The season so far
MI Emirates have been to the final in two of the last three seasons — champions in 2024, runners-up in 2025-26 — and Season 5 is about going one step further than last season. The change is in the dugout: Mark Boucher takes over as head coach.
Nicholas Pooran keeps the captaincy and keeps the most destructive middle order in the league around him: Jonny Bairstow, Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd, with Rashid Khan as the bowler every opponent plans for. Chris Jordan and Fazalhaq Farooqi give the pace attack its experience.
The base is Dubai, but the schedule is the toughest of any side’s: only three of the ten league matches are in Dubai, six are in Abu Dhabi and one is in Sharjah. The opener is in Dubai, the return against the Vipers is in Abu Dhabi on 28 November.
MI Emirates squad
Twenty-two players are verified for Season 5 in the ILT20 squads file. The overseas spine — Pooran, Bairstow, Rashid Khan, Shepherd, Rutherford, Jordan and Farooqi — is backed by UAE players including Muhammad Waseem and Zahoor Khan.
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Nicholas Pooran (Captain) | Wicketkeeper |
| Jonny Bairstow | Wicketkeeper |
| James Coles | All-rounder |
| Rashid Khan | Bowler |
| Romario Shepherd | All-rounder |
| Sherfane Rutherford | Batter |
| Muhammad Waseem | Batter |
| Jordon Thompson | All-rounder |
| Ross Adair | Batter |
| Kusal Perera | Wicketkeeper |
| Asa Tribe | — |
| Chris Jordan | Bowler |
| Lizaad Williams | Bowler |
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | Bowler |
| Allah Ghazanfar | Bowler |
| Zahoor Khan | Bowler |
| Wasim Akram | — |
| Faridoon Dawoodzai | — |
| Sanjay Krishnamurthi | — |
| Raizal Nadir Nather Shah | — |
| Zain ul Abidin | — |
| Mohammad Shafeeq | — |
The list shows the 22 players verified for Season 5 in the ILT20 squads file (checked 30 October 2026). Roles shown are the player’s usual role; a dash means the role is not confirmed for this squad. Captain: Nicholas Pooran. Head coach: Mark Boucher. Base: Dubai.
Fixtures — all 10 league matches
MI Emirates play ten league matches between 21 November and 14 December 2026, each opponent twice. Exact start times are still to be announced; this page shows the session (afternoon or evening) for each fixture.
| Match | Date | Session | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sat 21 Nov | Evening | Desert Vipers | Dubai |
| 5 | Tue 24 Nov | Evening | Gulf Giants | Dubai |
| 7 | Thu 26 Nov | Evening | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Abu Dhabi |
| 9 | Sat 28 Nov | Afternoon | Desert Vipers | Abu Dhabi |
| 13 | Mon 30 Nov | Evening | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Abu Dhabi |
| 16 | Wed 2 Dec | Evening | Dubai Capitals | Dubai |
| 20 | Sun 6 Dec | Afternoon | Sharjah Warriorz | Abu Dhabi |
| 22 | Mon 7 Dec | Evening | Gulf Giants | Abu Dhabi |
| 26 | Fri 11 Dec | Evening | Sharjah Warriorz | Sharjah |
| 28 | Sun 13 Dec | Afternoon | Dubai Capitals | Abu Dhabi |
The playoffs follow the league stage: Qualifier 1 on 16 December, the Eliminator on 17 December, Qualifier 2 on 18 December in Sharjah, and the final on 20 December in Dubai. Which teams play in them depends on the league standings.
What to watch
The strength is the middle order and the leg-spin. Pooran and Bairstow can chase anything, Shepherd and Rutherford finish games, and Rashid Khan wins matches in the middle overs like no other bowler in this league. When Rashid takes two wickets, MI Emirates usually win.
The question is the travel. Six matches in Abu Dhabi is the heaviest away load in the league, and the side that won in 2024 did it with Dubai as a fortress. Boucher’s first job is to make this team win away from home — starting with the Abu Dhabi return against the Vipers on 28 November.
Watch the opener. Desert Vipers against MI Emirates is the champions against the runners-up on the first night of the season. It is the only match of the first round that pairs last season’s two finalists, and the winner takes an early hold on the top of the table.
Where MI Emirates stand — the table starts on 21 November
There is no points table yet — the season starts on 21 November. The format is simple: six teams, each plays ten league matches, a win is worth 2 points, and the top four reach the playoffs. In a six-team league, five or six wins usually books a playoff place; four wins leaves a side depending on net run rate and other results. MI Emirates’ path is the away-heavy one: six of ten in Abu Dhabi, so the playoff maths depends on winning on the road.
The full standings, once play starts, are on the ILT20 Points Table page, and every result is on the ILT20 Results page. SialTV will update this page after every match day, through the final.
Frequently asked questions
Who captains MI Emirates?
Nicholas Pooran. The West Indies wicketkeeper-batter captains the side in Season 5, with Mark Boucher as head coach.
When did MI Emirates win the ILT20?
In 2024. They were also runners-up in 2025-26, losing the final to Desert Vipers.
When is MI Emirates’ first match?
Match 1, the season opener, against Desert Vipers on Saturday 21 November 2026, evening session, in Dubai.
How many of MI Emirates’ matches are in Dubai?
Three of ten. Six are in Abu Dhabi and one is in Sharjah — the heaviest away load in the league.
More ILT20 coverage
- ILT20 Schedule — Every fixture, date and session.
- ILT20 Points Table — Standings and the playoff race.
- ILT20 Results — Every result, once the season starts.
- ILT20 Live Scores — The next match and live updates.
- ILT20 Stats — Top scorers, wicket takers and records.
- ILT20 Tickets — Availability and official channels.
- ILT20 Season 5 Teams — All six teams, captains, coaches and titles.
- ILT20 — the season in full: schedule, teams, venues and where to watch.