Desert Vipers vs Sharjah Warriorz ILT20 2026 in Sharjah

Desert Vipers vs Sharjah Warriorz ILT20 2026 in Sharjah is a Friday night match of DP World ILT20 Season 5 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on 4 December. It is billed as the return fixture between the two sides, and it is the Warriorz who play at home: Sharjah Cricket Stadium is their base, while the Vipers are a Dubai-based side. Gates open at 4:30pm and the first ball is at 6:30pm.

Desert Vipers vs Sharjah Warriorz: one Sharjah night

The ILT20 is the Emirates Cricket Board’s franchise league, launched in 2023 with six teams spread across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Season 5 runs between 22 November and 20 December 2026, with a round-robin stage leading into the playoffs. Sharjah Warriorz carry the emirate’s name, while Desert Vipers have played their home fixtures across Dubai International Stadium and Sharjah.

Desert Vipers

The Vipers play in red and black and are owned by Lancer Capital, the investment firm of Avram Glazer. They have been the league’s most consistent finalists: runners-up in 2023, runners-up again in 2025, and champions in the 2025–26 season, when they beat MI Emirates by 46 runs to win their first title. They arrive in Sharjah as the reigning champions, and the ticket page notes that the Vipers have held the edge in most previous meetings with the Warriorz.

Over the seasons their squads have included names such as Lockie Ferguson, Wanindu Hasaranga, Sam Curran, Shimron Hetmyer and Fakhar Zaman, with Tom Moody as director of cricket. The Season 5 squad is set by the league’s auction, so check the team’s announcements for who is available on the night.

Sharjah Warriorz

The Warriorz, owned by Capri Global Holdings, carry the emirate’s name and are still chasing a first ILT20 title. The listing’s own line is that the Warriorz always bring intensity at home, and with this being a return fixture, they have a chance to settle the score from the earlier meeting in front of a Sharjah crowd.

A Friday night at a famous ground

Sharjah Cricket Stadium is the most used international venue in the world. It opened in 1982, staged its first internationals at the 1984 Asia Cup and holds the Guinness World Record for hosting the most one-day internationals. It was the stage for Javed Miandad’s last-ball six in 1986 and Sachin Tendulkar’s twin centuries against Australia in 1998, and its West Stand now carries Tendulkar’s name.

The ground holds about 16,000 spectators and has hosted matches at the 2021 Men’s and 2024 Women’s T20 World Cups. It was also the first stadium in the GCC to switch to LED floodlights, so a night game here is well lit. On a Friday, with the weekend ahead, an evening fixture is an easy plan for groups of friends and families from Sharjah, Dubai and Ajman.

Before you go

Seats and tickets

All seating at Sharjah Cricket Stadium is unreserved and first come, first served, and some seats have restricted views of the pitch. With gates opening two hours before the first ball, you have time to pick a spot and watch the warm-ups. Tickets are emailed 48 hours before the match and can be shown on your phone or printed. Each ticket allows one entry only, so leaving the ground means you cannot come back in on it.

The limit is 10 tickets per person per match. Tickets cannot be resold, and they can only be passed to friends or family if they were bought for them. If the match is cancelled before the toss, or moved to another date or venue, a full refund applies.

Children

Under-fives can come in without a ticket as long as they sit on an adult’s lap, one child per adult. From five upwards, everyone needs a ticket, and under-15s must stay with an adult throughout. Parents are responsible for anyone under 18. Strollers are not permitted and there is no storage at the ground.

Accessibility

There are dedicated wheelchair viewing areas, which you choose through the wheelchair access option when booking. Companion seating next to a wheelchair space cannot always be guaranteed.

Banned and restricted items

Alcohol, glass bottles, metal cans, cigarettes, lighters, fireworks and weapons are not allowed, and nor are banners or clothing with political, religious or offensive messages. Food, drinks, sealable containers, flags, horns, drones, umbrellas, camping chairs and oversized bags are restricted, and there is no bag drop. Bags may be searched on entry.

Getting to Sharjah Cricket Stadium

The stadium is on Second Industrial Street in Industrial Area 5. Drivers can follow Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Road onto Second Industrial Street, and taxis and ride-hailing apps also serve the ground.

If one match is not enough, the Warriorz host AD Knight Riders at the same ground on 9 December, and you can find the rest of the season on our sports events in the UAE page. For more ideas, browse things to do in Sharjah, things to do this weekend and our December guide.