DP World ILT20 · Season 5 · Last reviewed: 18 October 2026
ILT20 2026: Fixtures, Tickets, Teams & Season 5 Updates
DP World International League T20 Season 5 runs from 21 November to 20 December 2026 in the UAE. The full 34-match schedule is confirmed, Season 5 tickets are now appearing on the authorised Platinumlist platform, and the main post-auction squads are in place — although replacement signings have already started.
The tournament opens with defending champions Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates at Dubai International Stadium on Saturday, 21 November at 6:30 PM GST. This page focuses on what supporters need now: the next match, ticket status, UAE/Pakistan/India times, current squad changes and the parts of the schedule that are easy to miss.
Tickets are now listed for Season 5 matches, and on 16 October Desert Vipers brought Hassan Nawaz back into their squad to replace Aneurin Donald after Donald’s England T20I call-up. Older pre-auction squad lists should no longer be treated as final.
Next ILT20 Match
| Fixture | Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, 21 November 2026 |
| Venue | Dubai International Stadium |
| UAE | 6:30 PM GST |
| Pakistan | 7:30 PM PKT |
| India | 8:00 PM IST |
It is a repeat of the Season 4 final, so the defending champions begin their title defence against the side they beat for the trophy in January.
ILT20 Season 5 at a Glance
| Dates | 21 November – 20 December 2026 |
|---|---|
| Teams | 6 |
| Matches | 34 — 30 league matches + 4 playoffs |
| League Matches Per Team | 10 |
| Venues | Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah |
| Defending Champions | Desert Vipers |
| Final | 20 December 2026 · Dubai · 6:30 PM GST |
ILT20 2026 Tickets Are Now Listed
Season 5 match listings are now live on the authorised Platinumlist platform. At the time of this review, selected Abu Dhabi and Sharjah matches start from AED 10, while listed Dubai matches start from AED 15. Prices can vary by match and enclosure, so the match-specific listing should be checked before purchase.
| Fan Question | Current Season 5 Information |
|---|---|
| Starting price | Selected matches: AED 10 in Abu Dhabi/Sharjah; AED 15 in Dubai |
| Children | Under 5s may enter free without occupying their own seat; age 5+ requires a ticket |
| Ticket limit | Maximum 10 tickets per purchaser per match |
| Seating | Generally free seating except the Platinum Enclosure in Dubai |
| E-ticket delivery | Usually delivered by email 48 hours before the match |
| Venue storage | No onsite bag-drop/storage; strollers, umbrellas and camping chairs are not permitted |
Season 5 Schedule Intelligence
The fixture list is more compressed than a simple 34-match total suggests. The 30-match league stage is completed in 24 calendar days, from 21 November to 14 December, and six dates contain double-headers: 22, 28 and 29 November; 2, 6 and 13 December.
| Team | Dubai | Abu Dhabi | Sharjah | Afternoon Games | Next-Day Turnarounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | 3 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Desert Vipers | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Dubai Capitals | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Gulf Giants | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| MI Emirates | 3 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Sharjah Warriorz | 1 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 2 |
What stands out: Dubai Capitals and Sharjah Warriorz get the strongest single-city concentration with seven league games in Dubai and Sharjah respectively. MI Emirates and Sharjah Warriorz have three afternoon fixtures each. Sharjah also has the most compressed overall calendar, averaging roughly 2.1 days between its league match dates.
ILT20 Venues 2026
| Venue | Matches | Key Season 5 Role |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai International Stadium | 15 | Opening match, Eliminator, Final |
| Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi | 11 | Qualifier 1 |
| Sharjah Cricket Stadium | 8 | Qualifier 2 |
Match-going fans should check the individual ticket listing for door times and travel details. Dubai listings currently include car, taxi and public-transport guidance; Sharjah listings include road and taxi directions.
Babar Azam & Pakistan Players in ILT20 2026
One of the biggest Season 5 storylines is Babar Azam’s first ILT20 campaign. Desert Vipers bought Babar for US$80,000 and also added Naseem Shah, Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan. The defending champions have therefore become an especially relevant team for Pakistani supporters following the tournament.
The Vipers’ Pakistan group changed again on 16 October when Hassan Nawaz replaced Aneurin Donald after Donald was selected for England’s T20I series in Australia. That is why auction-day squad lists should be treated as a starting point rather than a permanent Season 5 roster.
Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates · 21 November · Dubai International Stadium · 6:30 PM GST · 7:30 PM PKT · 8:00 PM IST
Season 5 Squad Changes After the Auction
This tracker records confirmed post-auction changes so readers do not have to compare old auction lists with newer franchise announcements.
| Date | Team | Player In | Player Out | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Oct | Desert Vipers | Hassan Nawaz | Aneurin Donald | Donald selected for England T20Is |
Why Season 5 Squad Rules Change Team Selection
The headline international names are only part of the selection puzzle. Season 5 squads must contain 18–23 players, including minimum representation from the UAE, Afghanistan, Ireland, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and another Associate nation.
The playing XI must include at least two UAE players, two Afghanistan players and one additional eligible Associate player. That makes UAE and Associate depth a match-day requirement, not just a squad-registration detail — and it is one reason local-player auction prices matter more than they might in another franchise league.
ILT20 Teams 2026
| Team | Season 5 Position | Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Chasing first title | ADKR fixtures → |
| Desert Vipers | Defending champions | Vipers fixtures → |
| Dubai Capitals | Season 3 champions | Capitals fixtures → |
| Gulf Giants | Season 1 champions | Giants fixtures → |
| MI Emirates | Season 2 champions | MI Emirates fixtures → |
| Sharjah Warriorz | Chasing first title | Warriorz fixtures → |
Where to Watch ILT20 2026
ZEE remains the league’s multi-year broadcast partner, with ILT20 coverage distributed through ZEE television channels and ZEE5. However, the complete country-by-country Season 5 broadcast and streaming list has not yet been published.
| Market | Season 5 Status as of 18 Oct |
|---|---|
| India | ZEE / ZEE5 relationship confirmed; exact Season 5 channel list to be checked when announced |
| Pakistan | Season 5 regional TV/streaming list not yet confirmed |
| UAE / GCC | Season 5 regional platform list not yet confirmed |
| UK / USA / other markets | Awaiting Season 5 territory-by-territory announcement |
This page will not carry forward Season 4 broadcasters as if they are confirmed for Season 5. The tracker should be updated only when the league or broadcaster publishes the 2026 distribution list.
ILT20 2026 Points Table Status
Season 5 has not started, so there are no 2026 league standings yet. Every team begins on zero matches and zero points. Once the tournament starts, the useful information will be more than W-L-Pts-NRR: qualification position, top-two race, elimination risk and what each team needs from its remaining fixtures should be explained alongside the table.
Explore ILT20 2026
ILT20 2026 FAQs
When does ILT20 2026 start?
Season 5 starts on Saturday, 21 November 2026 and ends with the final on Sunday, 20 December.
What is the first match of ILT20 Season 5?
Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates at Dubai International Stadium on 21 November at 6:30 PM GST.
How much are ILT20 2026 tickets?
Current Platinumlist listings show selected Season 5 matches from AED 10 in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah and from AED 15 in Dubai. Match and enclosure prices can differ.
Do children need an ILT20 ticket?
Children aged five and above need a ticket. Under-fives may enter free if they do not occupy their own seat.
What time are ILT20 matches in Pakistan and India?
A 2:00 PM GST match starts at 3:00 PM PKT and 3:30 PM IST. A 6:30 PM GST match starts at 7:30 PM PKT and 8:00 PM IST.
Which team is Babar Azam playing for in ILT20 2026?
Babar Azam will play for defending champions Desert Vipers after joining them for US$80,000 at the Season 5 auction.
Where can I watch ILT20 2026?
ZEE remains ILT20’s multi-year broadcast partner, but the complete Season 5 country-by-country TV and streaming list has not yet been published.
Who are the defending ILT20 champions?
Desert Vipers enter Season 5 as defending champions after winning their first ILT20 title in January 2026.
How This Page Is Kept Current
We check time-sensitive information against dated tournament announcements, authorised ticket listings and franchise updates. When two sources are at different stages — for example, a general ticket card still showing “price TBC” while individual authorised match listings are already on sale — we use the more specific current listing and state the distinction.
- Official Season 5 fixture release
- Official Season 5 squad and auction rules
- Official ILT20 broadcast-partner information
- Authorised Season 5 Dubai ticket listing and entry FAQs
- Authorised Season 5 Abu Dhabi ticket listing
- Desert Vipers squad replacement update — 16 October 2026
ILT20Event.com is an independent cricket information website and is not the official DP World ILT20 website. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the tournament, Emirates Cricket Board or participating franchises. Fixtures, squads, broadcasters and ticket conditions can change, so important travel or purchase information should be rechecked before action.
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