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MI Emirates ILT20 Season 5 Preview: Squad, Strengths and Prediction

Team analysis · By the ILT20 Web Desk · Published 30 October 2026, 3:39 pm GST (4:39 pm PKT)

Last updated: 31 October 2026.

MI Emirates ILT20 Season 5 starts with a simple pair of facts. Nicholas Pooran is captain and Mark Boucher is head coach. Titles so far: 2024. The longer read of every club is on the teams hub, and this preview stays with one side.

MI Emirates Squad for ILT20 Season 5

The compiled list has 22 names. Cited deals: Fazalhaq Farooqi (The reported fee was USD 380,000 to MI Emirates, via auction), Muhammad Waseem (The reported fee was USD 210,000 to MI Emirates, via right to match) Pre-auction names on this list are called out in the player notes. Full rows, including blanks, are on the squad page.

MI Emirates Strengths in ILT20 Season 5

The record fee

Fazalhaq Farooqi at a reported USD 380,000 is the auction's loudest line. He already has 50 historical ILT20 wickets.

A finalist core

Nicholas Pooran captains. Rashid Khan remains. Mark Boucher is the new head coach. They were in the last final.

A local batter they kept

Muhammad Waseem was a reported right-to-match at USD 210,000. Finals experience is not only an overseas story.

MI Emirates Weaknesses and Concerns

A record fee concentrates attention. If the new ball is the whole plan, the middle overs have to be more than Rashid alone.

Boucher is new in the coach's seat. A final appearance last season does not brief a new dugout by itself.

MI Emirates Key Players to Watch

Nicholas Pooran

Nicholas Pooran is on a Season 5 list as a wicketkeeper from West Indies. The established method is left-hand bat. No auction price is listed for this player because we could not verify one in the reports we checked. A squad place is not the same thing as a starting place. Availability for any one night is still to be announced.

Jonny Bairstow

Jonny Bairstow is on a Season 5 list as a wicketkeeper from England. The established method is right-hand bat. No auction price is listed for this player because we could not verify one in the reports we checked. A squad place is not the same thing as a starting place. Availability for any one night is still to be announced.

Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan is on a Season 5 list as a bowler from Afghanistan. The established method is right-arm legbreak. No auction price is listed for this player because we could not verify one in the reports we checked. A squad place is not the same thing as a starting place. Availability for any one night is still to be announced.

Romario Shepherd

Romario Shepherd is on a Season 5 list as a all-rounder from West Indies. The established method is right-hand bat, right-arm fast-medium. No auction price is listed for this player because we could not verify one in the reports we checked. A squad place is not the same thing as a starting place. Availability for any one night is still to be announced.

Sherfane Rutherford

Sherfane Rutherford is on a Season 5 list as a batter from West Indies. The established method is left-hand bat. No auction price is listed for this player because we could not verify one in the reports we checked. A squad place is not the same thing as a starting place. Availability for any one night is still to be announced.

MI Emirates ILT20 Season 5 Schedule

Ten league games. Grounds are assigned by the fixture list, not by the city in the team name.

How MI Emirates Did in Previous ILT20 Seasons

Can MI Emirates Win ILT20 Season 5? Our Verdict

Our opinion puts them second, behind the champions, because of the last final and the Farooqi fee. Runners-up in January, now coached by Mark Boucher and holders of the record auction bid.

MI Emirates in plain terms

Runners-up in January, now coached by Mark Boucher and holders of the record auction bid. Captain Nicholas Pooran, coach Mark Boucher, titles: 2024. The compiled squad has 22 names. Cited fees tied to this side: Fazalhaq Farooqi, Muhammad Waseem. Home city in the name is Dubai, but the ten games are assigned by the fixture list, not by a private ground.

Romario Shepherd is listed as a all-rounder from West Indies (Right-hand bat, right-arm fast-medium). No auction price is listed for this player because we could not verify one in the reports we checked. On the MI Emirates list, this is a depth-chart fact, not a confirmed Match 1 place.

Sherfane Rutherford is listed as a batter from West Indies (Left-hand bat). No auction price is listed for this player because we could not verify one in the reports we checked. On the MI Emirates list, this is a depth-chart fact, not a confirmed Match 1 place.

Muhammad Waseem is listed as a batter from United Arab Emirates (Right-hand bat). The reported fee was USD 210,000 to MI Emirates, via right to match. On the MI Emirates list, this is a depth-chart fact, not a confirmed Match 1 place.

Match 1 on Saturday 21 November 2026 is Desert Vipers versus MI Emirates in Dubai at 6:30 pm GST. Match 5 on Tuesday 24 November 2026 is Gulf Giants versus MI Emirates in Dubai at 6:30 pm GST. Match 7 on Thursday 26 November 2026 is Abu Dhabi Knight Riders versus MI Emirates in Abu Dhabi at 6:30 pm GST. Match 9 on Saturday 28 November 2026 is MI Emirates versus Desert Vipers in Abu Dhabi at 2:00 pm GST. Match 13 on Monday 30 November 2026 is MI Emirates versus Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in Abu Dhabi at 6:30 pm GST. Match 16 on Wednesday 2 December 2026 is Dubai Capitals versus MI Emirates in Dubai at 6:30 pm GST. Match 20 on Sunday 6 December 2026 is MI Emirates versus Sharjah Warriorz in Abu Dhabi at 2:00 pm GST. Match 22 on Monday 7 December 2026 is MI Emirates versus Gulf Giants in Abu Dhabi at 6:30 pm GST. Match 26 on Friday 11 December 2026 is Sharjah Warriorz versus MI Emirates in Sharjah at 6:30 pm GST. Match 28 on Sunday 13 December 2026 is MI Emirates versus Dubai Capitals in Abu Dhabi at 2:00 pm GST.

MI Emirates ILT20 Season 5 will be clearer after the first three games than it is today. The MI Emirates ILT20 Season 5 squad can still change if a replacement is announced. Until then this preview cites the list, the captain, and the finals record, and it stops. Checked 30 October 2026.

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