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Cricket Whites vs Coloured Kits: A UAE Team’s Guide
Cricket in the UAE spans everything from school matches to weekend leagues, and the format you play often decides what you wear. Here is how to choose between traditional whites and coloured kit — and how to get either made well.
See our full range of custom cricket kits for men’s, women’s modest and hijab-friendly fits. This guide is for club managers, school PE heads and league organisers who need a cricket kit UAE players can wear through long sessions in the field.
What this guide covers
- Whites and coloured kit compared
- When to choose whites
- When to choose coloured kit
- Fabric and UAE heat
- Sponsor and logo placement basics
- Building a full squad set
- Start your kit with us
- Frequently asked questions
Whites and coloured kit compared
The choice starts with the ball. A red ball is easy to follow against white clothing, while a white ball is not, which is why limited-overs cricket played with a white ball uses coloured kit. The table sets out the practical differences.
| Factor | Whites | Coloured kit |
|---|---|---|
| Format played | Longer-format, declaration and traditional fixtures, usually with a red ball | Limited-overs and league cricket, usually with a white ball |
| Visibility | Players look alike from a distance; the cap and crest carry the identity | Teams are easy to tell apart; numbers and names identify individual players |
| Fabric | White or cream knit; opacity and resistance to showing marks matter most | Polyester knits suited to sublimation, often with mesh panels |
| Branding space | Restrained: crest, a small sponsor logo, cap badge | Extensive: team name, numbers, names, several sponsor positions, full-colour design |
| Care and laundering | Shows grass, dust and ball marks; needs prompt, separate washing | Hides marks better; wash inside out to protect the design |
| Cost drivers | Number of embroidery positions, trouser construction, sweaters or slipovers | Number of items, individual names and numbers, extra fits and colourways |
Many UAE clubs play both formats in one season and end up needing both kits. If that is likely, design them together so the crest, cap and training wear are shared.
When to choose whites
Whites suit longer-format and traditional fixtures. The priority is a clean, breathable fabric that stays comfortable under the sun and holds its shape through long sessions.
What a whites kit includes
- Shirt in short or long sleeve, with the crest on the chest.
- Trousers with an elasticated or drawcord waist.
- Cap or wide-brim sun hat in the club colour.
- Optional sleeveless slipover or sweater for cooler winter evenings.
What to check
Hold the trouser fabric up to the light before approving it. Thin white fabric can be see-through, particularly once it is damp, and that is the most common complaint about whites. Also decide whether your team wears white or cream, because the two do not sit well side by side in a team photograph.
When to choose coloured kit
Limited-overs and league cricket usually calls for coloured kit with team names, numbers and sponsor logos. Sublimation lets you run bold club colours and gradients, because the design is dyed into the fabric rather than laid on top of it.
What a coloured kit includes
- Sublimated shirt with team name, player number and optional player name.
- Matching trousers, usually with a side panel or stripe in the team colours.
- Cap or sun hat with the crest.
- Optional training top, shorts and a warm-up jacket.
What to check
Leagues often have their own rules on clothing colours, number positions and sponsor logos, and some require each team to register its colours. Check your own league or federation’s current regulations before the design is approved. Many of the layout principles are the same as for football, and our guide to designing a custom football kit covers numbering and naming conventions in more detail.
Fabric and UAE heat
Cricket asks more of a fabric than most team sports, because fielders stand in direct sun for hours rather than minutes. Even in the cooler months of the UAE season, a daytime match means long exposure to sun, dust and humidity.
Whichever kit you choose, breathable quick-dry fabric matters most in UAE heat. We match fabric to your format and to when you play.
- Colour: pale colours absorb less heat from the sun than dark ones. For daytime coloured kit, consider a lighter base with darker panels rather than a solid dark shirt.
- Sleeves: long sleeves give more sun cover and suit modest fits; short sleeves allow more airflow. Offer both in the same design.
- Panels: mesh at the sides and underarms adds ventilation without changing the look of the shirt.
- Weight: a lighter knit is cooler, but white trousers still need enough substance to stay opaque. Our article on fabric weight (GSM) explains how weight is measured.
- Headwear: a wide-brim hat shades the neck and ears in a way a cap does not.
If sun protection is a priority for a school or junior programme, ask any supplier to show test evidence for the fabric rather than relying on a description. Our fabric guidance is advice, not a performance guarantee. Final specification will be confirmed during quotation.
Sponsor and logo placement basics
Good placement keeps every logo readable and away from seams, plackets and mesh panels.
- Chest: club crest on the left; main sponsor on the right or across the centre.
- Back: player name above the number on coloured kit; whites are normally left plain.
- Sleeves: secondary sponsors or a league badge where rules allow.
- Trousers: a small crest or sponsor logo on the upper leg.
- Cap or hat: crest on the front, usually embroidered.
On coloured kit, logos are normally part of the sublimated design. On whites, the crest can be embroidered or printed. Dense embroidery can pull on a lightweight knit, so keep embroidered crests compact or choose print for larger marks. Our guide to embroidery versus printing compares the methods.
Ask each sponsor for vector artwork and a single-colour version of the logo, and confirm in writing that you may use it. If a sponsorship may change during the season, tell us at the design stage so later batches are easy to update.
Building a full squad set
Most teams order shirts, trousers or shorts, and a cap or sun hat, plus optional sweaters and training tops. The cricket kits category shows the item types available. We store your artwork and sizes, so replacing a torn shirt or kitting out a new player follows the same approved design.
Cricket squads are often larger and more varied in age and build than other teams, with juniors, seniors and veterans sharing one design. Size every player on a real garment where you can. Teams and students can try a size set at our Jebel Ali showroom.
Mustang recommendation: if you play both formats, approve whites and coloured kit as one programme with a shared crest, cap and training top. For daytime league cricket, choose a light base colour, offer long and short sleeves, and keep sponsor logos in positions that can be updated without redesigning the shirt.
Buyer checklist
- Formats and ball colours your team plays this season.
- League or federation clothing rules checked.
- White or cream decided; trouser opacity checked.
- Base colour chosen with daytime heat in mind.
- Fits confirmed: men’s, women’s modest, hijab-friendly.
- Sponsor artwork and permissions collected.
- Squad sized, with spares and new-player plan agreed.
Start your kit with us
Every order begins with a free design mock-up and a free sample against your confirmed order, and your sizes and artwork are stored for repeat orders. Teams and students can try sizes in person at our Jebel Ali showroom before committing. Delivery timelines are confirmed during quotation.
Request a quote or request a sample to get started, or browse the wider sports uniforms range for your club’s other teams.
Frequently asked questions
Does our team need both whites and coloured kit?
Only if you play both formats. Teams that play limited-overs league cricket with a white ball need coloured kit; teams that also play longer-format or traditional fixtures usually add whites. Your league’s rules will confirm what is required.
Can coloured cricket kit carry several sponsor logos?
Yes. Sublimation prints the whole design at once, so several logos and colours can be included. The number and size of logos allowed is set by your league, so check its current regulations first.
How should cricket whites be washed?
Wash them separately from coloured items, deal with grass and ball marks promptly, and follow the care label. Our fabric care guide covers general laundering advice for team and staff garments.
Are modest and hijab-friendly cricket kits available?
Yes. Cricket kits are available in men’s, women’s modest and hijab-friendly fits, made in the same colours and design so the team looks consistent.
Can we see the design and a sample first?
Yes. We prepare a free design mock-up, and a free sample is provided against a confirmed order (LPO) so you can check fabric, colour and print before full production.