Skip to content
Bramble

Sport

ILT20 Season 5 schedule released, with final in Dubai on 20 December

The schedule for Season 5 of the DP World ILT20 has been released. It opens on 21 November in Dubai and ends with the final at Dubai International Stadium on 20 December 2026.

2 outlets · 0L · 1C · 1R First reported Account updated
Image: Gulf News
Image: Arab News

1 / 2

The story, neutrally told

Mixed · 2The DP World International League T20 Season 5 will end with the final at Dubai International Stadium on Sunday 20 December, at 6.30pm. Mixed · 2The tournament opens on Saturday 21 November in Dubai. Defending champions Desert Vipers face MI Emirates, the Season 2 winners and last year's finalists, at 6.30pm, the start time for all evening fixtures. Mixed · 2On Sunday 22 November, Sharjah Warriorz play Gulf Giants at Sharjah Cricket Stadium at 2pm. Dubai Capitals then host Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in Dubai at 6.30pm.

Mixed · 2Abu Dhabi's first fixture is on Thursday 26 November, when Abu Dhabi Knight Riders meet MI Emirates at Zayed Cricket Stadium. Mixed · 2UAE National Day on 2 December will be marked with a doubleheader. Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and Desert Vipers play in Abu Dhabi in the afternoon, and Dubai Capitals meet MI Emirates in Dubai in the evening. Mixed · 2Each of the six teams plays 10 matches in the 30-match league phase, and the top four advance to the playoffs. Qualifier 1 is in Abu Dhabi on 16 December, the Eliminator in Dubai on 17 December and Qualifier 2 in Sharjah on 18 December. Arab News counts 34 matches in all.

Mixed · 2Dubai will host 15 matches, Abu Dhabi 11 and Sharjah eight. Mixed · 2Players named include Babar Azam, Naseem Shah and Shimron Hetmyer (Desert Vipers), Rashid Khan and Nicholas Pooran (MI Emirates), Faf du Plessis and Marcus Stoinis (Dubai Capitals), Liam Livingstone and Heinrich Klaasen (Gulf Giants), Moeen Ali and Finn Allen (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), and Adil Rashid and Sikandar Raza (Sharjah Warriorz). Mixed · 2Gulf News calls the tournament the sixth edition, while both outlets label it Season 5. Arab News says the competition runs 30 days with six doubleheader days.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left0 outlets

No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Centre1 outlet

Framing
A schedule announcement with the full fixture list, venues and times, and the squads of all six teams.
Emphasis
The complete day-by-day fixture list, the playoff venues and the squad lists.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not give the 34-match total or the number of doubleheader days.
For example
“Qualifier 1 takes place in Abu Dhabi on December 16, followed by the Eliminator in Dubai on December 17 and Qualifier 2 in Sharjah on December 18.” — Gulf News

Right1 outlet

Framing
Frames the opener as the Desert Vipers starting the defence of their title, and gives each team's past titles.
Emphasis
Previous champions, the Super Sunday doubleheader, the National Day celebrations and the star players.
Leaves out or plays down
Gives no full fixture list or playoff dates and venues beyond the final.
Charged language
“Super Sunday”
For example
“The Desert Vipers will begin the defense of their title against last year’s finalists and season two champions the MI Emirates” — Arab News