The squads for the fourth edition of the DP World International League T20 Development Tournament have been confirmed following the Player Draft held on 2 September, with six teams set to represent the franchises of the DP World ILT20. The tournament will begin on 14 September and bring together some of the UAE’s most promising cricketers in a competition designed to provide them with valuable exposure and experience. Several players selected in the six squads have already featured in the DP World ILT20 and made an impact while others will also have an opportunity to make an impression ahead of the DP World ILT20 Season 5 Player Auction scheduled to take place on 1 October 2026 in Dubai.
The squads for the fourth edition of the DP World International League T20 Development Tournament have been confirmed following the Player Draft held on 2 September
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Development is built around a strong contingent, with Alishan Sharafu anchoring the batting. The squad will also include UAE internationals Khuzaima Tanveer and Matiullah Khan, along with the experienced wicketkeeper-batter Vriitya Aravind . Sohaib Khan , the UAE international and middle-order batter, will also add further depth to the squad. UAE ODI captain Harpreet Singh Bhatia rounds out the squad, adding significant international experience to the group.
Wicketkeeper-batter Mayank Choudhary and pace bowler Ibrar Ahmad, who both featured for the franchise in DP World ILT20 Season 4 will add further strength to the squad. Desert Vipers Development will feature Sanjay Pahal , who was named Player of the Tournament last year after scoring 157 runs and taking 12 wickets, a performance that secured him a place in the Desert Vipers squad for DP World ILT20 Season 4. Dubai Capitals Development will boast a formidable bowling attack with Haider Ali and Muhammad Jawadullah , both of whom featured for the Capitals in DP World ILT20 Season 4. Raees Ahmed, meanwhile, returns after finishing as the third-highest run-scorer in the previous edition of the DP World ILT20 Development Tournament (227 runs for Sharjah Warriors Development). Gulf Giants Development have retained Haider Razzaq, who was the leading wicket-taker in last year’s edition with 16 wickets in seven matches. Adding further firepower will be Aayan Afzal Khan , who has represented the franchise in the DP World ILT20 since its inception, scalping 24 wickets in 35 matches. The Giants have also secured the services of Sagar Kalyan and Tanish Suri , who were among the Development Tournament’s top run-scorers last year, scoring 230 and 220 runs respectively. Sharjah Warriorz Development features UAE international Junaid Siddique, the national side’s highest wicket-taker in T20Is (126 wickets).
The squad will also feature Akshdeep Nath , who made his UAE debut earlier this year. He’s joined by left-handed batter Ethan D’Souza, an established UAE international who has represented the Warriorz in the DP World ILT20 itself, and Dhruv Parashar , who has previously featured for the Desert Vipers before returning to the development pathway.
