Rushil Ugarkar
Wicketkeepers: Jordan Cox, Shayan Jahangir
Bowlers: Anudeep Chenthamara, Farhan Khan, Haider Ali, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Mustafizur Rahman, Scott Currie, Tymal Mills, Usman Najeeb, Waqar Salamkheil
Gulf Giants Squad 2026/27
Batters: Asif Khan, James Vince, Sean Dickson
All-rounders: Azmatullah Omarzai, Gerhard Erasmus, Kyle Mayers, Liam Dawson, Moeen Ali
Wicketkeepers: Lorcan Tucker, Meet Bhavsar, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Tom Moores
Bowlers: Aayan Khan, Blessing Muzarabani, Chris Wood, Fred Klaassen, Haider Razzaq, Ishtiaq Ahmad, Mark Adair, Matthew Forde, Muhammad Zuhaib, Ramon Simmonds, Tabraiz Shamsi
MI Emirates Squad 2026/27
Batters: Ackeem Auguste, Muhammad Waseem, Tajinder Dhillon, Tom Banton
All-rounders: Chris Woakes, Jordan Thompson, Kamindu Mendis, Romario Shepherd, Shakib Al Hasan
Wicketkeepers: Andre Fletcher, Jonny Bairstow, Usman Khan
Bowlers: AM Ghazanfar, Arab Gul, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mohamed Shafeeq, Muhammad Rohid, Naveen-ul-Haq, Nosthush Kenjige, Zahoor Khan, Zain Ul Abidin
Sharjah Warriorz Squad 2026/27
Batters: Johnson Charles, Tim David, Tom Abell, Tom Kohler-Cadmore
All-rounders: Abdul Khan, Harmeet Singh, Mohammed Aslam, Shubham Ranjane, Sikandar Raza
Wicketkeepers: Dinesh Karthik, Ethan D’souza, James Rew
Bowlers: Adil Rashid, Dwaine Pretorius, Jayden Seales, Junaid Siddique, Nathan Sowter, Raees Ahmed Ayan, Richard Ngarava, Saurabh Netravalkar, Taskin Ahmed, Tim Southee, Wasim Akram
ILT20 206/27 Points table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | NR | Pts | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 2 | Desert Vipers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 3 | Dubai Capitals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 4 | Gulf Giants | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 5 | MI Emirates | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 6 | Sharjah Warriorz | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
ILT20 2026/27 Format
The ILT20 2026 follows an exciting format where six teams compete in a double round-robin stage, playing a total of 30 league matches before the tournament moves into the playoffs. The top four teams qualify for the next round, which includes two Qualifiers, an Eliminator, and the Final, ensuring a thrilling finish to the competition.
ILT20 2026/27 Rules
The ILT20 2026 season has special rules that make it different from other T20 leagues. Each team can pick up to nine overseas players in the playing eleven. This is much more than most other T20 leagues allow.
But every team must also have at least one UAE player and one player from an Associate Member nation in the team. This rule helps give local and new players a chance to play alongside big international stars.
Another fun rule in the ILT20 is the Super Sub rule. Before the match, each team picks seven players who can be used as substitutes. A team can bring one of these players into the game at important moments, like before the innings starts, after a wicket falls, when a batter retires, or at the end of an over.
Each team can use this substitute only once per match. This rule makes the game more exciting and gives teams more ways to plan their strategy.
ILT20 2026/27 Live Match Broadcasters
The ILT20 2026/27 season keeps growing in popularity around the world. One big reason is a strong broadcast deal with Zee Entertainment Enterprises. Zee bought the league’s global media rights for 10 years, from 2023 to 2032, in a deal worth around 120 million US dollars.
This long deal shows how much the tournament has grown. The ILT20 brings in top cricket players every season. It also draws in international celebrities and cricket legends, which adds even more excitement and helps the league reach fans around the world.
| Territory/Region | Channel |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Ariana Television |
| Australia | Fox Cricket |
| Bangladesh | Nagorik TV T Sports Toffee |
| Caribbean | Rush Sports |
| India | Zee (various channels) |
| Maldives | Medianet |
| Middle East and North Africa | Abu Dhabi Sports Dubai Sports |
| Nepal | Styx Sports Sim TV Nepal Net TV Nepal |
| New Zealand | Sky Sports NZ |
| Pakistan | TAPMAD PTV Sports Geo Super A Sports |
| Sri Lanka | &flix Supreme TV |
| UAE | Abu Dhabi Sports TV Dubai Sports TV Myco |
| United Kingdom | BT Sport Zee TV Sky Sports |
| North America | Willow TV |
ILT20 Live Score Today CricBuzz
Check the ILT20 Today Match Live Score here for ball-by-ball updates, including runs, wickets, and the current score. You can also see player stats, match highlights, and live commentary as the game happens.
This page updates in real time, so you can follow your favorite team or just check the score in a few seconds.
International League T20 2026/27 Tickets Price
The price of ILT20 tickets 2026/27 changes based on the venue and the type of match. This gives fans a range of options to pick from. You can check the latest prices and booking details on the official website.
Below is the updated price range for different ILT20 matches and teams.
| Team Name | Ticket Price |
|---|---|
| Sharjah Warriors | $20 – $60 |
| Gulf Giants | $20 – $60 |
| Dessert Vipers | $20 – $60 |
| Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | $20 – $60 |
| Dubai Capitals | $20 – $60 |
| MI Emirates | $20 – $60 |
How to Buy ILT20 Tickets 2026/27 Online?
To book your ILT20 2026/27 tickets, go to the official team or match page and pick the game you want to watch.
- Click on book ticket next to the match details. Read the information carefully, since tickets usually cannot be refunded.
- Next, choose your seat, fill in your details, and pay online.
- Once you finish, your ticket will be confirmed. You can collect it from the ticket counter on match day.
International League T20 (ILT20) Records and Statistics
The ILT20 has built a strong record book since it began, and the top players continue to shape DP World ILT20 history. As of early 2026, James Vince is the all-time leading run-scorer with 1,156 runs, while Fazalhaq Farooqi leads the wicket-takers with 50 wickets. Together, these numbers show how much both batting and bowling stars have shaped the league.
One of the most memorable team performances came in 2023, when MI Emirates scored a massive 241 for 3 against Desert Vipers at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, still the highest team total in ILT20 history.
ILT20 Stats
| Category | Record Type | Player/Team | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batting | Most Runs | Alex Hales (DV) | 1,156 |
| Batting | Highest Score | Alex Hales (DV) | 110 (59) vs Knight Riders (20 Jan 2023) |
| Batting | Highest Partnership | Fletcher & Banton (MIE) | 198 vs Vipers (27 Jan 2025) |
| Bowling | Most Wickets | Fazalhaq Farooqi (MIE) | 50 |
| Fielding | Most Dismissals (WK) | Nicholas Pooran (MIE) | 25 |
| Fielding | Most Catches (Fielder) | Muhammad Waseem (MIE) | 20 |
| Team Records | Highest Total | MI Emirates | 241/3 (20) vs Vipers (29 Jan 2023) |
| Team Records | Lowest Total | Sharjah Warriors | 74 (12.1) vs Emirates (26 Jan 2024) |
| Team Records | Lowest Total | Desert Vipers | 74 (12.3) vs Emirates (27 Jan 2025) |
ILT20 Trophy 2026/27
The ILT20 2026/27 Trophy is a beautiful symbol of the league. It was designed by London-based silversmiths Thomas Lyte and first shown to the public in October 2022. The trophy stands 830mm tall, matching the height of the famous Burj Khalifa in meters, and shows a strong link to the UAE.
The trophy’s shape comes from a diving falcon, the national bird of the UAE. A seven-pointed crown sits on top, standing for the seven Emirates. The very top of the trophy has a cricket ball shaped like the sand dunes of Tel Moreeb. Together, these details make the trophy a true mix of cricket, culture, and heritage.
2026/27 ILT20 Trophy Photo
ILT20 Logo 2026/27
FAQ’s
When will ILT20 2026 start?
The ILT20 2026 season is expected to begin on December 2, featuring top international and UAE players.
How many teams are playing in ILT20 2026?
Six teams will compete in the DP World ILT20 Season 5, continuing the same franchise format as previous seasons.
What is the format of ILT20 2026?
The tournament follows a double round-robin format with 30 league matches, followed by playoffs including Qualifiers, Eliminator, and Final.
How many overseas players are allowed in ILT20?
Teams can include up to nine overseas players in the playing eleven, along with UAE and associate nation players.
Where are ILT20 matches played?
Matches are held in UAE stadiums including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah.
Where can I check ILT20 live score today?
You can follow ILT20 Live Score Today CricBuzz for real-time updates, ball-by-ball commentary, and match stats.
How can I buy ILT20 tickets?
You can book tickets online through the official website by selecting your match, choosing seats, and completing payment.
What is the price of ILT20 tickets?
ILT20 ticket prices vary depending on the venue, match, and seating category.
Who won the last ILT20 season?
Desert Vipers were the defending champions after winning the previous season.
