Gulf Giants Build Strong ILT20 Squad at Season 4 Auction

Dubai, UAE – The Gulf Giants, owned by Adani Sportsline and inaugural champions of the DP World International League T20 (ILT20), are poised for a strong title defense after a “power-packed” performance at the league’s first-ever player auction. Held on 02 October 2025 at the Four Seasons Hotel, Jumeirah Beach, the Giants’ strategic buys underscored a clear intent to blend international star power with promising emerging talent.

English all-rounder Liam Dawson emerged as the Gulf Giants’ most expensive acquisition, commanding a hefty USD 170,000. The team’s focus on tactical depth was also evident with the signings of Haider Razzaq (USD 50,000) and Asif Khan (USD 26,000).

The franchise secured a diverse list of players, including the likes of spinners Tabraiz Shamsi (USD 40,000) and Zuhaib Zubair (USD 10,000), quicks Fred Klaassen (USD 40,000), Chris Wood (USD 40,000), and Ramon Simmonds (USD 40,000), alongside batsmen Sean Dickson (USD 10,000) and wicket-keepers Lorcan Tucker (USD 10,000) and Tom Moores (USD 40,000). UAE talents Meet Bhavsar (USD 14,000) and Ishtiaq Ahmad (USD 16,000) further bolstered the squad.

Trott’s Vision: Balance and Depth

Under the leadership of newly appointed Head Coach Jonathan Trott, the Gulf Giants spent a total of USD 1,471,000 to construct a well-rounded roster. Trott hailed the outcome, stating, “It’s been a fantastic auction for us, and I’m very pleased with the squad we’ve put together. We’ve struck the right balance between experience and emerging talent, and that gives us great depth heading into the season.”

The auction complemented a robust core of retained and directly signed players. The Giants had already confirmed the return of captain James Vince (England), Aayan Afzal Khan (UAE), Blessing Muzarabani (Zimbabwe), Gerhard Erasmus (Namibia), and Mark Adair (Ireland). These retentions were coupled with the pre-auction acquisitions of powerhouse England all-rounder Moeen Ali and Afghanistan’s dynamic duo, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Azmatullah Omarzai, significantly strengthening both batting firepower and all-round balance.

Sanjay Adesara, Chief Business Officer, Adani Sportsline, emphasised the significance of the new auction system. “Our aim was to use this new system to build a well-rounded squad to put in their best effort to achieve our objectvies,” Adesara noted. “We are looking forward to an exciting season of the UAE ILT20.”

Tournament Details

The DP World ILT20 Season 4 is scheduled to kick off on 2 December 2025 (UAE National Day) and will conclude on 4 January 2026. The tournament will feature six teams competing in 34 matches across the UAE.

Gulf Giants Season 4 Squad Snapshot