Vipers Recall Their Title Winner
Desert Vipers have signed Pakistan batter Hasan Nawaz for the fifth season of the International League T20 (ILT20), bringing back a key member of their championship-winning squad. The 23-year-old replaces England’s Aneurin Donald, who has been called up for his national team’s T20I series in Australia.
Donald, picked up at the recent auction, will miss the tournament after his selection in England’s squad for the series scheduled across November and December.
A Familiar Face Returns
Nawaz is no stranger to the Vipers dressing room. He played a central role in the franchise’s title triumph in Season 4 earlier this year, when Desert Vipers beat MI Emirates in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on January 4, 2026.
His return further strengthens an already formidable Pakistan contingent at the franchise, which features the recently signed Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan and Naseem Shah.
Form That Demanded a Recall
Desert Vipers chief executive Phil Oliver welcomed Nawaz back, expressing confidence that the Pakistan batter would settle into the squad seamlessly after his contributions last season. Oliver also pointed to Nawaz’s impressive franchise form this year in the Pakistan Super League and the Caribbean Premier League.
The numbers back that up. Nawaz scored 291 runs in the PSL at a strike rate of 134.1, then added 220 runs for the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons in the CPL — finishing as the tournament’s joint-leading run-scorer alongside Evin Lewis as the Falcons lifted the title.
He was equally valuable in the field during the Vipers’ last ILT20 campaign, taking 12 catches in 13 matches.
The Versatile Finisher
What makes Nawaz particularly valuable is his adaptability. He has represented Pakistan in T20 internationals at five different batting positions, ranging from opener to No. 6. While the Vipers primarily deployed him as a finisher last season, he has shown he can bat higher up the order — memorably scoring 96 off 51 balls at No. 4 against India at the Asian Games in Japan.
Title Defence Begins Against Familiar Foes
Desert Vipers will open their title defence against MI Emirates at the Dubai International Stadium on the first day of Season 5 — a rematch of last season’s final. The fifth edition of the ILT20 runs from November 21 to December 20.
Source: Geo Super, October 16, 2026. Photo: Geo Super.
