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“But yeah, what is most important is to make sure you finish in the top four and give yourselves a chance.”
There is no shortage of local and international firepower at Vince’s disposal, with the Gulf Giants squad stacked with quality players in every department. The Afghanistan duo of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Azmatullah Omarzai will bring plenty of T20 pedigree to the mix, while the likes of Moeen Ali and Tabraiz Shamsi add a wealth of experience.
“We are pretty happy with the squad that we have, but when you look at the squads of every else, they are all well assembled. Ultimately, it all comes down to 10 group games in a fairly short period of time,” Vince explains.
“You want a couple of batters in form, and some bowlers as well. You need to play well as a team, of course, but if you have a couple of guys in a really rich vein of form, it can make all the difference.”
The upcoming season will see Vince team up with his compatriot Jonathan Trott, with the former England batter taking charge of the Gulf Giants as the new head coach. More recently, Trott has played a pivotal role in Afghanistan’s rise in international cricket. Under his guidance, the Afghans made history at the 2024 T20 World Cup by reaching the last four.
Vince is excited at the prospect of the partnership and hopes to build a strong chemistry.
“The relationship with the coach is very important. I have been lucky to work with some good coaches across the course of my career. It is important to build a good rapport with the head coach and the entire support staff as a captain,” he said.
Since its inception in 2023, the ILT20 has propelled the growth of cricket in the region by giving UAE’s local stars a chance to rub shoulders with the very best in the world. This wealth of experience has reflected in the UAE’s performance on the global stage, with the National Team recently qualifying for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
One of the key players in the UAE’S recent uptick has been young Aayan Khan. The 20-year-old all-rounder has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the last few years with some notable performances. He will play a vital role for Gulf Giants in the coming season and has Vince excited by his growth.
“We have seen the local players grow a lot by playing with some of the best players in the world in this competition,” Vince stated.
“The ILT20 has certainly improved them. Young Aayan in our team, he has been great for us. He is still only young but his growth over the last three or four years has been fairly evident to see.
“The ILT20 is really helping UAE cricket, and I guess that is one of the main reasons for holding the league in the first place.”
Since becoming champions of the maiden season in 2023, success has evaded the Gulf Giants. The finished third in the 2024 edition before dropping down to fifth in the most recent season. With an exciting mix of local and international talents in the squad this year, Vince is hoping to rectify the record.
“I think it’s about time we have a good year, and hopefully can be holding that trophy at the beginning of January.”
