Sharjah Warriorz 2026: Squad, Players, Captain, Coach & Schedule

The Sharjah Warriorz are one of the six franchises competing in DP World International League T20 (ILT20) Season 5 in the United Arab Emirates.

Formerly widely referred to as the Sharjah Warriors, the franchise now uses the official Sharjah Warriorz name.

ILT20 Season 5 will run from 22 November to 20 December 2026. Sharjah have already begun rebuilding their team with a new head coach and four confirmed players ahead of the Season 5 Player Auction.

The first four confirmed Sharjah Warriorz players for 2026 are Adam Milne, James Vince, Waqar Salamkheil and Sikandar Raza.

The Sharjah Warriorz squad for ILT20 2026 is currently incomplete. Four players have been confirmed before the Season 5 auction.

Sharjah’s early recruitment combines top-order batting, pace bowling, wrist-spin and all-round ability.

England batter James Vince is one of Sharjah Warriorz’s most significant Season 5 additions.

Vince moves to Sharjah after a long association with Gulf Giants, for whom he made 42 previous ILT20 appearances.

His arrival provides the Warriorz with an experienced top-order batter who already understands the conditions and demands of the UAE competition.

Afghanistan spinner Waqar Salamkheil gives Sharjah a proven ILT20 wicket-taking option.

He previously made 21 appearances for MI Emirates and 11 for Dubai Capitals before joining the Warriorz.

Salamkheil finished Season 4 with 18 wickets and was recognised as the competition’s leading award-winning bowler for the season.

New Zealand fast bowler Adam Milne returns to the Sharjah setup for Season 5.

Milne previously made 12 appearances for the Warriorz during Season 3 and adds genuine pace to the bowling attack.

His previous experience working with new head coach Adrian Birrell also gives Sharjah useful continuity as the franchise begins a new coaching era.

Zimbabwe international Sikandar Raza returns to Sharjah Warriorz for Season 5.

Raza gives the franchise an experienced middle-order batting option as well as useful spin bowling, making him an important all-round component of the squad.

He was also part of the Sharjah Warriorz side during Season 4.

The Sharjah Warriorz captain for ILT20 Season 5 has not yet been officially announced.

Tim Southee captained Sharjah during Season 4, but he is not among the four currently confirmed Season 5 players. His previous captaincy should therefore not be carried forward as the 2026 captain without a new announcement.

The major coaching change for Season 5 is the appointment of Adrian Birrell as Sharjah Warriorz head coach.

Birrell was appointed ahead of the November 2026 tournament as the franchise looks to reset after finishing at the bottom of the Season 4 table.

He arrives with extensive international and franchise coaching experience and has enjoyed significant success in other major T20 competitions.

Older pages may still list JP Duminy as Sharjah’s head coach. That information relates to an earlier setup and should not be used as the current Season 5 head-coach information.

The Sharjah Warriorz are owned by Capri Global, with the franchise operating within the wider Capri Sports portfolio.

Capri’s sports interests include several professional franchises, with Sharjah Warriorz representing its presence in the International League T20.

Season 4 was a difficult campaign for Sharjah Warriorz.

The franchise finished sixth in the league table after winning three of its ten matches.

That result makes the appointment of Adrian Birrell and the addition of proven players such as James Vince and Waqar Salamkheil particularly significant ahead of Season 5.

Sharjah Warriorz are still searching for their first senior ILT20 championship.

Their best playoff run so far came in Season 3 in 2025, when the team progressed to Qualifier 2.

The next major step in building the Sharjah Warriorz Season 5 squad is the Player Auction in Dubai on 1 October 2026.

Sharjah will use the auction to add the majority of its remaining players around the four-man core already confirmed.

Sharjah Warriorz will compete during the Season 5 tournament window from 22 November to 20 December 2026.

The full Sharjah Warriorz match-by-match schedule, including opponents, dates, venues and timings, has not yet been reliably confirmed.

For the dedicated fixture page, visit:

Sharjah Warriorz Schedule 2026
.

Sharjah Warriorz represent Sharjah in the UAE, and Sharjah Cricket Stadium is naturally the venue most closely associated with the franchise.

However, ILT20 teams also play matches across other UAE venues, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The Season 5 match-by-match venue allocation should therefore be checked before describing every Sharjah match as a home game at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

The first four signings suggest Sharjah are building around four complementary skill sets.

The final balance will depend on the domestic, associate and overseas players Sharjah add during the October auction.

No. Sharjah Warriorz have not yet won the senior DP World ILT20 championship.

Four different teams won the first four editions: Gulf Giants, MI Emirates, Dubai Capitals and Desert Vipers.

Sharjah’s best opportunity so far came in Season 3, when they reached Qualifier 2 before being eliminated.

Who are the Sharjah Warriorz players in 2026?

The four currently confirmed Season 5 players are Adam Milne, James Vince, Waqar Salamkheil and Sikandar Raza. The remaining squad positions are still to be filled.

Who is the Sharjah Warriorz captain in 2026?

The Season 5 captain has not yet been announced. Tim Southee captained the team in Season 4, but his previous role should not be treated as confirmation for 2026.

Who is the Sharjah Warriorz head coach in 2026?

Adrian Birrell is the Sharjah Warriorz head coach for ILT20 Season 5.

Who owns Sharjah Warriorz?

Sharjah Warriorz are owned by Capri Global and form part of the Capri Sports portfolio.

Has Sharjah Warriorz won the ILT20?

No. Sharjah Warriorz are still searching for their first senior ILT20 championship.

When does Sharjah Warriorz play in ILT20 2026?

ILT20 Season 5 runs from 22 November to 20 December 2026. Sharjah’s exact match dates and opponents are still to be announced.

How many matches will Sharjah Warriorz play?

Each franchise is scheduled for 10 league-stage matches before the playoffs.

When is the Sharjah Warriorz 2026 auction?

The Season 5 Player Auction will take place on 1 October 2026.

Is the Sharjah Warriorz 2026 squad complete?

No. Only four players are currently confirmed. The complete team will take shape through the October auction and any permitted wildcard signing.

Why is it called Sharjah Warriorz instead of Sharjah Warriors?

The franchise now uses the Sharjah Warriorz branding. Older searches and URLs may still use the previous “Sharjah Warriors” wording, so both terms can refer to the same ILT20 franchise.

Sharjah Warriorz enter Season 5 with a significantly different setup from the team that finished sixth during Season 4.

The biggest changes so far are the appointment of Adrian Birrell as head coach and the confirmed additions of James Vince, Adam Milne and Waqar Salamkheil, alongside returning all-rounder Sikandar Raza.

The next major update will come through the 1 October Player Auction, when Sharjah will add most of the remaining players required for its 18–23-player squad.

The Season 5 captain, full squad, match dates, opponents and match timings remain to be announced.

This page will continue to track the latest Sharjah Warriorz 2026 squad, players, captain, coach, schedule and team updates.