"VAN" (Sports Desk - 22.10.2026) :: The DP World ILT20’s partnership with the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation is already paying dividends on the international stage. Saudi Arabia won all five of their matches to finish as champions of the Sub-Regional Asia B Qualifier for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028 in Malaysia, the national side’s DP World ILT20 players looked back on their time in the league as valuable preparation.
Ishtiaq Ahmed, who represented the Gulf Giants last season and was named Player of the Match against Hong Kong for his 4 for 25, said: “Working with Shane Bond at the Gulf Giants changed the way I think about my bowling. He helped me understand how to plab for different batters and conditions, and those conversations stayed with me.
When you have bowled at world-class players in the nets at the DP World ILT20, you go into international matches with more belief. I am proud of the way the team played in Malaysia, and I am looking forward to joining the Desert Vipers for Season 5.”
Zain Ul Abidin, who represented MI Emirates last season, said: “Being part of the MI Emirates dressing room with players like Kieron Pollard and Shakib Al Hasan was a huge learning experience. Bowling to them in the nets and asking questions every day taught me a lot about executing under pressure.
We promised ourselves that we would bring those lessons back to Saudi Arabia and share them with the rest of the squad, and I believe that showed in Malaysia. I am grateful to return to MI Emirates for Season 5 and keep improving.”
Usman Najeeb, who was part of the Dubai Capitals squad last season and returns to the franchise for Season 5, said: “My time at the Dubai Capitals taught me how much work goes into performing at the highest level. Munaf Patel spent a lot of time with me on the basics of my bowling and my preparation, and bowling to players like Rovman Powell and Dasun Shanaka in the nets showed me where I needed to improve.”
Notably, two of the Qualifier’s top five wicket-takers were DP World ILT20 players: Ishtiaq Ahmed claimed seven wickets and Zain Ul Abidin six.
Saudi Arabia’s presence in the league will continue in DP World ILT20 Season 5, with six players set to feature. Ishtiaq Ahmed joins the Desert Vipers, while Abdul Mannan Ali, Usman Najeeb and Zain Ul Abidin return with the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Dubai Capitals and MI Emirates respectively. Imtiaz Khan and Mohammad Saqib join the Gulf Giants and Sharjah Warriorz.
Mohammad Saqib said: “I am very excited to be joining the Sharjah Warriorz for DP World ILT20 Season 5. I have seen how much my teammates have grown from their time in the league, and I want to make the most of the same opportunity.”
DP World ILT20 Season 5 will feature some of the game’s biggest stars, including Moeen Ali, Sunil Narine and Finn Allen (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Babar Azam, Shimron Hetmyer and Naseem Shah (Desert Vipers), Faf du Plessis, Marcus Stoinis and Mustafizur Rahman (Dubai Capitals), Heinrich Klaasen, Liam Livingstone and David Miller (Gulf Giants), Rashid Khan, Nicholas Pooran and Fazalhaq Farooqi (MI Emirates), and Mohammad Nabi, Sikandar Raza and Adil Rashid (Sharjah Warriorz).
Responses
Leave your comment