The recently concluded DP World ILT20 Season 4 marked a milestone for the league’s regional development, with players from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia earning places across all six franchises. Each team selected at least one player from the two Associate nations, offering these emerging cricketers a rare opportunity to share dressing rooms and training grounds with some of the world’s top T20 players.
Season 4 culminated on 4 January, with the Desert Vipers defeating MI Emirates to claim their maiden ILT20 title. But for players from Kuwait, the tournament represented far more than just the scoreboard — it was a career-shaping experience.
Kuwait captain Mohamed Aslam on mentorship from Southee and Raza
Mohamed Aslam, captain of the Kuwait national team and player for Sharjah Warriorz, emphasized the value of learning from senior international players:
“It’s a great opportunity for me to represent Sharjah Warriorz in the DP World ILT20. As captain of the Kuwait national team, I’m sharing the dressing room with leaders like Tim Southee and Sikandar Raza. I’ve learned a lot just by asking questions. As an Associate Nation player, this kind of experience is invaluable. I hope to apply everything I’ve learned back in Kuwait.”
Mohammed Shafeeq makes history with MI Emirates
Mohammed Shafeeq became the first player from Kuwait or Saudi Arabia to feature in an ILT20 match, turning out for MI Emirates against Dubai Capitals. Reflecting on the milestone, he said:
“The support from the coaching staff has been amazing. Playing alongside Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran, and Jonny Bairstow is a very big moment for me. They consider us for every match, which means a lot. The technical input we receive will help us in the future.”
Insights and development across franchises
Anudeep Chenthamara of the Dubai Capitals thanked the Kuwait Cricket Board and the league:
“This opportunity is a big one for me and for Kuwait cricket. We’ve worked with experienced players and coaches. I’ve refined the basics of my game — for example, changing the base of my run-up.”
Meet Bhavsar, a veteran of 73 T20Is for Kuwait, shared his experience with Gulf Giants:
“Facing someone like Tabraiz Shamsi in the nets has been a big challenge. Sharing the dressing room with global stars is helping me grow as a cricketer. I’ll take everything I’ve learned back to the Kuwait team.”
With the Desert Vipers, Bilal Tahir spoke about the impact of working with elite coaching staff:
“Every day is a learning opportunity. Just the other day in the nets, Fakhar Zaman gave me advice on how to improve certain aspects of my game. This kind of teaching environment really helps us Associate players improve.”
Adnan Idrees, playing for the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, shared similar sentiments:
“Learning from legends like Andre Russell, Jason Holder, Phil Salt and Liam Livingstone is a blessing. They’re generous with tips and support. I feel blessed to be part of the ILT20 and hope more players from Associate nations get these opportunities.”
The inclusion of players from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia in ILT20 Season 4 has added a new dimension to the league — both in terms of regional development and global inclusivity. For players from Associate nations, this season has been more than a tournament — it’s been a cricketing education.
