Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has praised the ILT20 for its commitment to cultivating talent from Gulf countries and beyond. With his extensive experience as a commentator for the DP World ILT20, he has been particularly impressed by the tournament’s progress.
This year, the tournament features players from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, highlighting cricket’s rapid growth in the region. According to Harbhajan, the DP World ILT20 and the Emirates Cricket Board have played crucial roles in facilitating this expansion. He emphasized the importance of the tournament in providing emerging players with opportunities to gain experience alongside established international stars.
Harbhajan also identified several talented players from the UAE, naming Muhammad Waseem from MI Emirates and Aayan Khan from Gulf Giants as standout performers. He noted the potential of fast bowlers such as Wasim Akram from Sharjah Warriorz, mentioning that many more talents are expected to emerge from the region.
In discussing the potential winners of the tournament, Harbhajan singled out the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. He believes they possess a formidable batting lineup, demonstrated by their impressive performance in the opening match against Sharjah Warriorz. He sees them as a well-balanced team and the frontrunners for the title this season.
The inclusion of Indian players in the ILT20 has also been welcomed by Harbhajan. He highlighted the contributions of players like Dinesh Karthik from Sharjah Warriorz and Piyush Chawla from Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, noting that these recently retired players are continuing to pursue their passion for cricket in this competitive environment.