Gulf Giants Sign Akeal Hosein as Wildcard Pick for ILT20 Season 5
Gulf Giants have signed West Indies left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein as their wildcard pick for Season 5 of the International League T20 (ILT20). The Adani Sportsline-owned franchise announced the signing on October 28, 2026, completing their squad ahead of the new season.
Hosein is no stranger to the ILT20. He has previously played for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and MI Emirates, and his signing adds an experienced international spinner to a Gulf Giants squad that already features several established T20 performers.
Who is Akeal Hosein
Akeal Hosein is a West Indies left-arm orthodox spinner with a long record in T20 cricket. Across more than 300 T20 matches, he has taken 281 wickets, including 95 wickets in over 100 T20 Internationals. His best figures in the format are 5 for 11.
In the ILT20 itself, Hosein has claimed 21 wickets in 29 appearances at an economy rate of 7.10, with best figures of 4 for 23. That combination of experience and economy is exactly what Gulf Giants have bought: a spinner who can control the middle overs and has already proven himself in UAE conditions.
| Record | Figures |
|---|---|
| T20 career wickets | 281 in 300+ matches |
| T20 International wickets | 95 in 100+ matches |
| Best T20 figures | 5 for 11 |
| ILT20 wickets | 21 in 29 appearances |
| ILT20 economy rate | 7.10 |
| Best ILT20 figures | 4 for 23 |
What Hosein and Gulf Giants said
Hosein said he was delighted to join the franchise for the upcoming season.
“I’m delighted to join the Gulf Giants for the upcoming ILT20 season,” Hosein said.
Gulf Giants head coach Simon Helmot welcomed the signing, pointing to Hosein’s experience across leagues.
“Akeal is an experienced international spinner who understands the demands of T20 cricket and has performed consistently across different leagues,” Helmot said.
How the Gulf Giants squad was built
Hosein arrives as the wildcard pick, the extra signing each franchise is allowed to add after the auction. He joins a squad Gulf Giants built aggressively at the Season 5 auction on October 1, 2026 in Dubai, where they spent USD 1.972 million, the second highest outlay behind MI Emirates at USD 2 million.
Their biggest auction buys were Liam Livingstone at USD 350,000, Rahmanullah Gurbaz at USD 310,000 and Alzarri Joseph at USD 230,000. Before the auction, the franchise had already secured David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen as pre-auction signings, along with returning players Azmatullah Omarzai and Blessing Muzarabani.
With Hosein added, the Gulf Giants squad for DP World ILT20 Season 5 is:
Akeal Hosein, Alick Athanaze, Alzarri Joseph, Awais Ahmed, Azmatullah Omarzai, Blessing Muzarabani, Curtis Campher, David Miller, David Wiese, Dhruv Parashar, Haider Razzaq, Heinrich Klaasen, Ibrahim Zadran, Imran Mir, Imtiaz Khan, Liam Livingstone, Matiullah Khan, Meet Bhavsar, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sagar Kalyan, Shamar Joseph, Shubham Ranjane, Tabraiz Shamsi and Wahidullah Zadran.
When ILT20 Season 5 starts
The fifth edition of the DP World ILT20 will run from November 21 to December 20, 2026. Gulf Giants will begin their Season 5 campaign when the tournament gets underway on November 21, 2026.
FAQs
Who have Gulf Giants signed as their wildcard pick?
West Indies left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein, announced on October 28, 2026.
What is a wildcard pick in the ILT20?
Each franchise is allowed to add one further wildcard signing after the player auction concludes, on top of the squad built through retentions, direct signings and auction buys.
When does ILT20 Season 5 start?
November 21, 2026, with the tournament concluding on December 20, 2026.
Which teams has Akeal Hosein played for in the ILT20?
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and MI Emirates, before joining Gulf Giants for Season 5. In 29 ILT20 appearances he has taken 21 wickets at an economy rate of 7.10.
