WCL 2026: South Africa Champions Win All 5, Face England Next
Published on October 14, 2026
Summary Overview: South Africa Champions won all five league games at WCL 2026, beating Bangladesh by 88 runs to finish top. They face England Champions in the semi-final on October 16.
Perfect League Stage: AB de Villiers' South Africa Champions Roll On Towards a Second Title
How did South Africa Champions finish?
Five wins from five, top of the table with 10 points and a net run rate of +2.589. They finished it off by beating Bangladesh Champions by 88 runs on October 14.
Who stood out?
Captain AB de Villiers hit a 37-ball century against Australia, and JP Duminy and Richard Levi have also made big scores.
Who do they play next?
England Champions in Semi-Final 1 on Friday, October 16 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium (3:30 PM UAE, 5:00 PM IST, 7:30 AM ET).
When is the final?
Sunday, October 18, in Sharjah, at 7:30 PM UAE time (9:00 PM IST, 11:30 AM ET).
The Story: The Defending Champions Show No Sign of Slowing Down
South Africa Champions won the 2025 World Championship of Legends, beating Pakistan Champions by nine wickets in the final. A year later, they have been even better.
For readers new to the event: the World Championship of Legends (WCL) is a T20 tournament for retired international players, who play as national teams such as "South Africa Champions" and "India Champions". This is its third season, and the first held in the UAE. In T20 cricket, each team bats for up to 20 overs (an over is six legal deliveries).
The tournament became a six-team event after Pakistan Champions withdrew before playing a match. That left each side with five league games, and South Africa won every one of them.
Five Wins, Five Stories
vs West Indies Champions: Won by 97 Runs (Oct 4)
South Africa set the tone with 242 for 5. Richard Levi blasted 87 off 39 balls with eight sixes, and AB de Villiers added 70. Imran Tahir (3 for 24) and Aaron Phangiso (three wickets) bowled West Indies out for 145.
vs Australia Champions: Won by 8 Wickets (Oct 9)
Chasing 210, South Africa got there in just 15.4 overs. De Villiers was unstoppable, reaching his century in 37 balls and finishing on 111 not out with 11 sixes. Levi made 62 off 29.
vs India Champions: Won by 4 Wickets (Oct 10)
Robin Uthappa (77) and Stuart Binny (50) helped India to 196 for 8. JP Duminy led the chase with 66 off 34, and Colin Ingram made 40 off 24, as South Africa won with seven balls to spare.
vs England Champions: Won by 9 Runs (Oct 13)
This was the closest call. Duminy made 76 off 43, de Villiers 56 off 31 and Wayne Parnell 35 not out off 18 to post 204 for 5. England fought hard but finished on 195 for 7.
vs Bangladesh Champions: Won by 88 Runs (Oct 14)
South Africa signed off the league stage in style, making 210 for 3 and bowling Bangladesh out for 122 in 18.5 overs.
Final Standings
| Pos | Team | P | W | L | Pts | Status |
| 1 | South Africa Champions | 5 | 5 | 0 | 10 | Qualified (Q) |
| 2 | Australia Champions | 5 | 3 | 2 | 6 | — |
| 3 | West Indies Champions | 5 | 3 | 2 | 6 | — |
| 4 | England Champions | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | — |
| 5 | India Champions | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | — |
| 6 | Bangladesh Champions | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | — |
Australia and West Indies are separated by net run rate. India Champions, the 2024 winners, are out.
What's Next: Semi-Finals and Final
| Match | Date | Fixture | Venue | UAE (GST) | IST | ET |
| Semi-Final 1 | Fri, Oct 16 | South Africa Champions vs England Champions | Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah | 3:30 PM | 5:00 PM | 7:30 AM |
| Semi-Final 2 | Fri, Oct 16 | Australia Champions vs West Indies Champions | Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah | 7:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 11:30 AM |
| Final | Sun, Oct 18 | Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2 | Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah | 7:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 11:30 AM |
UAE time is Gulf Standard Time (GST, UTC+4). IST is India Standard Time (UTC+5:30). ET is US Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4). In Pakistan, Semi-Final 1 starts at 4:30 PM, and Semi-Final 2 and the final at 8:30 PM.
South Africa have already beaten England once, but that was their tightest game of the tournament, a nine-run win. England will take confidence from pushing them close.
Stat Corner
| StatFigure | |
| Record | 5 wins, 0 losses |
| Points | 10 |
| Net run rate | +2.589 |
| Biggest win | 97 runs vs West Indies Champions |
| Closest win | 9 runs vs England Champions |
| Fastest century | AB de Villiers, 37 balls vs Australia Champions |
| Totals of 200 or more | 3 (242/5, 204/5, 210/3) |
South Africa's Standout Innings
| Batter | Score | Opponent |
| AB de Villiers | 111* (40 balls) | Australia Champions |
| Richard Levi | 87 (39 balls) | West Indies Champions |
| JP Duminy | 76 (43 balls) | England Champions |
| AB de Villiers | 70 | West Indies Champions |
| JP Duminy | 66 (34 balls) | India Champions |
| Richard Levi | 62 (29 balls) | Australia Champions |
* not out
Players to Watch in the Knockouts
AB de Villiers (c): At 42, he is still the most dangerous batter in the tournament, as his 37-ball century showed.
JP Duminy: Two big fifties, including the match-winning 66 against India.
Richard Levi: A fearless opener who can win a game inside the powerplay.
Imran Tahir: The leg-spinner still takes wickets in the middle overs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are South Africa Champions unbeaten in WCL 2026?
Yes. They won all five league matches and finished top of the table with 10 points.
Who are the WCL 2026 semi-finalists?
South Africa Champions, Australia Champions, West Indies Champions and England Champions.
Who do South Africa Champions play in the semi-final?
England Champions, on Friday, October 16, in Sharjah at 3:30 PM UAE time (5:00 PM IST).
When is the WCL 2026 final?
Sunday, October 18, 2026, at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, at 7:30 PM UAE time (9:00 PM IST, 11:30 AM ET).
Who won WCL 2025?
South Africa Champions, who beat Pakistan Champions by nine wickets in the final.
Related Guides and Series Coverage
📋 World Championship of Legends 2026: Preview, Schedule
📋 Pakistan Champions Pull Out of WCL 2026: Why It Happened and What It Means
📋 World Championship of Legends 2026 Standings and Points Table
📋 World Championship of Legends 2026 Semi-Finals Preview