MI Emirates Squad 2026 — ILT20 Season 5 Players & Team

MI Emirates Squad 2026 Overview

MI Emirates enter DP World ILT20 Season 5 with a 22-player post-auction squad. The Season 2 champions and Season 4 runners-up begin their 2026 campaign against defending champions Desert Vipers on 21 November at 6:30 PM GST at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Season 5 runs from 21 November to 20 December 2026 across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

Four players joined the Season 5 squad before the auction: Nicholas Pooran, Rashid Khan, Romario Shepherd and Sherfane Rutherford. MI Emirates then completed their 22-player squad through the Season 5 auction, adding a mix of international experience, UAE players and emerging talent.

MI Emirates Season 5 Auction Signings

MI Emirates added 18 players at the Season 5 player auction: Muhammad Waseem, Zahoor Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kusal Perera, Wasim Akram, AM Ghazanfar, Asa Tribe, Mohammad Shafeeq, Zain Ul Abidin, Chris Jordan, James Coles, Lizaad Williams, Jordan Thompson, Ross Adair, Faridoon Dawoodzai, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Raizal Nadir Nather Shah and Jonny Bairstow.

Muhammad Waseem returned to MI Emirates through the Right to Match option for USD 210,000, while Fazalhaq Farooqi was the franchise’s biggest auction acquisition at USD 380,000. The completed squad combines the four pre-auction signings with the 18 players secured at the auction.

The squad also reflects the league’s wider player mix, combining established international players with UAE talent and cricketers from Afghanistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United States and Ireland.

MI Emirates Head Coach for ILT20 Season 5

Mark Boucher is the head coach of MI Emirates for ILT20 Season 5. The former South Africa wicketkeeper was appointed on 30 September 2026, succeeding Robin Singh. Boucher previously served as head coach of Mumbai Indians and later guided MI New York to the 2025 championship.

MI Emirates ILT20 Record

MI Emirates won the ILT20 title in Season 2 in 2024 under Robin Singh. They returned to the final in Season 4, finishing as runners-up to Desert Vipers.

MI Emirates Fixtures in ILT20 Season 5

MI Emirates play 10 league matches during Season 5. They face Desert Vipers in Dubai on 21 November, Gulf Giants in Dubai on 24 November, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in Abu Dhabi on 26 November, Desert Vipers in Abu Dhabi on 28 November and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in Abu Dhabi on 30 November.

Their December fixtures are against Dubai Capitals in Dubai on 2 December, Sharjah Warriorz in Abu Dhabi on 6 December, Gulf Giants in Abu Dhabi on 7 December, Sharjah Warriorz in Sharjah on 11 December and Dubai Capitals in Abu Dhabi on 13 December. Their afternoon matches on 28 November, 6 December and 13 December begin at 2:00 PM GST, while the other MI Emirates league matches begin at 6:30 PM GST.