Sharjah Warriorz vs AD Knight Riders ILT20 2026 in Sharjah

Sharjah Warriorz vs AD Knight Riders ILT20 2026 in Sharjah is a Wednesday night match of DP World ILT20 Season 5 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on 9 December. The Warriorz host Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, the purple-and-gold franchise from the Knight Riders stable, in a fixture the ticket page describes as evenly balanced: their previous meetings have been competitive, with neither side holding a long-term advantage. Gates open at 4:30pm and the first ball is at 6:30pm.

Sharjah Warriorz vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: two sides still chasing a first title

The ILT20 is the Emirates Cricket Board’s franchise T20 league, launched in 2023, with six teams and fixtures shared between Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Season 5 runs between 22 November and 20 December 2026, with a round-robin stage leading to the playoffs. Neither of these two teams has yet won the league, which adds a little edge to every point at this stage of the season.

Sharjah Warriorz

The Warriorz are owned by Capri Global Holdings and carry the emirate’s name, playing their home matches here at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. This is their second game in two nights: they play Dubai Capitals at Dubai International Stadium on 8 December before returning home to face the Knight Riders.

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders

ADKR are part of the Knight Riders Group, the alliance between Red Chillies Entertainment and the Mehta Group that also owns the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. They play in purple and gold, and their home is Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, which was also KKR’s base when the IPL was played in the UAE in 2020 and 2021. Their ILT20 record has been up and down: bottom of the table in the 2023 and early-2025 seasons, but playoff qualifiers in 2024 and again in the 2025–26 season, when they won the Eliminator against Dubai Capitals.

Over the years the side has featured West Indies stars Sunil Narine and Andre Russell, and more recently Jason Holder as captain with Dwayne Bravo as head coach. Season 5 squads come from the league’s auction and retentions, so check the teams’ announcements for who is available on the night.

Sharjah Cricket Stadium

Few grounds anywhere have the history of Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Opened in 1982, it has hosted more international matches than any other venue and holds the Guinness World Record for the most one-day internationals. It was the setting for Javed Miandad’s famous last-ball six in 1986 and Sachin Tendulkar’s back-to-back centuries against Australia in 1998, which is why its West Stand now carries Tendulkar’s name.

The stadium seats around 16,000 and has staged T20 World Cup matches for both men, in 2021, and women, in 2024. It was also the first stadium in the GCC to switch to LED floodlights, so midweek night cricket is well suited to the ground. Afghanistan used it as a home venue between 2010 and 2016, and it has also hosted IPL matches played in the UAE and the very first T10 league in 2017.

Before you go

Seating and tickets

All seats are unreserved and first come, first served, and some have restricted views of the pitch, so arriving after the gates open at 4:30pm gives you the best choice. Tickets are emailed 48 hours before the match and can be printed or shown on a phone. Each ticket is good for one entry only, so there is no re-entry once you leave. You can buy up to 10 tickets per match.

Children

Under-fives can enter without a ticket but cannot occupy a seat of their own, so they sit on an adult’s lap. From the age of five a ticket is required, and anyone under 15 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Accessibility

Dedicated wheelchair viewing areas are available by choosing the wheelchair access option when you book. Seats next to companions cannot always be guaranteed.

Items to leave at home

Alcohol is not permitted, and neither are glass bottles, metal cans, fireworks, weapons or banners with political, religious or offensive messages. Strollers, umbrellas and camping chairs are not allowed, there is no bag storage, and food, drinks, drones and oversized bags are restricted. Smoking is only allowed in designated areas, and betting is prohibited.

Getting there

Sharjah Cricket Stadium is on Second Industrial Street in Industrial Area 5. By car, take Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Road and then Second Industrial Street. Taxis and ride-hailing apps also serve the ground.

Who it suits

This match suits Warriorz supporters, Knight Riders fans making the trip up from the capital, and families looking for an easy midweek evening out. With two evenly matched sides and a historic ground, it is also a good first ILT20 game for anyone new to franchise cricket.

For more matches, see our sports events in the UAE page, or explore things to do in Sharjah, the December events calendar and what’s on in the UAE.