The World Championship of Legends 2026 reaches its business end on Friday as Semi-final 1 pits the tournament’s standout side, South Africa Champions, against England Champions at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The defending champions have been flawless so far — five wins from five league games — but England pushed them closer than anyone else just three days ago, losing by a mere 9 runs. In a knockout game, that recent memory could matter.
South Africa, led by AB de Villiers, have combined brutal batting with canny bowling all tournament. England, meanwhile, have been the entertainers — capable of brilliance, as Moeen Ali’s astonishing unbeaten 94 against Australia showed, but also prone to stumbling at key moments. The winners will face the victors of the Australia vs West Indies semi-final in Sunday’s final.
Match Details: Date, Time and Venue
- Match: South Africa Champions vs England Champions, WCL 2026 Semi-final 1
- Date: Friday, 16 October 2026
- Time: 3:30 PM UAE local (5:00 PM IST / 2:30 PM Riyadh / 12:30 GMT)
- Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
- Tournament: World Championship of Legends 2026 (Season 3) — semi-final 1st vs 4th
South Africa Champions Squad and Probable Playing XI
South Africa Champions squad: AB de Villiers (c), Faf du Plessis, Richard Levi, Colin Ingram, Morne van Wyk (wk), Sarel Erwee, Aaron Phangiso, Wayne Parnell, Marchant de Lange, Imran Tahir, Robbie Frylinck, Jean-Paul Duminy, Albie Morkel, Dane Vilas, Hardus Viljoen, Duanne Olivier.
The Proteas legends have been the tournament’s gold standard. Jean-Paul Duminy leads the run charts with 258 runs in four innings at an average of 129 and a strike rate of 174.32, while AB de Villiers has 237 runs including a jaw-dropping 111 off just 40 balls against Australia Champions. Faf du Plessis and Richard Levi provide firepower at the top, and Imran Tahir’s leg-spin remains a middle-overs weapon.
South Africa Champions probable XI: AB de Villiers (c), Faf du Plessis, Richard Levi, JP Duminy, Colin Ingram, Morne van Wyk (wk), Albie Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Imran Tahir, Hardus Viljoen, Duanne Olivier.
England Champions Squad and Probable Playing XI
England Champions squad: Ravi Bopara (c), Dawid Malan, Jonathan Trott, Samit Patel, Toby Roland-Jones, Phil Mustard (wk), Liam Plunkett, Monty Panesar, Ajmal Shahzad, Ryan Sidebottom, Usman Afzaal, Jason Roy, Joe Denly, Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Tim Ambrose, Stuart Meaker.
England’s campaign has been a rollercoaster, but they remain dangerous. Moeen Ali’s unbeaten 94 off 44 balls with 10 sixes against Australia was one of the knocks of the tournament, and with the ball Ravi Bopara (2 for 28 in that game) has been their most reliable bowler. Jason Roy, Dawid Malan and Samit Patel must fire if England are to upset the favourites.
England Champions probable XI: Jason Roy, Dawid Malan, Ravi Bopara (c), Moeen Ali, Samit Patel, Jonathan Trott, Phil Mustard (wk), Liam Plunkett, Ajmal Shahzad, Ryan Sidebottom, Monty Panesar.
Head-to-Head Record
The sides met just three days ago in the league stage on 13 October — and it was a thriller. South Africa Champions won by 9 runs, posting 204 for 5 before restricting England to 195 for 7. England will take heart from how close they ran the defending champions, while South Africa will remind themselves that they held their nerve when it mattered. There is no deeper WCL head-to-head history beyond this season, which makes the rematch all the more fascinating.
Pitch and Weather Report
The Sharjah Cricket Stadium has been a batting paradise all tournament, with relatively short boundaries and true bounce rewarding aggressive strokeplay — the England vs Australia game on 14 October produced a combined 420 runs. The team winning the toss has generally preferred to bowl first to exploit the dew that settles in later in the evening, and that trend is likely to continue in the semi-final.
Weather-wise, expect hot and humid conditions around 31°C with the possibility of some cloud cover. Rain is not expected to be a major threat, though the humidity will test the veteran legs in the field.
Where to Watch: Live Streaming and TV Telecast
- India (TV): Star Sports Network
- India (live streaming): FanCode
- USA & Canada: Willow TV
- Australia: Fox Sports / Kayo Sports
- South Africa: SuperSport
- UAE & MENA: STARZ Play
Full broadcast details for every region are listed in this WCL 2026 schedule and telecast guide.
FAQs
When is the South Africa vs England WCL 2026 semi-final?
Semi-final 1 will be played on Friday, 16 October 2026 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, starting at 3:30 PM UAE time (5:00 PM IST).
Who are the favourites for SA vs ENG semi-final?
South Africa Champions are clear favourites — they are the defending champions and won all five league games, including a 9-run win over England on 13 October. But England pushed them close in that game and have match-winners like Moeen Ali.
Where can I watch WCL 2026 semi-final 1 live in India?
The match will be telecast on the Star Sports Network in India, with live streaming on FanCode.
When is the WCL 2026 final?
The final is scheduled for Sunday, 18 October 2026 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, starting at 7:30 PM UAE time (9:00 PM IST).
Summary
Semi-final 1 is a classic clash between the tournament’s most complete side and its most unpredictable one. South Africa Champions have barely put a foot wrong — Duminy and de Villiers have been unstoppable, and their bowling has defended everything. England, though, know they were 9 runs away from beating these same opponents three days ago, and in Moeen Ali they have a player who can single-handedly turn a knockout game. Expect another high-scoring Sharjah thriller, with the toss and the dew likely to play a big role in deciding who reaches Sunday’s final. Read our recaps of the final league games: South Africa Champions’ 88-run win over Bangladesh Champions and Australia Champions’ 16-run win over England Champions in the Sharjah run-fest. Also read our Australia vs West Indies Champions WCL 2026 Semi-final 2 preview.
Source: WCL 2026 schedule and telecast guide
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