Gulf Giants announce a dynamic mix of star players and emerging talent for ILT20 Season 4, with Liam Dawson leading a strategic auction haul under new coach Jonathan Trott.
DUBAI: Former champions Gulf Giants have emerged from the DP World ILT20 Season 4 Auction with a strategically assembled squad led by newly appointed Head Coach Jonathan Trott. With a balanced blend of retained core players, marquee signings, and upcoming talent, the Adani Sportsline-owned franchise looks well-equipped for another title run.
Among the top buys, England’s Liam Dawson was picked up for USD 170,000, becoming the team’s highest-paid auction signing. Other notable picks included Haider Razzaq (USD 50,000), Asif Khan (USD 26,000), Tabraiz Shamsi, and Fred Klaassen (both at USD 40,000). The Giants also added depth with players like Chris Wood, Tom Moores, Ramon Simmonds, and Meet Bhavsar, reflecting a diversified approach across roles and nationalities.
The team retained a strong backbone featuring James Vince (captain, England), Aayan Afzal Khan (UAE), Gerhard Erasmus (Namibia), Mark Adair (Ireland), and Blessing Muzarabani (Zimbabwe). Pre-auction signings further strengthened the squad with power-packed names like Moeen Ali, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Azmatullah Omarzai.
Reflecting on the auction, Jonathan Trott said, “We’ve struck the right balance between experience and emerging talent, and that gives us great depth heading into the season.” His focus on youth development paired with seasoned campaigners sets the tone for a robust tournament campaign.
Sanjay Adesara, Chief Business Officer at Adani Sportsline, termed the auction “a landmark moment,” highlighting how the new auction format allowed franchises to align long-term strategy with talent acquisition. “Our aim was to build a well-rounded squad to put in their best effort to achieve our objectives,” he added.
The ILT20 Season 4 kicks off on 2 December 2025—UAE National Day—and runs through 4 January 2026, with six franchises competing across 34 matches held in the UAE.
