Kuwait's ILT20 connection bears fruit on the road to the T20 World Cup

Kuwait’s success in the Sub-Regional Asia A Qualifier for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028 in Malaysia has highlighted the role played by the ILT20 in preparing players from the country for international cricket.

Several members of Kuwait’s qualifying team have featured in the ILT20, where they have trained and played alongside international stars. They believe the experience has helped them improve their game and prepare for the international stage.

Bilal Tahir, who scored 16 off seven balls against Bahrain and remained unbeaten on 32 off 16 balls against Qatar during the qualifier, said his time with the Desert Vipers helped him understand what it takes to be part of a title-winning team.

“Winning the title with the Desert Vipers showed me what a championship environment looks like. Seeing how players like Sam Curran, Fakhar Zaman and Lockie Ferguson train and prepare every day raised my own standards, and I have tried to hold myself to that level ever since. I hope many more players from Kuwait get the chance to experience the ILT20, because it can transform a cricketer’s career.”

Mohamed Shafeeq, who became the first Kuwait player to feature in a ILT20 match when he represented MI Emirates last season, said sharing a dressing room with experienced international players helped him understand the tactical side of T20 cricket.

“Walking out for MI Emirates for the first time was a moment I will never forget, it was special for me and for cricket in Kuwait. Sharing a dressing room with players like Kieron Pollard and Shakib Al Hasan, you learn how much thought goes into every situation in a T20 game, and that changes the way you approach your own cricket.

I have tried to bring that understanding back to the Kuwait team and share what I have learned. I am really looking forward to returning to MI Emirates for Season 5 and continuing to learn.”

Kuwait players also featured among the leading wicket-takers in the qualifier. Mohamed Aslam finished second on the list with 15 wickets in six innings, while Adnan Idrees took 12 wickets in six innings to finish third. Both played in Season 4 of the ILT20, with Idrees also named Player of the Tournament.

Kuwait’s representation in the league will continue in Season 5, with Ravija Sandaruwan set to join Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. Sandaruwan finished as the qualifier’s third-highest run-scorer, making 176 runs in six innings.

“I am very excited to be joining the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders for ILT20 Season 5. I have seen how much my teammates grew from their time in the league last season, and I want to make the most of the same opportunity.

The Qualifier gave me a lot of confidence with the bat, and I want to carry that form into the season. Playing alongside and against world-class cricketers is the best way to test yourself, and I hope to learn as much as I can and bring that experience back to the Kuwait team.”

Five other Kuwait players will also feature in Season 5. Bilal Tahir will return to the Desert Vipers, Meet Bhavsar to the Gulf Giants, Mohamed Shafeeq to MI Emirates and Anudeep Chenthamara to Dubai Capitals. Arunraj Selvaraj will join the Sharjah Warriorz.

ILT20 Season 5 Squads

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders

Auction Signings: Alishan Sharafu, Amshi De Silva, Muhammad Rohid, Moeen Ali, Arab Gul, Usman Tariq, Gulbadin Naib, Ibrar Ahmed, Andre Fletcher, Ajay Kumar, Colin Munro, Michael Pepper, Qais Ahmad, Jakeem Pollard, Abdul Mannan Ali, Ravija Sandaruwan, Abdullah Tarakhail, Lorcan Tucker

Pre-Auction Signings: Finn Allen, Jason Holder, Matthew Tromp, Sunil Narine

Desert Vipers

Auction Signings: David Payne, Fakhar Zaman, Naseem Shah, Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Vriitya Aravind, Aneurin Donald, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Joe Clarke, Nangeyalia Kharote, Sanjay Pahal, Harry Tector, Ishtiaq Ahmed, Nilansh Keswani, Saleem Safi, Bilal Tahir, Wali Muhammad

Pre-Auction Signings: Andries Gous, Dan Lawrence, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, Shimron Hetmyer

Dubai Capitals

Auction Signings: Faf du Plessis, Max Holden, Dasun Shanaka, Aayan Khan, Hassan Khan, Phil Salt, Sediqullah Atal, Mark Adair, Karim Janat, Luke Wood, Tom Moores, Haider Ali, Zuhaib Zubair, Darwish Rasooli, Muhammad Arfan, Matt Potts, Usman Najeeb, Anudeep Chenthamara, Masood Ul Rahman Gurbaz

Pre-Auction Signings: Marcus Stoinis, Mustafizur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Rovman Powell

Gulf Giants

Auction Signings: Liam Livingstone, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, David Wiese, Ibrahim Zadran, Tabraiz Shamsi, Curtis Campher, Dhruv Parashar, Matiullah Khan, Haider Razzaq, Imran Mir, Imtiaz Khan, Meet Bhavsar, Shubham Ranjane, Wahidullah Zadran, Awais Ahmed, Sagar Kalyan, Alick Athanaze

Pre-Auction Signings: Azmatullah Omarzai, Blessing Muzarabani, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen

MI Emirates

Auction Signings: Fazalhaq Farooqi, Muhammad Waseem, Chris Jordan, Allah Ghazanfar, Lizaad Williams, James Coles, Jonny Bairstow, Kusal Perera, Jordan Thompson, Zahoor Khan, Wasim Akram, Zain Ul Abidin, Mohamed Shafeeq, Asa Tribe, Raizal Nadir Nather Shah, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Faridoon Dawoodzai, Ross Adair

Pre-Auction Signings: Nicholas Pooran, Rashid Khan, Romario Shepherd, Sherfane Rutherford

Sharjah Warriorz

Auction Signings: Richard Gleeson, Mohammad Nabi, Paul Walter, Adil Rashid, Brandon McMullen, Tom Banton, Craig Overton, George Linde, Ali Aamer Naseer, Fareed Malik, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Logan van Beek, Junaid Siddique, Tanish Suri, Nabeel Aziz, George Dockrell, Mohammad Saqib, Arunraj Selvaraj, James Rew

Pre-Auction Signings: Adam Milne, James Vince, Waqar Salamkheil, Sikandar Raza