ILT20 partners with Kuwait Cricket to expand regional reach and talent development
In a surprising move, the DP World International League T20 (ILT20) has chosen Kuwait as its first regional partner outside the UAE, despite the country having just one grass cricket facility. The partnership aims to identify and nurture cricketing talent in Kuwait, with plans to eventually host ILT20 matches there.
The announcement marks a significant step for Kuwait Cricket, whose national team has climbed to 23rd in the T20I world rankings — third among Gulf countries, behind only the UAE and Oman, and ahead of former ODI nations like Hong Kong and Kenya.
ILT20 Chairman Khalid Al Zarooni emphasized the importance of growing cricket across the Gulf, calling Kuwait “a great country” with a passion for developing the sport. “Our aim with the DP World ILT20 is to grow and develop the game in the entire region,” he said.
Kuwait Cricket’s rise has been steady. Last winter, they narrowly lost to the UAE in the final of the Gulf T20I Championship—an indication of their growing competitiveness. Head coach Qasim Ali, a former ICC Academy coach in Dubai, sees the ILT20 partnership as a major boost for Kuwaiti cricket.
“This is a huge moment for cricket in the GCC,” Qasim said. “It allows our players to showcase their skills in a professional franchise environment. A development programme backed by ILT20 is a huge achievement.”
Kuwait Cricket Secretary General Sajid Ashraf noted the country’s cricket-loving community of nearly two million and hopes the partnership will spur investment from local businesses. “This opens the door to a long-awaited dream: enabling our players to pursue full-time professional cricket careers on the international franchise stage.”
While hosting ILT20 matches in Kuwait remains a longer-term goal, stakeholders are optimistic. “We’re a little way off, but I’d love to see it sooner rather than later,” Qasim said. “If we can back this up with infrastructure and see our players in the auction, that would be a major success.”
