Sharjah Warriorz vs Desert Vipers ILT20 2026 in Sharjah

Sharjah Warriorz vs Desert Vipers ILT20 2026 in Sharjah brings the defending champions to Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Monday 23 November for an evening fixture in DP World ILT20 Season 5. Gates open at 4:30pm and the first ball is at 6:30pm, making it one of the few weeknight games in the opening stretch of the season and a good way to break up a working week.

Champions on the road

Desert Vipers arrive as the team to beat. They won their first ILT20 title in Season 4, beating MI Emirates by 46 runs in the final at Dubai International Stadium on 4 January 2026, with England all-rounder Sam Curran named Player of the Tournament and Best Batter. The Vipers, backed by Lancer Capital, had been the competition’s nearly men before that, so this is their first season starting with a target on their backs.

According to the ticket listing, the Vipers have held the edge in most of their previous meetings with Sharjah Warriorz. That gives the home side, owned by Capri Global, an obvious motivation in front of their own fans. The Warriorz have yet to lift the trophy, and taking down the champions early in the season would be a statement.

Players to look out for

Final elevens are only confirmed at the toss. Squad lists published ahead of Season 5 name Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza for the Warriorz, an all-rounder whose finishing with the bat and tidy off-spin make him one of the most valuable T20 cricketers in the league. For the Vipers, West Indies batter Shimron Hetmyer is among the big names, known for clearing the ropes late in an innings.

As in every ILT20 game, the line-ups also include UAE-based players, and the league gives them a real platform. In Season 4, Muhammad Waseem was named Best UAE Player.

Where it fits in the season

Season 5 has six teams and 34 matches, running from late November to the final in Dubai on 20 December. Each side plays ten group games in a double round-robin before the top four reach the playoffs. This is the Warriorz’s second home game of the opening week, after they host Gulf Giants on Sunday 22 November, and they welcome Dubai Capitals to Sharjah on Friday 27 November. The two sides meet again on 4 December, also in Sharjah.

The venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium

Sharjah Cricket Stadium, on Second Industrial Street in Industrial Area 5, is one of the most storied grounds in world cricket. Built in the early 1980s, it staged its first internationals at the 1984 Asia Cup and has hosted more international matches than any other venue, a record recognised by Guinness. It is the ground where Javed Miandad hit his famous last-ball six against India in the 1986 Austral-Asia Cup final and where Sachin Tendulkar scored back-to-back hundreds against Australia in 1998. In 2023 the West Stand was renamed the Sachin Tendulkar Stand. The ground’s international story began with the Cricketers Benefit Fund Series set up by Abdul Rahman Bukhatir in 1981, and from 2010 it also served as a home ground for Afghanistan’s national team.

The stadium holds around 16,000 spectators, which keeps the atmosphere tight and loud, and it was the first cricket ground in the GCC to switch to LED floodlights. More recently it hosted matches at the 2021 Men’s and 2024 Women’s T20 World Cups. For the ILT20 it is the Warriorz’s home.

Seating is first come, first served, and enclosures differ in their view and shade, with some seats having restricted views. Wheelchair viewing areas can be booked through the wheelchair option on the ticket site, though companions may not always be seated beside them. By car, take Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Road and then Second Industrial Street. Taxis and ride-hailing apps are easy to use. Box office tickets may be on sale at the stadium, subject to availability.

Match day rules

• Children: under-5s enter without a ticket on an adult’s lap, one child per lap; everyone aged 5 and over needs a ticket. Under-15s must be with an adult at all times, and photo ID may be requested.
• Items: no outside food or drink, umbrellas, camping chairs, strollers, flags, banners or drones, and there is no bag storage.
• Alcohol and smoking: alcohol is not allowed, and smoking is permitted only in designated areas.
• Tickets: emailed 48 hours before the match and not collectable at the venue. There is a limit of 10 per person, no re-entry and no resale.

A full refund applies if the match is cancelled before the toss or moved to a different date or venue.

Find more fixtures on our sports events in the UAE page, explore the emirate with things to do in Sharjah, or plan the rest of the month with things to do in November.