The 2026 Global Super League (GSL) concluded with Guyana Amazon Warriors successfully defending their title, defeating San Francisco Unicorns in the final at Providence Stadium. The home side lifted the trophy for the second successive year.
This was the third edition of the tournament. The inaugural edition in 2024 was won by Bangladesh Premier League franchise Rangpur Riders.
This season five teams representing five major T20 leagues were Guyana Amazon Warriors (Caribbean Premier League), Lahore Qalandars (Pakistan Super League), Perth Scorchers (Big Bash League), San Francisco Unicorns (Major League Cricket) and Desert Vipers (ILT20).
Guyana Amazon Warriors finished top of the league stage with three wins from four matches to qualify directly for the final. San Francisco Unicorns also won three of their four league games but finished second on net run rate before beating Desert Vipers, who claimed two wins, in the qualifier to reach the final.
Lahore Qalandars also recorded two back to back league-stage victories but missed out on the playoffs on net run rate, while Perth Scorchers finished bottom of the table with one win from four matches.
Unlike traditional domestic competitions, the GSL is an invitational tournament. Teams are selected from established franchise leagues around the world rather than being limited to domestic champions. This allows the organisers to bring together some of the most recognisable franchises in world cricket.
Previous participants in first two seasons included Lahore Qalandars (Pakistan Super League 2024), Victoria (Big Bash League 2024), Hampshire (England 2024), Rangpur Riders (Bangladesh Premier League 2024, 2025), Dubai Capital (ILT20 2025), Hobart Hurricanes (Big Bash 2025). Central Districts (New Zealand 2025).
The tournament is played over around 11 days at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence. Five invited teams compete in a single round-robin league stage. The side that finishes top of the table qualifies directly for the final, while the second- and third-placed teams meet in a playoff for the remaining place in the title match.
The competing franchises do not field the same squads they use in their respective domestic leagues. Instead, they assemble revised squads, recruiting players from outside their original line-ups specifically for the GSL.
Alongside the prize money, each participating franchise receives US$500,000 to help cover the costs of assembling its squad and travelling to Guyana, reducing the financial burden of taking part in the tournament.
Beyond the trophy, GSL is steadily establishing itself on the global cricket calendar. It offers fans rare match-ups between franchises from different leagues, provides players with the opportunity to compete against international opposition and gives Guyana a platform to showcase itself to a global audience.
Guyana is using cricket as a gateway to introduce the country to the world. Fuelled by an oil boom that began after major offshore discoveries by US-based ExxonMobil nearly a decade ago, the country's economy has grown rapidly. The government is investing in cricket infrastructure and tournaments such as the GSL to attract visitors, promote sports tourism and position Guyana as a destination for major international sporting events.
This was the third edition of the tournament. The inaugural edition in 2024 was won by Bangladesh Premier League franchise Rangpur Riders.
This season five teams representing five major T20 leagues were Guyana Amazon Warriors (Caribbean Premier League), Lahore Qalandars (Pakistan Super League), Perth Scorchers (Big Bash League), San Francisco Unicorns (Major League Cricket) and Desert Vipers (ILT20).
Guyana Amazon Warriors finished top of the league stage with three wins from four matches to qualify directly for the final. San Francisco Unicorns also won three of their four league games but finished second on net run rate before beating Desert Vipers, who claimed two wins, in the qualifier to reach the final.
Lahore Qalandars also recorded two back to back league-stage victories but missed out on the playoffs on net run rate, while Perth Scorchers finished bottom of the table with one win from four matches.
Unlike traditional domestic competitions, the GSL is an invitational tournament. Teams are selected from established franchise leagues around the world rather than being limited to domestic champions. This allows the organisers to bring together some of the most recognisable franchises in world cricket.
Previous participants in first two seasons included Lahore Qalandars (Pakistan Super League 2024), Victoria (Big Bash League 2024), Hampshire (England 2024), Rangpur Riders (Bangladesh Premier League 2024, 2025), Dubai Capital (ILT20 2025), Hobart Hurricanes (Big Bash 2025). Central Districts (New Zealand 2025).
The tournament is played over around 11 days at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence. Five invited teams compete in a single round-robin league stage. The side that finishes top of the table qualifies directly for the final, while the second- and third-placed teams meet in a playoff for the remaining place in the title match.
The competing franchises do not field the same squads they use in their respective domestic leagues. Instead, they assemble revised squads, recruiting players from outside their original line-ups specifically for the GSL.
Alongside the prize money, each participating franchise receives US$500,000 to help cover the costs of assembling its squad and travelling to Guyana, reducing the financial burden of taking part in the tournament.
Beyond the trophy, GSL is steadily establishing itself on the global cricket calendar. It offers fans rare match-ups between franchises from different leagues, provides players with the opportunity to compete against international opposition and gives Guyana a platform to showcase itself to a global audience.
Guyana is using cricket as a gateway to introduce the country to the world. Fuelled by an oil boom that began after major offshore discoveries by US-based ExxonMobil nearly a decade ago, the country's economy has grown rapidly. The government is investing in cricket infrastructure and tournaments such as the GSL to attract visitors, promote sports tourism and position Guyana as a destination for major international sporting events.
