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DUBAI: Jonathan Trott, newly appointed head coach of the Adani Sportsline-owned Gulf Giants, has underlined the growing significance of the DP World ILT20 and its Development Tournament in shaping the future of cricket in the UAE.
Speaking at the recently concluded Development Tournament, where the Gulf Giants development side made a semifinal run, Trott praised the quality of talent and the league’s role in raising standards.
“This is my first year with the Gulf Giants, and I’m very excited about that,” Trott said. “Seeing all the local and natural talent is very good. Exciting times for us, certainly with the auction coming up, so a lot to get right. I’ve been very happy with the side we have in our development team, who have been playing some good cricket. And it’s always good to see what the other opposition teams are up to and the players that they have ahead of the auction.”
The DP World ILT20 Season 4 Player Auction is scheduled to take place just days after the Asia Cup. Trott acknowledged that performances here could directly influence selection decisions.
“The auction at the end of September is going to be great and exciting,” he noted. “It’s important to see what talent is on offer, and tournaments like this provide exactly that opportunity. You get to assess not only the skills but also how players react under pressure. For coaches and teams, it’s invaluable insight ahead of finalizing squads for the season.”
Trott, the former English international with over 100 appearances across formats, has followed the DP World ILT20 closely since its inception. With a minimum of two UAE players mandated in the playing XI, he emphasized the unique platform it provides for local cricketers to test themselves alongside international stars.
“I’ve watched a lot of it from afar and I’ve been to games. I’ve seen friends coaching or playing in it, and the quality is improving year on year. For me, it’s been interesting to see the balance between overseas players and local players, and how the UAE players are coming through to strengthen their national team. Tournaments like this can only help, and the DP World ILT20 itself in December is a huge platform for them to play on.”
The 44-year-old also drew parallels with Afghanistan’s rise in world cricket, attributing much of their progress to the exposure provided by franchise tournaments.
“Afghanistan is certainly a side that has benefited from franchise cricket. Their players got to work with the best coaches, play alongside the best players, and learn their habits on and off the field,” he said. “The UAE players will now have the same advantage, seeing the likes of Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and other international stars up close. That can only be a huge benefit, and I’m excited to be part of it and roll up my sleeves with the Gulf Giants.”
With the UAE qualifying for the Asia Cup for the first time in a decade, Trott noted how the DP World ILT20 has contributed directly to this progress. “I’m not surprised when I see the quality of cricket and quality of players here. The UAE side is already very good, and I think they’ll be the next team to make a real breakthrough on the international scene. They have the facilities, they have the desire and passion for the game, and they’re certainly not lacking in players. It’s a good recipe for success.”
Looking ahead to Season 4, Trott acknowledged both the challenge and opportunity for the Gulf Giants, who were inaugural champions of the DP World ILT20 but missed out on the playoffs last year.
“It probably adds a bit of pressure, but it also adds a bit more excitement. I like the idea of getting back to the top and working hard, and am grateful to Adani Sportsline for giving me this opportunity,” he said. “We’ve got the makings of a good side at the moment, and with the auction at the end of September, I think we can strengthen further. There are some very good teams out there, so the competition is going to be really stiff, but we’re looking forward to it.”

MONZA, Italy: Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc delighted the Ferrari fans with a surprise one-two in first practice for the Italian Formula One team’s home grand prix at Monza on Friday.
Making his first appearance at Monza in Ferrari red, seven-times world champion and five-times Italian GP winner Hamilton lapped the super-fast ‘Pista Magica’ with a best time of one minute 20.117 seconds.
Leclerc, last year’s winner, was 0.169 slower with former Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz — the man Hamilton replaced in January after moving from Mercedes — third for Williams but 0.533 off the pace.
Hamilton has yet to stand on the podium for Ferrari and Friday’s opening session, held in bright sunshine at the ‘Temple of Motorsport’, was a boost after the team’s double blank in the Netherlands last weekend when both cars crashed.
Hamilton will have a five-place grid penalty for Sunday, however, after it was carried over from Zandvoort.
Red Bull’s four-times world champion Max Verstappen was fourth fastest ahead of Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli for Mercedes.
McLaren’s title contender Lando Norris was sixth after a trip through the gravel, with championship-leading teammate Oscar Piastri sitting out the session while Irish Formula Two driver Alex Dunne took his place and ended up 16th.
Alex Albon was seventh fastest for Williams with Mercedes’ George Russell — who lost power and pulled over toward the end — eighth and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso ninth with Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar completing the top 10.
French rookie Hadjar, third last weekend for his first career podium in Formula One, triggered a red flag when he went off at the Ascari Chicane with 25 minutes to go and scattered gravel across the track.
Alpine had Estonian reserve driver Paul Aron replacing Argentina’s Franco Colapinto for the session and he finished last.
Runaway leaders McLaren are chasing a sixth win in a row on Sunday, with Piastri 34 points clear of Norris after 15 of 24 rounds. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Ken Ferris)