DP World ILT20 Season 5 – 2026

ILT20 2026 Retained Players List

Season 5 squad planning, franchise retentions and player continuity updates for all six ILT20 2026 teams.

ILT20 2026 Retained Players: Season 5 Squad Planning

DP World ILT20 Season 5 runs from 22 November to 20 December 2026 across Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi. All six franchises are confirmed: MI Emirates, Dubai Capitals, Gulf Giants, Desert Vipers, Sharjah Warriorz, and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. Official retained players lists for Season 5 have not yet been announced by any franchise. This page will update as soon as official squad confirmations are released.

Retentions matter enormously in ILT20 because the tournament covers only 34 matches across 29 days. There is very little time to rebuild combinations mid-season, which means franchises that retain proven performers from the previous year almost always start faster than teams making significant changes.

Desert Vipers won their maiden ILT20 title in Season 4 by defeating MI Emirates in the final. Retaining the bowling core that delivered that championship will be their top priority heading into Season 5 as defending champions.
MI Emirates are the Season 4 runners-up and hold the all time record highest team total of 241 for 3. They will aim to retain the batting combination capable of producing those totals while addressing the bowling gaps that cost them the Season 4 final.
Alex Hales is the all time leading run scorer in ILT20 history with 1,156 runs across Seasons 1 to 3. Securing his availability for Season 5 remains one of the most important overseas retention decisions in the tournament.
James Vince holds the record for most fifties in ILT20 history with 10 half centuries and 1,055 total runs for Gulf Giants. His consistency across multiple seasons makes him one of the most valuable overseas retentions any franchise can secure.

ILT20 Season 5 Franchise Status: All Six Teams

All six ILT20 franchises are confirmed for Season 5. Captains across all teams are not yet officially announced. The status of each franchise heading into Season 5 is as follows:

Desert Vipers are the defending Season 4 champions. Their squad for Season 5 has not yet been officially announced. The focus will be on retaining the bowling attack that restricted MI Emirates in the final and won them their first ILT20 title.
MI Emirates were Season 4 runners-up. Their Season 5 squad has not yet been officially announced. They hold the records for the highest team total (241 for 3) and biggest winning margin (157 runs) in ILT20 history and will look to rebuild around those batting strengths.
Gulf Giants Season 5 squad not yet officially announced. James Vince, who holds the all time record of 10 fifties for Gulf Giants, is among the most important retention discussions for this franchise.
Dubai Capitals Season 5 squad not yet officially announced. They scored 222 for 3 against MI Emirates, the third highest team total in ILT20 history, showing the batting depth this franchise can produce.
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Season 5 squad not yet officially announced. They play their home matches at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, where the slower surface rewards disciplined bowling and patient middle-order batting.
Sharjah Warriorz Season 5 squad not yet officially announced. Their home ground at Sharjah Cricket Stadium has the shortest boundaries in ILT20, making power hitter retentions especially important for this franchise.

Key Overseas Players in ILT20 Season 5 Retention Discussions

These four players hold confirmed all time ILT20 records that make them the most strategically important overseas retentions heading into Season 5. Each of them has shaped their franchise results across multiple seasons in ways that are very difficult to replace:

Alex Hales scored 1,156 runs across Seasons 1 to 3 as the all time leading run scorer in ILT20 history. His aggressive powerplay style works across all three UAE venues and his experience in high-pressure matches makes him irreplaceable at the top of any batting lineup.
James Vince holds the record for most fifties in ILT20 history with 10 half centuries across 1,055 total runs for Gulf Giants. He provides the middle-order stability that allows power hitters above and below him to play their natural game without worrying about the innings collapsing.
Nicholas Pooran holds the all time record for most sixes in ILT20 with 71 maximums and averages 45.90 across 1,010 runs for MI Emirates. His ability to attack the short Sharjah boundaries and accelerate in the death overs makes him the most destructive batter in the tournament’s history.
Fazalhaq Farooqi holds the best bowling figures in ILT20 history with 5 for 16 in Season 3. His yorker accuracy at the death and ability to generate swing in UAE evening conditions make him the most valuable bowling retention in the tournament. No bowler has come close to matching that spell since.

Why Some ILT20 Franchises Rebuild Squads Before a New Season

Not every franchise enters a new ILT20 season with a retention-first approach. Some teams have strong reasons to release major players and rebuild. Understanding why helps fans follow pre-season squad news more accurately:

Franchises that finished outside the top four in the previous season and struggled in specific areas, particularly death bowling or powerplay batting, will often target new overseas signings rather than retaining the combinations that underperformed. In a short 34-match tournament, one weak link in the lineup can cost a franchise playoff qualification.
Overseas availability is not guaranteed from season to season. International scheduling, IPL contracts, and personal factors mean that players who were key contributors in Season 4 may not be available for the full Season 5 window from 22 November to 20 December 2026. Franchises must plan replacements in advance rather than waiting for late withdrawals.
Some franchises use squad rebuilds to introduce younger players, particularly UAE domestic talent, into more prominent roles. Several UAE cricketers including Muhammad Waseem (55 all time sixes in ILT20), Basil Hameed, and Alishan Sharafu have established themselves as genuine performers across previous seasons and may earn larger roles in Season 5 squads.
The three ILT20 venues each demand different skills. A franchise that struggled at Abu Dhabi (slower surface, rewards spin) or gave away too many runs at Sharjah (shortest boundaries) may specifically target bowling retentions and signings suited to those conditions rather than simply re-signing the biggest available overseas names.

FAQs: ILT20 2026 Retained Players

Have any ILT20 Season 5 retained players been officially announced?

No. As of now, no official retained players list has been released by any of the six ILT20 Season 5 franchises. The Emirates Cricket Board confirmed the Season 5 window on 13 April 2026, with the tournament running from 22 November to 20 December 2026, but squad and retention announcements from MI Emirates, Desert Vipers, Dubai Capitals, Gulf Giants, Sharjah Warriorz, and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders are all still pending. This page will update immediately when official announcements are made.

Who are the most important overseas retention targets for ILT20 Season 5?

Based on confirmed all time ILT20 records, the four most strategically important overseas retention targets are Alex Hales (all time leading run scorer, 1,156 runs), James Vince (record 10 fifties, 1,055 runs for Gulf Giants), Nicholas Pooran (record 71 sixes, average 45.90 for MI Emirates), and Fazalhaq Farooqi (best bowling figures in tournament history, 5 for 16 in Season 3). These players have shaped franchise results across multiple seasons in ways that cannot be quickly replaced by new signings.

Are ILT20 Season 5 captains confirmed for any franchise?

No. Captains for all six franchises including MI Emirates, Desert Vipers, Dubai Capitals, Gulf Giants, Sharjah Warriorz, and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders are not yet officially confirmed for Season 5. This page will update with official captain announcements as each franchise confirms their leadership ahead of the tournament opening on 22 November 2026.

Why are Desert Vipers the most talked about franchise in Season 5 retention discussions?

Desert Vipers are the defending ILT20 champions, having won their maiden title in Season 4 by defeating MI Emirates in the final. As defending champions, every decision they make about retentions and releases is closely watched because it signals whether they will try to defend their title with the same combination or make changes. In ILT20’s short format, defending champions who break up their successful bowling combinations often struggle to repeat their title-winning performance the following season.

How does squad retention work differently in ILT20 compared to other T20 leagues?

ILT20 squads must include UAE domestic players alongside international stars, which is a specific requirement that shapes retention strategy differently from some other franchise leagues. Each franchise must balance overseas slots carefully because those spots carry the most impact on match outcomes. UAE domestic players like Muhammad Waseem (55 all time sixes in ILT20) have proven they can contribute meaningfully, so franchises must weigh retaining proven UAE talent against bringing in new overseas signings for the same squad spots.

When will ILT20 Season 5 full squad lists be confirmed?

Based on previous ILT20 seasons, complete squad lists are typically confirmed several weeks before the tournament begins. Season 5 opens on 22 November 2026, so official squads are expected to be confirmed before mid-November 2026. The final on 20 December 2026 will be held at Dubai International Stadium. Check back on this page as franchise squad announcements are made in the weeks leading up to the tournament.