Arab Gul

Arab Gul Player Overview

Arab Gul is an Afghanistan leg-spinner who is part of the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders squad for DP World ILT20 Season 5 in 2026. His full name is Arab Gul Momand, and he was born on 1 September 2005 in Nangarhar, Afghanistan. He bats right handed and plays primarily as a bowler, with leg break his main bowling style.

Gul joined Abu Dhabi Knight Riders through the ILT20 Season 5 player auction and is included among the franchise’s 18 auction signings. His selection came during a year in which he also progressed into Afghanistan’s senior T20 setup after previously representing the country at Under-19 level.

Arab Gul Playing Style

Arab Gul is a specialist leg-spinner. His bowling gives Abu Dhabi Knight Riders a wrist-spin option for Season 5, while his batting is a secondary part of his game. His international player classification lists him as a bowler who bats right handed and bowls leg break.

His early senior international performances have shown his ability to take wickets while controlling the scoring rate. Gul’s first T20I appearance produced a four-wicket spell against Japan at the 2026 Asian Games, providing an immediate example of his effectiveness in the shortest international format.

Which Team Does Arab Gul Play for in ILT20?

Arab Gul plays for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in ILT20 Season 5. He was added at the 2026 player auction and appears in ADKR’s published post-auction squad alongside fellow bowlers Ajay Kumar, Ibrar Ahmed, Jakeem Pollard, Muhammad Rohid, Qais Ahmad and Usman Tariq.

The Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Season 5 group contains four pre-auction players and 18 auction signings. Gul belongs to the latter group and enters the tournament as one of the young Afghanistan players in the franchise’s bowling options.

See the complete Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Squad 2026 for the full Season 5 player list.

Arab Gul Afghanistan Career

Gul represented Afghanistan at youth level before moving into the senior international setup. He was part of Afghanistan’s squad at the 2024 ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup in South Africa, where he was listed as a bowler. His development continued through Afghanistan’s domestic structure and other representative teams.

In August 2026, Gul was selected in Afghanistan’s squad for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The squad combined established internationals with emerging players, and Gul was identified as one of the leg-spin options. The selection opened the way for his senior T20 international debut during the tournament.

Arab Gul T20I Debut

Arab Gul made his T20 international debut against Japan at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on 24 September 2026. Afghanistan scored 129/6 before dismissing Japan for 81 to complete a 48-run victory.

Gul was the leading bowler in the match, taking 4/8 from four overs. His spell included two maidens and helped Afghanistan dismiss Japan inside 20 overs. It was a notable start to his senior international career, with the four-wicket return coming in his first T20I appearance.

He played again against Nepal the following day. After those first two T20 internationals, his record stood at five wickets, with 4/8 remaining his best bowling performance.

Arab Gul Under-19 and Domestic Background

Before reaching senior international cricket, Gul gained experience through Afghanistan’s Under-19 programme. His youth international pathway included the 2024 Under-19 World Cup, while his domestic career has included first-class, List A and T20 cricket in Afghanistan.

His domestic teams have included regional and competition sides such as Speen Ghar Region, Band-e-Amir Region, Maiwand Champions and other Afghanistan-based teams. This progression through youth, domestic and senior representative cricket gave Gul experience across multiple formats before his selection for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.

Arab Gul ILT20 Experience

Arab Gul has previous experience in the ILT20 environment before joining Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. He was associated with MI Emirates during the 2025-26 period, with his player profile identifying him as a right-handed batter and right-arm leg-break bowler.

His move into the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Squad 2026 gives him a new franchise for ILT20 Season 5. The current ADKR squad also includes Afghanistan internationals and players with experience across different T20 competitions, providing a varied bowling group for the tournament.

Arab Gul in ILT20 Season 5

Arab Gul enters ILT20 Season 5 following an important period in his career. During 2026 he was selected for Afghanistan at the Asian Games, made his T20I debut, recorded a four-wicket haul in his first international match and was subsequently listed among Abu Dhabi Knight Riders’ auction signings.

ILT20 Season 5 runs from 21 November to 20 December 2026. Abu Dhabi Knight Riders begin their campaign against Dubai Capitals at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 22 November before playing matches across Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.

Gul’s confirmed role on the ADKR squad is as a bowler. His selection for individual matches, the phases in which he bowls and his place in the playing XI will depend on team selection during the tournament rather than being assumed in advance.