Twelve players from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia will be part of season four of the ILT20. Here's why.
The first-ever auction in the competition's history took place on October 1: among the biggest signings were Andre Fletcher (MI Emirates, USD 260,000), Scott Currie (Dubai Capitals, USD 250,000) and Liam Dawson (Gulf Giants, USD 170,000). India great R Ashwin did not secure a contract, reportedly pulling his name out of the auction after going unsold in the initial rounds.
Also read: ILT20 2025/26 – Full squads for each team after the auction
Alongside them, a total of 12 players from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia also earned contracts, getting their unique sets at the auction.
Kuwait, Saudi Arabia players to feature in ILT20
Ahead of the auction, the league announced that each of the six teams in the competition could sign a minimum of 19 and maximum of 21 players in their squad, split further as:
- Minimum 11 players from ICC Full Member nations
- Minimum 4 players from the UAE
- Minimum 1 player from Kuwait
- Minimum 1 player from Saudi Arabia
- Minimum 2 players from other ICC Associate nations
With this squad composition, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia will now play with international stars from around the world. "This collaboration marks a monumental step forward for cricket’s growth in our region, highlighted by six Kuwait-based players being auctioned in Season 4," Kuwait Cricket president Haider Farman said last week.
In Riyadh this week, the ILT20 and the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation also spoke about the partnership. “Our partnership with the DP World ILT20 marks an important step in the development of cricket in Saudi Arabia and supports the ambitions of Vision 2030. Our mission is to build cricket as a national asset that enhances quality of life, empowers youth, and contributes to the Kingdom’s non-oil GDP.
"We are not only developing cricket — we are building a sustainable industry that attracts investment and strengthens our global collaboration,” said HRH Prince Saud Bin Mishal Al-Saud, chairman of the association.
Full list of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia players at ILT20 2025/26
| Name | Country | Team | Price (USD) |
| Bilal Tahir | Kuwait | Desert Vipers | 10,000 |
| Mohamed Aslam | Kuwait | Sharjah Warriors | 14,000 |
| Mohamed Shafeeq | Kuwait | MI Emirates | 10,000 |
| Anudeep Chenthamara | Kuwait | Dubai Capitals | 10,000 |
| Meet Bhavsar | Kuwait | Gulf Giants | 14,000 |
| Adnan Idrees | Kuwait | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | 10,000 |
| Abdul Salam Khan | Saudi Arabia | Sharjah Warriors | 10,000 |
| Usman Najeeb | Saudi Arabia | Dubai Capitals | 10,000 |
| Ishtiaq Ahmed | Saudi Arabia | Gulf Giants | 16,000 |
| Zain ul Abidin | Saudi Arabia | MI Emirates | 10,000 |
| Manan Ali | Saudi Arabia | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | 10,000 |
| Faisal Khan | Saudi Arabia | Desert Vipers | 10,000 |
Image credit: ILT20.ae
