The DP World International League T20 has released its Playing Conditions for Season 5, bringing in a set of changes aimed at strengthening the role of UAE, Afghanistan and Associate cricketers, sharpening the contest between bat and ball, and keeping the game moving at a brisk pace. All updates in the MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 Code (4th Edition, 2026) have also been included in the Season 5 Playing Conditions.
The headline change is a new “batter zone” for judging Wides, alongside an extended 60-second stop clock that now also applies to the batting side. The changes come into effect from the opening match of the season, when Desert Vipers take on MI Emirates in Dubai on Saturday, 21 November.
Key changes to the Season 5 Playing Conditions
1. Playing XI: a minimum mix of UAE, Afghanistan and Associate players
Every team must name a Playing XI at the toss that includes at least two UAE players, two Afghanistan players and one ICC Associate Member player. The Associate player can also be a UAE player, giving a typical line-up of six international players, two UAE, two Afghanistan and one Associate player. The same minimum must be on the field at all times while a team is fielding. If a team names only the minimum, any UAE, Afghanistan or Associate player who leaves the field must be replaced by a substitute fielder from the same group.
2. Concussion Replacements: no pre-match list
Teams no longer need to name up to five concussion replacements before each match. A concussion or suspected concussion must be formally diagnosed by the team’s medical doctor and overseen by the League-appointed doctor. The replacement must still be like-for-like and approved by the ILT20 Match Referee. Where a UAE, Afghanistan or Associate player is concussed, the replacement must also come from Afghanistan or an Associate Member country, including the UAE, so that at least five non-international players remain in the Playing XI.
3. Super Sub: the player mix must hold
When a Super Sub is introduced, the team must still keep at least two UAE, two Afghanistan and one Associate player in the Playing XI. For clarity, if an international player has batted and completed their innings, and is then replaced by another international player as a Super Sub, the UAE, Afghanistan and Associate players are not required to bat in that innings. The minimum mix in the Playing XI must still be maintained.
4. Wide Ball: the new “batter zone” – a major change
Season 5 introduces a “batter zone” that decides Wides on both the off side and the leg side. The zone runs between the inside edges of the off-side wide line and the leg-side wide line at the popping crease. A delivery will be called Wide if the whole ball passes outside the batter zone at the popping crease or passes above the head height of the striker standing upright at the popping crease. Even if the batter moves to bring the ball within reach, the umpire will call and signal Wide if no part of the ball passes the popping crease inside the zone and the batter does not make contact. The only exception is when the batter plays a reverse sweep or switch hit, in which case both off-side wide lines shall apply. Umpires have been instructed to apply the law strictly and consistently to stop negative bowling wide of the wicket.
5. 60-Second Stop Clock: now for the batting side too
The stop clock between overs, which already applied to the fielding side, now also applies to the batting side. Both batters must be ready to start the next over within 60 seconds of the previous over ending. The batting side will get two warnings in an innings. On the third and any later occasion, the umpire will award five penalty runs to the fielding side. The clock does not apply when a new batter comes to the wicket between overs, during approved injury treatment, during approved injury treatment, strategic time-outs, stoppages for ground, weather or light, third-umpire referrals and reviews, or other delays beyond the batting side’s control, such as broken equipment. Glove changes are not an exemption.
DP World ILT20 Season 5 will feature some of the game’s biggest stars, including Moeen Ali, Usman Tariq and Finn Allen (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Babar Azam, Shimron Hetmyer and Naseem Shah (Desert Vipers), Faf du Plessis, Marcus Stoinis and Mustafizur Rahman (Dubai Capitals), Heinrich Klaasen, Liam Livingstone and David Miller (Gulf Giants), Rashid Khan, Nicholas Pooran and Fazalhaq Farooqi (MI Emirates), and Mohammad Nabi, Sikandar Raza and Adil Rashid (Sharjah Warriorz).
DP World International League T20 Season 5 – Tournament schedule – all timings are local timings – Gulf Standard Time
Saturday, 21 November – Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates – 6:30pm, Dubai
Sunday, 22 November – Sharjah Warriorz vs Gulf Giants – 2:00pm, Sharjah
Sunday, 22 November – Dubai Capitals vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – 6:30pm, Dubai
Monday, 23 November – Sharjah Warriorz vs Desert Vipers – 6:30pm, Sharjah
Tuesday, 24 November – Gulf Giants vs MI Emirates – 6:30pm, Dubai
Wednesday, 25 November – Dubai Capitals vs Desert Vipers – 6:30pm, Dubai
Thursday, 26 November – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs MI Emirates – 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi
Friday, 27 November – Sharjah Warriorz vs Dubai Capitals – 6:30pm, Sharjah
Saturday, 28 November – MI Emirates vs Desert Vipers – 2:00pm, Abu Dhabi
Saturday, 28 November – Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals – 6:30pm, Dubai
Sunday, 29 November – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Sharjah Warriorz – 2:00pm, Abu Dhabi
Sunday, 29 November – Desert Vipers vs Gulf Giants – 6:30pm, Dubai
Monday, 30 November – MI Emirates vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi
Tuesday, 1 December – Gulf Giants vs Sharjah Warriorz – 6:30pm, Sharjah
Wednesday, 2 December – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Desert Vipers – 2:00pm, Abu Dhabi
Wednesday, 2 December – Dubai Capitals vs MI Emirates – 6:30pm, Dubai
Thursday, 3 December – Gulf Giants vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – 6:30pm, Dubai
Friday, 4 December – Desert Vipers vs Sharjah Warriorz – 6:30pm, Sharjah
Saturday, 5 December – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Gulf Giants – 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi
Sunday, 6 December – MI Emirates vs Sharjah Warriorz – 2:00pm, Abu Dhabi
Sunday, 6 December – Desert Vipers vs Dubai Capitals – 6:30pm, Dubai
Monday, 7 December – MI Emirates vs Gulf Giants – 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi
Tuesday, 8 December – Dubai Capitals vs Sharjah Warriorz – 6:30pm, Dubai
Wednesday, 9 December – Sharjah Warriorz vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – 6:30pm, Sharjah
Thursday, 10 December – Dubai Capitals vs Gulf Giants – 6:30pm, Dubai
Friday, 11 December – Sharjah Warriorz vs MI Emirates – 6:30pm, Sharjah
Saturday, 12 December – Desert Vipers vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – 6:30pm, Dubai
Sunday, 13 December – MI Emirates vs Dubai Capitals – 2:00pm, Abu Dhabi
Sunday, 13 December – Gulf Giants vs Desert Vipers – 6:30pm, Dubai
Monday, 14 December – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Dubai Capitals – 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi
Wednesday, 16 December – Qualifier 1: Seed 1 vs Seed 2 – 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi
Thursday, 17 December – Eliminator: Seed 3 vs Seed 4 – 6:30pm, Dubai
Friday, 18 December – Qualifier 2: Loser of Q1 vs Winner of Eliminator – 6:30pm, Sharjah
Sunday, 20 December – Final: Winner of Q1 vs Winner of Q2 – 6:30pm, Dubai
