ILT20 2025: Jonathan Trott, Shane Bond bolster Gulf Giants' coaching unit ahead of fourth season

With the fourth season of the International League T20 (ILT20) on the horizon, Gulf Giants have announced a formidable new coaching team ahead of the league’s first-ever auction. The refreshed setup signals a renewed push for the title.

Jonathan Trott steps in as Head Coach, bringing with him an impressive record as one of England’s most technically sound batters. Since moving into coaching, Trott has guided Afghanistan to a historic ICC T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final and an inspired run at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. As a player, he scored 3,835 runs in 52 Tests and 2,819 runs in 68 ODIs at an average of 51, with four centuries and 22 fifties.

Joining him is New Zealand pace great Shane Bond as Bowling Coach. A veteran of 120 internationals with 259 wickets, Bond’s coaching career spans over a decade, including national duties with New Zealand and T20 franchise roles across IPL and the UAE ILT20.

South Africa’s Andrew Puttick, who amassed nearly 17,000 first-class runs, will serve as Batting Coach, having previously worked with Afghanistan, South Africa, and Pakistan. Jamie Troughton, a former England cricketer, will lead fielding efforts, while seasoned fitness professional Nick Lee, with experience at Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan, returns to partner Trott as Strength & Conditioning Coach.

The Gulf Giants’ coaching revamp reflects the franchise's focus on nurturing talent and creating a growth-driven environment. Young UAE all-rounder Aayan Khan and Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani are among its notable success stories.

“The Gulf Giants have quickly become one of the ILT20’s most successful teams. My goal is to empower players to excel and help shape a championship-winning squad through the first-ever ILT20 Auction,” Trott said, expressing delight at joining the Gulf Giants as the new Head Coach. 

Bond echoed Trott, saying, “The team’s ambition is clear. I’m excited to sharpen our bowling attack and make a decisive impact this season.”

“It’s an honour to work in a setup that values player development. I’m eager to contribute to our collective success,” said Puttick.

Sanjay Adesara, Chief Business Officer, Adani Sportsline: “We are thrilled to welcome this exceptional group of cricketing minds. Their experience and shared values will be pivotal in taking the Gulf Giants to new heights.”

Gulf Giants Squad

Retained – Aayan Khan, Blessing Muzarabani, Gerhard Erasmus, James Vince, Mark Adair

New Signings – Azmatullah Omarzai, Moeen Ali, Rahmanullah Gurbaz