Gulf Giants enter ILT20 2026 with big hopes, and the Gulf Giants squad 2026 brings together a strong group that can take the side back to the top of the league. The Giants won the first ILT20 title in 2023, and the 2026 squad keeps that winning spirit with a mix of world class overseas stars and smart local picks. The new squad has 23 players, with nine batters, six allrounders and eight bowlers, and it is full of big names who can change a match on their own. The ILT20 2025 Top Contenders for Final and Key Players Shaping the UAE Tournament guide set the scene for the last season, and now the focus moves to the fifth season, which runs from 21 November to 20 December 2026 across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
Gulf Giants Squad 2026 Overview
The Gulf Giants squad 2026 is built around power and pace. Heinrich Klaasen leads the batting group as one of the best T20 batters in the world, while David Miller brings calm finishing power in the middle order and Rahmanullah Gurbaz adds fast scoring at the top. Liam Livingstone gives the side a world class allrounder, and the bowling attack mixes the pace of Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph with the wrist spin of Tabraiz Shamsi. The Giants play most of their matches in Dubai, where they have a strong record, and the squad looks ready for another deep run in the tournament.
The first champions of the ILT20 kept faith in the group that can take them back to the final, and the 2026 squad also adds new faces who can change a match in a few overs. Ibrahim Zadran and Alick Athanaze add fresh batting options at the top, while Blessing Muzarabani strengthens the pace attack. The fifth season of the International League T20 starts on 21 November 2026, and Gulf Giants open their campaign on 23 November against Sharjah Warriorz at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Gulf Giants Squad 2026 Full Players List
The full Gulf Giants squad 2026 list below shows all 23 players with their roles, as listed on ESPNcricinfo for the 2026 season. The list covers nine batters, six allrounders and eight bowlers, and it shows how the first champions of the league have covered every part of the game. Three of the batters keep wicket, which gives the side options behind the stumps, and the bowling group has pace, swing and spin for every venue in the league.
| Player | Role | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Alick Athanaze | Top order Batter | Batter |
| Awais Ahmed | Wicketkeeper Batter | Batter |
| Ibrahim Zadran | Opening Batter | Batter |
| Imran Mir | Opening Batter | Batter |
| Sagar Kalyan | Middle order Batter | Batter |
| Heinrich Klaasen | Wicketkeeper Batter | Batter |
| Meet Bhavsar | Top order Batter | Batter |
| David Miller | Middle order Batter | Batter |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | Wicketkeeper Batter | Batter |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | Allrounder | Allrounder |
| Curtis Campher | Allrounder | Allrounder |
| Liam Livingstone | Batting Allrounder | Allrounder |
| Dhruv Parashar | Allrounder | Allrounder |
| Shubham Ranjane | Allrounder | Allrounder |
| David Wiese | Allrounder | Allrounder |
| Haider Razzaq | Bowler | Bowler |
| Imtiaz Khan | Bowler | Bowler |
| Alzarri Joseph | Bowler | Bowler |
| Shamar Joseph | Bowler | Bowler |
| Matiullah Khan | Bowler | Bowler |
| Blessing Muzarabani | Bowler | Bowler |
| Tabraiz Shamsi | Bowler | Bowler |
| Wahidullah Zadran | Bowler | Bowler |
Who Are Gulf Giants Key Players in 2026?
Heinrich Klaasen is the best player in the Gulf Giants squad 2026, with a record as one of the most feared T20 batters in the world. The South Africa wicketkeeper batter scores at a high rate against spin and pace, and his calm head under pressure makes him the man the Giants turn to in big matches. David Miller is the other star in the middle order, and the South Africa finisher can take a match away from the other side with his power hitting at the death.
Liam Livingstone gives the side power with the bat and useful spin with the ball, and his big match record makes him a key man in the middle overs. Azmatullah Omarzai is one of the best young allrounders in world cricket, and his pace bowling and hard hitting give the Giants balance in both departments. Rahmanullah Gurbaz adds fast scoring at the top of the order, while Tabraiz Shamsi leads the bowling with his left arm wrist spin that can take wickets in the middle overs.
The key players in the Gulf Giants squad 2026 also include Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph, who bring raw pace from the West Indies, and Curtis Campher, who adds steady allround skills. These players give the Giants depth in both departments, and the mix of youth and experience is one of the strengths of the squad. When the top names fire together, the first champions of the league can beat any side in the tournament.
- Heinrich Klaasen is the best player in the squad
- Liam Livingstone gives power with the bat and useful spin
- Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph bring raw pace from the West Indies
Gulf Giants Batters 2026
The Gulf Giants batters in 2026 are Alick Athanaze, Awais Ahmed, Ibrahim Zadran, Imran Mir, Sagar Kalyan, Heinrich Klaasen, Meet Bhavsar, David Miller and Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Ibrahim Zadran and Imran Mir open the innings, while Alick Athanaze and Meet Bhavsar add solid top order options. Three of the nine batters keep wicket, which gives the side great flexibility in team selection.
The batting depth is the biggest strength of the Gulf Giants squad 2026. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran can set up a big total at the top, Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller can finish with power at the death, and the middle order has the ability to rebuild after early wickets. The Giants have the batting firepower to post big totals at every venue in the league, and the 2026 batting group looks strong on paper.
Gulf Giants Allrounders and Bowlers 2026
The Gulf Giants allrounders in 2026 are Azmatullah Omarzai, Curtis Campher, Liam Livingstone, Dhruv Parashar, Shubham Ranjane and David Wiese. Livingstone is the headline name, while Omarzai adds pace bowling and hard hitting, and Campher brings steady medium pace with useful batting. David Wiese adds experience and big hitting at the death, and Dhruv Parashar and Shubham Ranjane give the side spin and batting depth.
The Gulf Giants bowlers in 2026 are Haider Razzaq, Imtiaz Khan, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Matiullah Khan, Blessing Muzarabani, Tabraiz Shamsi and Wahidullah Zadran. Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph lead the pace attack with raw speed, Blessing Muzarabani adds bounce and swing, and Tabraiz Shamsi gives the side a wicket taking wrist spinner. The eight bowlers give the captain options for every pitch in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
Gulf Giants Overseas Players 2026
The overseas players in the Gulf Giants squad 2026 come from seven countries and bring a huge amount of T20 experience. Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller fly the flag for South Africa, while Liam Livingstone comes from England. Azmatullah Omarzai, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Wahidullah Zadran come from Afghanistan, and Alick Athanaze, Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph come from the West Indies. Curtis Campher comes from Ireland, David Wiese comes from Namibia, Blessing Muzarabani comes from Zimbabwe and Tabraiz Shamsi comes from South Africa.
The overseas group also brings title winning experience to the Gulf Giants squad 2026. Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller have played in the biggest T20 leagues in the world, Liam Livingstone has won titles in England and overseas, and Tabraiz Shamsi has taken wickets in leagues around the world. The mix of overseas stars and local talent is the formula that took the Giants to the first ILT20 title in 2023, and the same mix can take them deep again in 2026.
| Player | Country | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Alick Athanaze | West Indies | Batter |
| Ibrahim Zadran | Afghanistan | Batter |
| Heinrich Klaasen | South Africa | Batter |
| David Miller | South Africa | Batter |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | Afghanistan | Batter |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | Afghanistan | Allrounder |
| Curtis Campher | Ireland | Allrounder |
| Liam Livingstone | England | Allrounder |
| David Wiese | Namibia | Allrounder |
| Alzarri Joseph | West Indies | Bowler |
| Shamar Joseph | West Indies | Bowler |
| Blessing Muzarabani | Zimbabwe | Bowler |
| Tabraiz Shamsi | South Africa | Bowler |
| Wahidullah Zadran | Afghanistan | Bowler |
Gulf Giants Fixtures 2026
The Gulf Giants fixtures in 2026 start on 23 November against Sharjah Warriorz at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, and the league run continues with 10 league matches across the three venues. The Giants face Dubai Capitals on 27 November in Dubai, MI Emirates on 29 November in Dubai, and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders on 30 November in Dubai. The home stretch in Dubai brings a match against Desert Vipers on 1 December.
The second half of the Gulf Giants fixtures in 2026 takes the side to Abu Dhabi for matches against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders on 5 December and Dubai Capitals on 8 December, before the final three league matches against MI Emirates on 10 December in Dubai, Sharjah Warriorz on 12 December in Dubai and Desert Vipers on 13 December in Dubai. Seven of the 10 league matches are in Dubai, two are in Abu Dhabi and one is in Sharjah. The playoffs follow from 16 December, with Qualifier 1 in Abu Dhabi, the Eliminator in Dubai on 17 December, Qualifier 2 in Sharjah on 18 December and the final in Dubai on 20 December.
| Date | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Nov 2026 | Sharjah Warriorz | Sharjah |
| 27 Nov 2026 | Dubai Capitals | Dubai |
| 29 Nov 2026 | MI Emirates | Dubai |
| 30 Nov 2026 | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Dubai |
| 1 Dec 2026 | Desert Vipers | Dubai |
| 5 Dec 2026 | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Abu Dhabi |
| 8 Dec 2026 | Dubai Capitals | Abu Dhabi |
| 10 Dec 2026 | MI Emirates | Dubai |
| 12 Dec 2026 | Sharjah Warriorz | Dubai |
| 13 Dec 2026 | Desert Vipers | Dubai |
When Does Gulf Giants Play First Match in ILT20 2026?
Gulf Giants play their first match in ILT20 2026 on 23 November 2026 against Sharjah Warriorz at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The match is on the third day of the season, two days after the opener between Desert Vipers and MI Emirates on 21 November in Dubai. The Giants then travel to Dubai for their second match against Dubai Capitals on 27 November, and a strong start in the first two matches will set the tone for the season.
Conclusion
Gulf Giants enter ILT20 2026 with a strong 23 player squad that has batting power, allround depth and a varied bowling attack. Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Liam Livingstone and Azmatullah Omarzai give the side match winners in every department, while Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph and Tabraiz Shamsi lead a bowling group that can take wickets on any pitch. The fixtures give the Giants seven matches in Dubai, and a good start on 23 November against Sharjah Warriorz can set up another title run. The 2026 season runs from 21 November to 20 December, and the first champions of the league have the squad to lift the trophy again.
FAQ
The Gulf Giants squad 2026 has 23 players. The squad has nine batters, six allrounders and eight bowlers, and three of the batters keep wicket.
The key players in the Gulf Giants squad 2026 are Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Liam Livingstone, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Tabraiz Shamsi. Heinrich Klaasen leads the batting group, while Tabraiz Shamsi leads the bowling attack.
The Gulf Giants batters in 2026 are Alick Athanaze, Awais Ahmed, Ibrahim Zadran, Imran Mir, Sagar Kalyan, Heinrich Klaasen, Meet Bhavsar, David Miller and Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Awais Ahmed, Heinrich Klaasen and Rahmanullah Gurbaz also keep wicket.
The overseas players in the Gulf Giants squad 2026 include Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Liam Livingstone, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Tabraiz Shamsi, Alick Athanaze, Ibrahim Zadran, Curtis Campher, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph and Blessing Muzarabani. The overseas group covers South Africa, England, Afghanistan, the West Indies, Ireland, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Gulf Giants play their first match in ILT20 2026 on 23 November 2026 against Sharjah Warriorz at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Gulf Giants matches in ILT20 2026 are played at Dubai International Stadium, Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Seven of the 10 league matches are in Dubai, two are in Abu Dhabi and one is in Sharjah.
