Dubai, 20 October 2026: The fourth edition of the DP World ILT20 Schools Cup is under way, with matches being played in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.
Forty-five teams are taking part this year. That includes 13 hardball sides in the girls’ competition, which is in only its second edition.
Finals at the ICC Academy
The tournament is for school 1st XI players. It started on 30 September and ends on 13 November 2026 at the ICC Academy in Dubai, where the finals will be part of the DP World ILT20 Junior Cricket Festival ahead of DP World ILT20 Season 5.
The Schools Cup is the UAE’s main national schools cricket competition. It is meant to get more young people playing and to help find the country’s next generation of players. ILT20 franchises also team up with participating schools to build links with students in their home cities.
Past winners
GEMS Modern School are the defending champions in both the boys’ and girls’ events. They also won the boys’ title in 2023, while Cambridge High School Abu Dhabi won it in 2024.
“A clear pathway”
Andrew Russell, DP World ILT20 Tournament Director of the Schools Cup, said the competition had become central to school cricket in the country.
“It gives young players competitive hardball cricket in some of the best facilities UAE has to offer, and that is exactly what they need to grow. Every season we see talented cricketers emerge from this tournament, and the continued growth of the girls’ competition is especially encouraging for the future of the game here,” he said.
“By linking schools directly with the DP World ILT20 and its franchises, we’re showing students that there is a clear pathway from the school to the professional stage and inspiring the next generation to take up the sport and stay in it.”
Fixtures and results for the boys’ section and girls’ section are available on CricClubs.