United Arab Emirates

Defending champions Desert Vipers will begin the fifth DP World International League T20 season against former champions MI Emirates at Dubai International Stadium on November 21, organisers announced on Wednesday. The opening fixture is scheduled to start at 6:30pm.

The six-team UAE T20 competition will run through to December 20, when Dubai International Stadium is due to stage the final. Each side will play 10 round-robin matches, with the top four teams progressing to the playoffs.

Sharjah Warriorz will face Season 1 champions Gulf Giants in the first match on November 22 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, starting at 2pm. Later that day, Dubai Capitals will meet Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in Dubai at 6:30pm.

Abu Dhabi's Zayed Cricket Stadium will host its first match of the season on November 26, when Abu Dhabi Knight Riders play MI Emirates. Dubai International Stadium has been allocated 15 matches across the tournament, while Zayed Cricket Stadium will host 11 and Sharjah Cricket Stadium will stage eight.

Players named for the season

The fifth edition of the IPL-style league is set to feature players including Moeen Ali and Finn Allen of Abu Dhabi Knight Riders; Babar Azam, Shimron Hetmyer and Naseem Shah of Desert Vipers; and Faf du Plessis, Marcus Stoinis and Mustafizur Rahman of Dubai Capitals.

Gulf Giants' listed players include Heinrich Klaasen, Liam Livingstone and David Miller. MI Emirates are set to include Rashid Khan, Nicholas Pooran and Fazalhaq Farooqi, while Mohammad Nabi, Sikandar Raza and Adil Rashid are among the players named for Sharjah Warriorz.

ILT20 Season 5 schedule

  • Saturday, November 21: Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates, 6:30pm, Dubai
  • Sunday, November 22: Sharjah Warriorz vs Gulf Giants, 2pm, Sharjah
  • Sunday, November 22: Dubai Capitals vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, 6:30pm, Dubai
  • Monday, November 23: Sharjah Warriorz vs Desert Vipers, 6:30pm, Sharjah
  • Tuesday, November 24: Gulf Giants vs MI Emirates, 6:30pm, Dubai
  • Wednesday, November 25: Dubai Capitals vs Desert Vipers, 6:30pm, Dubai
  • Thursday, November 26: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs MI Emirates, 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi
  • Friday, November 27: Sharjah Warriorz vs Dubai Capitals, 6:30pm, Sharjah
  • Saturday, November 28: MI Emirates vs Desert Vipers, 2pm, Abu Dhabi
  • Saturday, November 28: Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals, 6:30pm, Dubai
  • Sunday, November 29: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Sharjah Warriorz, 2pm, Abu Dhabi
  • Sunday, November 29: Desert Vipers vs Gulf Giants, 6:30pm, Dubai
  • Monday, November 30: MI Emirates vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi
  • Tuesday, December 1: Gulf Giants vs Sharjah Warriorz, 6:30pm, Sharjah
  • Wednesday, December 2: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Desert Vipers, 2pm, Abu Dhabi
  • Wednesday, December 2: Dubai Capitals vs MI Emirates, 6:30pm, Dubai
  • Thursday, December 3: Gulf Giants vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, 6:30pm, Dubai
  • Friday, December 4: Desert Vipers vs Sharjah Warriorz, 6:30pm, Sharjah
  • Saturday, December 5: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Gulf Giants, 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi
  • Sunday, December 6: MI Emirates vs Sharjah Warriorz, 2pm, Abu Dhabi
  • Sunday, December 6: Desert Vipers vs Dubai Capitals, 6:30pm, Dubai
  • Monday, December 7: MI Emirates vs Gulf Giants, 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi
  • Tuesday, December 8: Dubai Capitals vs Sharjah Warriorz, 6:30pm, Dubai
  • Wednesday, December 9: Sharjah Warriorz vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, 6:30pm, Sharjah
  • Thursday, December 10: Dubai Capitals vs Gulf Giants, 6:30pm, Dubai
  • Friday, December 11: Sharjah Warriorz vs MI Emirates, 6:30pm, Sharjah
  • Saturday, December 12: Desert Vipers vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, 6:30pm, Dubai
  • Sunday, December 13: MI Emirates vs Dubai Capitals, 2pm, Abu Dhabi
  • Sunday, December 13: Gulf Giants vs Desert Vipers, 6:30pm, Dubai
  • Monday, December 14: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Dubai Capitals, 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi
  • Wednesday, December 16: Qualifier 1, Seed 1 vs Seed 2, 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi
  • Thursday, December 17: Eliminator, Seed 3 vs Seed 4, 6:30pm, Dubai
  • Friday, December 18: Qualifier 2, loser of Qualifier 1 vs winner of Eliminator, 6:30pm, Sharjah
  • Sunday, December 20: Final, winner of Qualifier 1 vs winner of Qualifier 2, 6:30pm, Dubai