KEY POINTS
- New squad rules require each team to include at least one player from both Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
- Officials say the move supports regional cricket growth and aligns with Saudi Vision 2030.
ISLAMABAD: Season four of the International League T20 (ILT20) is set to bring a new flavour to franchise cricket, as twelve players from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have earned spots in the tournament following its first-ever player auction held on October 1.
The historic auction featured major signings, including Andre Fletcher (MI Emirates, USD 260,000), Scott Currie (Dubai Capitals, USD 250,000), and Liam Dawson (Gulf Giants, USD 170,000). India’s R. Ashwin, however, went unsold and later withdrew his name from the auction.
But the spotlight was shared by emerging cricketers from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, who secured contracts as part of ILT20’s new squad composition rule.
Each of the six teams was required to pick at least one player from Kuwait and one from Saudi Arabia, alongside Full Member and Associate nation players. This move aims to boost cricket’s development across the Gulf region.
Kuwait Cricket president Haider Farman hailed the moment as “monumental,” noting that six Kuwaiti players earning contracts reflects rapid progress in the sport’s regional growth.
In Riyadh, the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation also expressed pride, calling the partnership with ILT20 an important element of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals.
Prince Saud Bin Mishal Al-Saud, chairman of the Saudi cricket body, said the collaboration will help build cricket as a “national asset,” supporting youth empowerment and contributing to the Kingdom’s non-oil economy.
With the new season approaching, players from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia will share the field with some of the biggest international stars, an opportunity poised to elevate cricket’s profile across the Middle East.
