ILT20 Season 5: Defending champions Desert Vipers to face MI Emirates in blockbuster opener

Desert Vipers are reigning ILT20 champions.

NEW DELHI: The ILT20 Season 5 will begin with a repeat of last year's final as defending champions Desert Vipers take on MI Emirates at the Dubai International Stadium on November 21.The opening fixture brings together two of the tournament's most high-profile teams, with the Vipers beginning their title defence against the side they beat in last season's summit clash. The match will begin at 6:30 pm local time.

The Vipers have added significant firepower to their squad for the new season, with Pakistan stars Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Naseem Shah and Shadab Khan among their auction signings. They have also retained the likes of Shimron Hetmyer, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman and Dan Lawrence as pre-auction signings.MI Emirates, meanwhile, will be led by a formidable group that includes Rashid Khan, Nicholas Pooran and Romario Shepherd, while Fazalhaq Farooqi, Jonny Bairstow and Kusal Perera are among their auction acquisitions.The season's second match will see Sharjah Warriorz face Gulf Giants at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on November 22, before Dubai Capitals take on Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the second game of the opening day's double-header in Dubai.

Each of the six teams will play 10 matches in the 34-match tournament, with the top four sides advancing to the playoffs. The competition will culminate in the final at the Dubai International Stadium on December 20.Dubai will host 15 matches, while Abu Dhabi's Zayed Cricket Stadium will stage 11 and Sharjah Cricket Stadium eight. The tournament will also feature six days of double-header action.

Squads

Abu Dhabi Knight RidersAuction signings: Alishan Sharafu, Amshi De Silva, Muhammad Rohid, Moeen Ali, Arab Gul, Usman Tariq, Gulbadin Naib, Ibrar Ahmed, Andre Fletcher, Ajay Kumar, Colin Munro, Michael Pepper, Qais Ahmad, Jakeem Pollard, Abdul Mannan Ali, Ravija Sandaruwan, Abdullah Tarakhail, Lorcan TuckerPre-auction signings: Finn Allen, Jason Holder, Matthew Tromp, Sunil NarineDesert VipersAuction signings: David Payne, Fakhar Zaman, Naseem Shah, Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Vriitya Aravind, Aneurin Donald, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Joe Clarke, Nangeyalia Kharote, Sanjay Pahal, Harry Tector, Ishtiaq Ahmed, Nilansh Keswani, Saleem Safi, Bilal Tahir, Wali MuhammadPre-auction signings: Andries Gous, Dan Lawrence, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, Shimron HetmyerDubai CapitalsAuction signings: Faf du Plessis, Max Holden, Dasun Shanaka, Aayan Khan, Hassan Khan, Phil Salt, Sediqullah Atal, Mark Adair, Karim Janat, Luke Wood, Tom Moores, Haider Ali, Zuhaib Zubair, Darwish Rasooli, Muhammad Arfan, Matt Potts, Usman Najeeb, Anudeep Chenthamara, Masood Ul Rahman GurbazPre-auction signings: Marcus Stoinis, Mustafizur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Rovman PowellGulf GiantsAuction signings: Liam Livingstone, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, David Wiese, Ibrahim Zadran, Tabraiz Shamsi, Curtis Campher, Dhruv Parashar, Matiullah Khan, Haider Razzaq, Imran Mir, Imtiaz Khan, Meet Bhavsar, Shubham Ranjane, Wahidullah Zadran, Awais Ahmed, Sagar Kalyan, Alick AthanazePre-auction signings: Azmatullah Omarzai, Blessing Muzarabani, David Miller, Heinrich KlaasenMI EmiratesAuction signings: Fazalhaq Farooqi, Muhammad Waseem, Chris Jordan, Allah Ghazanfar, Lizaad Williams, James Coles, Jonny Bairstow, Kusal Perera, Jordan Thompson, Zahoor Khan, Wasim Akram, Zain Ul Abidin, Muhammad Shafeeq, Asa Tribe, Raizal Nadir Nather Shah, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Faridoon Dawoodzai, Ross AdairPre-auction signings: Nicholas Pooran, Rashid Khan, Romario Shepherd, Sherfane RutherfordSharjah WarriorzAuction signings: Richard Gleeson, Mohammad Nabi, Paul Walter, Adil Rashid, Brandon McMullen, Tom Banton, Craig Overton, George Linde, Ali Aamer Naseer, Fareed Malik, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Logan van Beek, Junaid Siddique, Tanish Suri, Nabeel Aziz, George Dockrell, Mohammad Saqib, Arunraj Selvaraj, James RewPre-auction signings: Adam Milne, James Vince, Waqar Salamkheil, Sikandar Raza

Schedule