UAE ILT20: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders sign Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Jonny Bairstow in marquee signings

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ADKR) have announced their initial 14-man squad for UAE’s ILT20 league. Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Jonny Bairstow are the most renowned T20 stars among the announced ADKR squad for the ILT20, scheduled to commence in January next year in the UAE.

The ADKR, acquired by the owners of the two-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders, also announced their overseas players as they revealed the signings of Seekuge Prasanna, Lahiru Kumara, Paul Stirling, and Colin Ingram on Tuesday. 

The globetrotting Caribbean pair of Narine and Russell have been a feature of the KKR side for almost a decade as Narine signed for the franchise in 2012 and Russell in 2014. Narine is also a part of the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR), owned by the Knight Riders group, in the Caribbean Premier League. Akeal Hosein, Ravi Rampaul, Ali Khan, Colin Ingram, and Seekuge Prasanna, who have been associated with TKR, have also been roped in by ADKR.

“Firstly, it’s great to see that our global footprint continues to grow in line with our vision & strategy. KKR in IPL, TKR in CPL, and now ADKR in the ILT20. It’s also terrific that we have our mainstays – Sunil Narine and Andre Russell as part of ADKR,” Venky Mysore, CEO of Knight Riders, said.

“We are really delighted that Jonny Bairstow joins the Knight Riders family and will no doubt play a huge part in ADKR’s journey in ILT20. We are also delighted that Akeal Hosein, Ravi Rampaul, Ali Khan, Colin Ingram, and Seekuge Prasanna, who have been part of Trinbago Knight Riders before, are also a part of ADKR,” he added.

ADKR squad: Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Akeal Hosein, Raymon Reifer, Kennar Lewis, Ravi Rampaul (all from West Indies), Jonny Bairstow (England), Paul Stirling (Ireland), Lahiru Kumara, Charith Asalanka, Seekkuge Prasanna (trio from Sri Lanka), Colin Ingram (South Africa), Ali Khan (USA), Brandon Glover (The Netherlands).