Defending champions Desert Vipers will take on last year’s finalists and Season 2 champions MI Emirates in a repeat of last year’s final in the opening match of ILT20 Season 5 at the Dubai International Stadium on November 21. The evening matches of the season will start at 6.30 pm, marking the prime-time slot in India.
The season’s second fixture will be a clash between the Sharjah Warriorz and Season 1 champions Gulf Giants at 2 pm at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Season 3 champions Dubai Capitals will launch their campaign against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at their home venue – the Dubai International Stadium – in the second match of the Super Sunday double-header.
Abu Dhabi will host its first match on Thursday, November 26, when Abu Dhabi Knight Riders take on MI Emirates at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.
The league will celebrate UAE National Day (Eid Al Etihad) on December 2 amid the traditional festivities, with a double-header involving Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and the Desert Vipers at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in the afternoon clash, with Dubai Capitals hosting MI Emirates at the Dubai International Stadium in the evening clash.
Each team will play 10 matches in the double round-robin 34-match tournament. At the end of the 30-match group stage, the top four teams in the points table will progress to the four-match playoffs, which will culminate in the Season 5 final at the Dubai International Stadium on December 20. The 30-day competition will feature six days of double-header action.
Season 5 schedule (All timings IST)
Saturday, 21 November – Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates – 8 pm, Dubai
Sunday, 22 November – Sharjah Warriorz vs Gulf Giants – 3.30 pm, Sharjah
Sunday, 22 November – Dubai Capitals vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – 8 pm, Dubai
Monday, 23 November – Sharjah Warriorz vs Desert Vipers – 8 pm, Sharjah
Tuesday, 24 November – Gulf Giants vs MI Emirates – 8 pm, Dubai
Wednesday, 25 November – Dubai Capitals vs Desert Vipers – 8 pm, Dubai
Thursday, 26 November – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs MI Emirates – 8 pm, Abu Dhabi
Friday, 27 November – Sharjah Warriorz vs Dubai Capitals – 8 pm, Sharjah
Saturday, 28 November – MI Emirates vs Desert Vipers – 3.30 pm, Abu Dhabi
Saturday, 28 November – Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals – 8 pm, Dubai
Sunday, 29 November – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Sharjah Warriorz – 3.30 pm, Abu Dhabi
Sunday, 29 November – Desert Vipers vs Gulf Giants – 8 pm, Dubai
Monday, 30 November – MI Emirates vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – 8 pm, Abu Dhabi
Tuesday, 1 December – Gulf Giants vs Sharjah Warriorz – 8 pm, Sharjah
Wednesday, 2 December – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Desert Vipers – 3.30 pm, Abu Dhabi
Wednesday, 2 December – Dubai Capitals vs MI Emirates – 8 pm, Dubai
Thursday, 3 December – Gulf Giants vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – 8 pm, Dubai
Friday, 4 December – Desert Vipers vs Sharjah Warriorz – 8 pm, Sharjah
Saturday, 5 December – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Gulf Giants – 8 pm, Abu Dhabi
Sunday, 6 December – MI Emirates vs Sharjah Warriorz – 3.30 pm, Abu Dhabi
Sunday, 6 December – Desert Vipers vs Dubai Capitals – 6:30pm, Dubai
Monday, 7 December – MI Emirates vs Gulf Giants – 8 pm, Abu Dhabi
Tuesday, 8 December – Dubai Capitals vs Sharjah Warriorz – 8 pm, Dubai
Wednesday, 9 December – Sharjah Warriorz vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – 8 pm, Sharjah
Thursday, 10 December – Dubai Capitals vs Gulf Giants – 8 pm, Dubai
Friday, 11 December – Sharjah Warriorz vs MI Emirates – 8 pm, Sharjah
Saturday, 12 December – Desert Vipers vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – 8 m, Dubai
Sunday, 13 December – MI Emirates vs Dubai Capitals – 3.30 pm, Abu Dhabi
Sunday, 13 December – Gulf Giants vs Desert Vipers – 8 pm, Dubai
Monday, 14 December – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Dubai Capitals – 8 pm, Abu Dhabi
Wednesday, 16 December – Qualifier 1: Seed 1 vs Seed 2 – 8 pm, Abu Dhabi
Thursday, 17 December – Eliminator: Seed 3 vs Seed 4 – 8 pm, Dubai
Friday, 18 December – Qualifier 2: Loser of Q1 vs Winner of Eliminator – 8 pm, Sharjah
Sunday, 20 December – Final: Winner of Q1 vs Winner of Q2 – 8 pm, Dubai
