DP World ILT20 Season 5 — 2026

ILT20 2026 UAE Players List

Local talent, domestic performers and UAE player development across ILT20 Season 5.

ILT20 2026 UAE Players: Local Talent Competing Alongside World Stars

ILT20 Season 5 gives UAE domestic players their biggest annual opportunity to compete alongside international franchise stars. Muhammad Waseem, UAE’s captain and the country’s leading T20I run scorer with over 3,000 runs at an average of 38.10 and a strike rate of 154.12, is the standout local performer in the tournament’s history. He has won the Best UAE Player award in back to back ILT20 seasons and scored 871 runs in 33 ILT20 matches for MI Emirates at a strike rate of 140.48.

UAE players in ILT20 are not just filling squad numbers. The best of them have become genuine match winners and some have become more recognisable to cricket fans globally than players from Full Member nations:

Muhammad Waseem became the first UAE player and third fastest overall to reach 3,000 T20I runs, reaching the milestone in just 82 innings. He sits 11th on the all time T20I run scoring list alongside players from Full Member nations
Waseem scored 71 runs off 39 balls against Sharjah Warriorz in the ILT20 inaugural season, giving MI Emirates a match-winning platform alongside Nicholas Pooran and demonstrating what UAE domestic talent can produce at the highest franchise level
ILT20 has directly accelerated the development of emerging UAE players like Ali Naseer, Zuhaib Zubair, and Muhammad Jawadullah, who Waseem himself has credited for their impressive development through franchise exposure
UAE players who perform well in ILT20 attract attention from other franchise leagues globally. Waseem has played in the BPL, LPL, PSL, and T10 leagues, with ILT20 being the foundation that built his international franchise reputation

Key UAE Players to Watch in ILT20 Season 5

These are the UAE domestic players who have featured in previous ILT20 seasons and could play significant roles in Season 5. Official squad confirmations are yet to be announced by franchises ahead of 22 November 2026:

Muhammad Waseem (MI Emirates): UAE captain and the country’s greatest T20 batter. Over 3,000 T20I runs, three T20I centuries, 24 fifties, and two back to back Best UAE Player awards in ILT20. Scored 871 ILT20 runs at a 140.48 strike rate. One of the most destructive openers in associate cricket history
Basil Hameed: UAE middle order batter known for his ability to anchor innings under pressure and rotate strike effectively in the middle overs. One of the more technically correct UAE batters in franchise cricket conditions
Alishan Sharafu: Young UAE batter who has developed significantly through ILT20 exposure. His aggressive batting style and ability to hit sixes make him a natural fit for T20 franchise cricket and he has continued to improve season on season
Aayan Afzal Khan: Emerging UAE talent who has attracted attention for his raw pace and ability to trouble batters at all levels. Young fast bowlers with genuine pace are rare in UAE domestic cricket and his development through ILT20 has been notable

Season 5 UAE squad confirmations will update here as franchises officially announce their player selections ahead of 22 November 2026.

What UAE Players Actually Bring to ILT20 Franchises

The contribution of UAE domestic players in ILT20 is sometimes underestimated because attention focuses on overseas stars. But franchises that use their UAE players effectively gain specific advantages that overseas players cannot always provide:

Knowledge of all three UAE venues at a level no overseas player can match. UAE domestic players have batted and bowled at Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi hundreds of times and understand the pitch behaviour and dew patterns at each ground better than any visiting international
Spin bowling depth that is essential for Abu Dhabi fixtures. UAE has produced quality spinners through domestic cricket who thrive on the slower Sheikh Zayed Stadium surface where overseas pace bowlers often struggle to find their best figures
Lower order batting resilience that can add 15 to 25 crucial runs in the final four overs. UAE domestic batters who are comfortable hitting at the death extend franchise totals beyond what the overseas batting lineup alone achieves
High energy fielding that overseas stars do not always maintain across a 29 day tournament. UAE domestic players, often younger and hungry to impress, consistently provide fielding intensity that lifts the entire squad’s energy in the field

How ILT20 Has Changed UAE Cricket Since Season 1

When ILT20 began in January 2023, UAE cricket was respected as an associate nation but rarely discussed in the same breath as franchise cricket’s elite. Four seasons later, Muhammad Waseem is ranked 11th on the all time T20I run scoring list, UAE players are playing in multiple global franchise leagues, and the standard of domestic cricket in the UAE has risen measurably.

The specific changes ILT20 has produced for UAE cricket go beyond individual player development. The entire ecosystem has shifted:

Young UAE players now train alongside and against world class T20 specialists every season, which accelerates their tactical development far faster than domestic cricket alone could achieve. Waseem specifically credited ILT20 for bridging the gap between UAE domestic standards and international franchise quality
UAE players who perform well in ILT20 attract invitations to other franchise leagues globally, creating career pathways that did not exist before 2023. The tournament has effectively turned UAE cricket into a talent export pipeline for global T20 leagues

FAQs

Who is the best UAE player in ILT20 history?

Muhammad Waseem is the standout UAE player in ILT20 history. He has scored 871 runs in 33 ILT20 matches for MI Emirates at a strike rate of 140.48 and has won the Best UAE Player award in back to back seasons. He is also the first UAE player to reach 3,000 T20I runs, achieving the milestone in just 82 innings, the third fastest in history behind only Mohammad Rizwan and joint second holders Babar Azam and Virat Kohli.

Which UAE players could feature in ILT20 Season 5?

Muhammad Waseem, Basil Hameed, Alishan Sharafu, and Aayan Afzal Khan are among the UAE domestic players with ILT20 experience who could feature in Season 5. Official squad confirmations are yet to be announced by the six franchises ahead of 22 November 2026. This page will update as soon as official announcements are made.

How has ILT20 helped UAE cricket develop?

ILT20 has given UAE players direct exposure to world class T20 specialists across four seasons. Muhammad Waseem has credited the tournament for bridging the gap between UAE domestic standards and international franchise quality. UAE players who perform well in ILT20 have gone on to play in the BPL, LPL, PSL, and other global franchise leagues, creating career pathways that did not exist before 2023.

Why do ILT20 franchises value UAE domestic players?

UAE domestic players bring three specific advantages: deep knowledge of all three UAE venues including pitch behaviour and dew patterns, spin bowling options that work effectively at Abu Dhabi’s slower surface, and high energy fielding intensity that maintains squad standards across a 29 day tournament. Muhammad Waseem’s 871 ILT20 runs at a 140.48 strike rate is proof that the best UAE players perform at genuine franchise cricket level.

How many T20I runs has Muhammad Waseem scored?

Muhammad Waseem has scored over 3,000 T20I runs at an average of 38.10 and a strike rate of 154.12, including three centuries and 24 fifties. He became the first UAE player to reach 3,000 T20I runs in September 2025, reaching the milestone in 82 innings which is the third fastest in T20I history.

When does ILT20 Season 5 start?

ILT20 Season 5 starts on 22 November 2026. UAE player squad confirmations and Season 5 appearances will update here as franchises make official announcements ahead of the tournament start.