DP WORLD INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE T20 · SEASON 5 · VERIFIED 1 NOVEMBER 2026
ILT20 2026: Schedule, Next Match, Tickets, Teams & Latest Updates
ILT20 Season 5 runs from 21 November to 20 December 2026. Six teams will play 34 matches in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. The opening game is Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates on 21 November at 6:30 PM UAE time. Match tickets are on sale, with official published starting prices of AED 20 for adults at league and playoff games and AED 10 for children aged 5–16.
This independent match-day hub brings together the next fixtures, Pakistan and India start times, ticket guidance, key player news and our own calculations from the published 30-match league schedule. For full fixtures, booking links and squad lists, use the dedicated pages below.
Next ILT20 Matches: 21–22 November 2026
MATCH 1 · SATURDAY 21 NOVEMBER
Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates
Dubai International Stadium · 6:30 PM GST · 7:30 PM PKT · 8:00 PM IST · 2:30 PM GMT
The defending champions begin against last season’s finalists in a rematch of the Season 4 final. The match is scheduled to start at 6:30 PM UAE time.
| Date | Fixture | Stadium | UAE start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 21 Nov | Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates | Dubai | 6:30 PM |
| Sun 22 Nov | Sharjah Warriorz vs Gulf Giants | Sharjah | 2:00 PM |
| Sun 22 Nov | Dubai Capitals vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Dubai | 6:30 PM |
Planning further ahead? See all 34 matches, the full November–December calendar and playoffs.
Season 5 at a Glance
Format: Each franchise faces the other five teams twice, making ten group-stage games per team. The leading four qualify for the playoffs, with the top two earning a second route to the final.
ILT20 Tickets 2026: Prices & How to Book
Tickets went on sale in October. The published adult and children’s prices are not interchangeable: a lower preview price on an event-listing card should not be assumed to be a standard adult checkout price. Confirm the age category, enclosure and final total for your chosen match.
Book online via the official ILT20 ticket portal or Platinumlist’s Dubai cricket listings. Physical ticket counters in Dubai and Sharjah are scheduled to start sales on 14 November.
Going as a family? At Dubai International Stadium, the Sixes Lounge Family Pass covers two adults and two children and starts from AED 500 for league/playoff fixtures or AED 650 for the final. Check the ticket type before booking; hospitality is separate from regular admission.
Before you travel: Platinumlist says e-tickets are emailed roughly 48 hours before the match. Most enclosures use first-come, free seating except Dubai’s Platinum Enclosure. Under-fives must sit on an adult’s lap; venue rules also restrict strollers and oversized items. Read the match’s terms and permitted-items list before setting off.
Compare ticket types, seating policies, venue rules and direct match-by-match booking links.
Original Research: Who Has the Busiest ILT20 Calendar?
The league has six double-header dates, but the scheduling burden is not identical for each franchise. We counted each team’s ten fixtures in the 30-match league stage, excluding playoffs, to compare venue movement and short turnarounds.
| Franchise | League games in main city | City switches | Next-day fixtures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | 6 in Abu Dhabi | 6 | 2 |
| Desert Vipers | 6 in Dubai | 7 | 2 |
| Dubai Capitals | 7 in Dubai | 3 | 2 |
| Gulf Giants | 6 in Dubai | 5 | 1 |
| MI Emirates | 6 in Abu Dhabi | 5 | 1 |
| Sharjah Warriorz | 7 in Sharjah | 5 | 2 |
What this tells us: Dubai Capitals have the most stable city schedule, while Desert Vipers move between cities most often. These figures measure calendar logistics, not match difficulty or predicted results. A next-day fixture means a team is scheduled on consecutive calendar dates; it does not imply fewer than 24 hours between starts.
Double-header dates: 22, 28 and 29 November; 2, 6 and 13 December. Across the full tournament, Dubai hosts 15 games, Abu Dhabi 11 and Sharjah eight; these stadium totals include all four playoffs.
ILT20 Teams & Star Players in 2026
The six franchises feature different combinations of international stars, local talent and returning champions. The players below were named in the league’s October 2026 Season 5 announcements; squad membership does not guarantee appearance in every fixture.
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
Moeen Ali · Finn Allen · Usman Tariq
Desert Vipers
Babar Azam · Shimron Hetmyer · Naseem Shah
Dubai Capitals
Faf du Plessis · Marcus Stoinis · Mustafizur Rahman
Gulf Giants
Heinrich Klaasen · Liam Livingstone · David Miller
MI Emirates
Rashid Khan · Nicholas Pooran · Fazalhaq Farooqi
Sharjah Warriorz
Mohammad Nabi · Sikandar Raza · Adil Rashid
Read the latest six squads and player changes or compare the franchises and past winners.
Latest ILT20 Player News: Babar Azam & Squad Changes
Babar Azam’s first ILT20 season: Desert Vipers signed the Pakistan batter for US$80,000. He joins a Vipers group that also includes Fakhar Zaman, Naseem Shah and Shadab Khan. Their opening fixture against MI Emirates gives followers an immediate opportunity to assess how the defending champions use their new signings.
Confirmed squad replacement: On 16 October, the Vipers announced that Hassan Nawaz had replaced Aneurin Donald following Donald’s England T20I selection. A roster copied directly from the 1 October auction would therefore be out of date. Read the franchise confirmation.
27 October: Joe Clarke discussed the prospect of reuniting with his former Karachi Kings teammate Babar at Desert Vipers, adding to the build-up around the opening match. See the Vipers’ dated press releases.
Why follow squad updates? Injuries, international duty and replacements can alter teams before the season begins. Browse ILT20 news or check the squads hub for the latest published roster details.
ILT20 Match Times: UAE, Pakistan, India & UK
| UAE (GST) | Pakistan (PKT) | India (IST) | UK (GMT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2:00 PM | 3:00 PM | 3:30 PM | 10:00 AM |
| 6:30 PM | 7:30 PM | 8:00 PM | 2:30 PM |
Gulf Standard Time is UTC+4 throughout the tournament. UK times are GMT in November and December. The published playoff schedule uses the 6:30 PM UAE slot.
ILT20 Stadiums, Playoffs & Final Date
Where the 34 fixtures are played: Dubai International Stadium hosts 15 matches, Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi hosts 11, and Sharjah Cricket Stadium hosts eight.
The teams finishing first and second get two routes to the final: the winner of Qualifier 1 advances directly, while the loser enters Qualifier 2. Third and fourth must win the Eliminator and Qualifier 2. These knockout fixtures are scheduled for 6:30 PM GST.
Understand the playoff format and ILT20 rules · See the full knockout schedule.
Where to Watch ILT20 2026
ZEE is the league’s named broadcast partner. However, the complete Season 5 country-by-country TV channel and streaming-rights list was not established by the official announcements reviewed on 1 November. Streaming availability may differ across India, Pakistan, the UAE, the UK and other regions.
The separate ILT20 Development Tournament had its own streaming arrangements. Those platforms should not be presented as confirmed broadcasters for November–December Season 5 matches.
ILT20 Points Table 2026: Pre-Season Status
The Season 5 league has not begun as of 1 November 2026, so no match results, net run rates or qualification scenarios exist yet for this edition. The table will become meaningful when the first match is completed on 21 November.
Once play begins, follow actual results rather than pre-season or historical rankings presented as current standings. The key in-season distinction is between finishing in the top two, which gives a second pathway to the final, and finishing third or fourth, which means elimination after one playoff defeat.
ILT20 2026: Quick Questions Answered
When does ILT20 Season 5 start?
Saturday, 21 November 2026. Desert Vipers play MI Emirates at Dubai International Stadium at 6:30 PM GST.
When is the ILT20 2026 final?
Sunday, 20 December 2026, at Dubai International Stadium. The listed start time is 6:30 PM GST.
How much are ILT20 tickets?
Published starting prices are AED 20 for adults in league/playoff games, AED 30 for adults at the final and AED 10 for children aged 5–16. Confirm the category and checkout total.
What time does ILT20 start in Pakistan and India?
Evening games at 6:30 PM UAE time begin at 7:30 PM PKT and 8:00 PM IST. The 2:00 PM GST afternoon slot is 3:00 PM PKT and 3:30 PM IST.
How many matches does each team play?
Every team plays ten league fixtures, twice against each of its five opponents. There are 30 league games and four playoff games.
Where can I find all ILT20 2026 fixtures?
The full ILT20 Season 5 schedule contains all 34 fixtures, dates, stadiums and start times.
Sources, Research Method & Editorial Transparency
ILT20Event.com is an independent cricket information publication. It is not the official DP World ILT20 website and does not sell tickets. Match information is attributed to official league and franchise releases; advertised ticket prices can change at checkout.
Research method: Our schedule comparisons count the 30 league fixtures in the published 7 October calendar, not the four playoffs. City switches are changes in the host city between consecutive appearances; next-day games are appearances on consecutive calendar dates. These are reproducible scheduling statistics, not performance forecasts.
Information verified: 1 November 2026. Published fixtures, ticket terms, squad availability and broadcasts may change before the competition begins.
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