Pakistan's Asian Games final star Hasan Nawaz added to Desert Vipers squad for ILT20 2026

Hasan Nawaz, a Pakistani cricket player, has been added to the Desert Vipers squad for the upcoming ILT20 2026 season. This marks the fifth time a Pakistan player has joined the Desert Vipers for the DP World International League T20 tournament. Nawaz previously played for the Vipers in their title-winning season last year. He replaces England's Aneurin Donald, who has been selected for England's T20 series in Australia.

The 24-year-old middle-order batter entered the tournament with high confidence after coming close to winning the Asian Games T20 gold medal in Japan. Nawaz scored 96 off 51 balls in Pakistan's title-deciding match against India, falling short by just 19 runs. Last month, he scored 47 runs in the Antigua and Barbuda's Caribbean Premier League final.

Pakistan secured a T20 series victory against Sri Lanka this month. With the ILT20 season set to start on November 21, five Pakistan international players, including Nawaz, will compete for the Desert Vipers. The Vipers are the only franchise not owned by an Indian entity, allowing them to recruit players from Pakistan without any competition.

Desert Vipers CEO Phil Oliver expressed his excitement about Nawaz's addition to the squad. He praised Nawaz's performance in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and the Antigua and Barbuda's Caribbean Premier League (CPL), where he played a crucial role in their title-winning run. Oliver hopes that Nawaz's return to the Vipers will help the team defend their title in the upcoming ILT20 season. The Vipers kick off their title defense by playing MI Emirates at the Dubai International Stadium on November 21.