The DP World International League T20 launched Season 5 at a glittering Dubai event on Wednesday night. Fast-bowling greats Brett Lee and Shoaib Akhtar led the star attractions.
The six-team tournament will stage 34 matches across the UAE in November and December 2026. Teams will complete their squads through the Season 5 Player Auction on Thursday, October 1.
Player registration remains open through the league’s online portal until Saturday, September 12. The league also unveiled a new brand identity during the ceremony.
Cricket legends revisit a high-speed era
Former New Zealand international Simon Doull hosted Lee and Akhtar for a panel discussion. The pair discussed ILT20’s growing influence on UAE and regional cricket.
They also revisited their playing careers and recalled an era they shaped with blistering pace. Celebrity mentalist Karan Singh Magic added a spell-binding performance to the evening.
ILT20 Chairman Khalid Al Zarooni and League Commissioner Mubashshir Usmani addressed the competition’s rapid growth. They highlighted its role in expanding cricket across the Gulf.
“What began as a dream has grown into one of the world’s leading cricket leagues, bringing together top players and major franchises, while helping grow cricket in the UAE, the region and beyond,” Al Zarooni said.
“I would like to thank our stakeholders, franchise owners, commercial and strategic partners for their continued support, with a special acknowledgement to DP World and Zee Network, as well as our strategic cricket partners Kuwait Cricket, the Saudi Arabia Cricket Federation, the Afghanistan Cricket Board and Cricket Ireland. We are also delighted to welcome SPORTFIVE as a new commercial partner and look forward to another successful season.”
Doull also led a discussion on the game’s changing regional and global landscape. It brought together representatives from cricket, government, sport and business.
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The panel featured Usmani, who also serves as an ICC Board Director and Emirates Cricket Board General Secretary. Other speakers included DP World GCC digital technology chief operating officer Dr Mohamed Abu Hamra and Dubai Sports Council sports events director Eisa Sharif.
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Deputy CEO and CFO Mukund Galgali joined SPORTFIVE Middle East and South Asia President Venu Nair. Bisleri Global Sales and Marketing Director Tushar Malhotra completed the panel.
Auction and three UAE venues take centre stage
Season 5 will visit Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Dubai International Stadium and Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Desert Vipers enter the competition as defending champions after securing their first title in Season 4.
The previous champions reflect the league’s competitive spread. Gulf Giants won Season 1, MI Emirates claimed Season 2 and Dubai Capitals took Season 3.
The October 1 auction will provide the next major staging point. Franchises will use it to fill their remaining squad positions before the tournament begins in November.
