Gulbadin Naib
Player Information
Gulbadin Naib Player Overview
Gulbadin Naib is an experienced Afghanistan all-rounder who joins Abu Dhabi Knight Riders for DP World ILT20 Season 5 in 2026. Born on 16 March 1991, Naib bats right handed and bowls right-arm medium fast. His career combines more than a decade of international cricket with extensive experience in T20 leagues.
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders secured Naib for USD 75,000 at the Season 5 player auction. The move brings him to ADKR after previous ILT20 seasons with Dubai Capitals, where he produced one of the strongest all-round campaigns of his franchise career.
Gulbadin Naib Playing Style
Naib is a batting all-rounder who can operate in different positions depending on the needs of his team. His right-handed batting combines power with the ability to build an innings, while his medium-fast bowling provides another option with the ball.
That versatility has been particularly valuable in T20 cricket. Naib can contribute as a specialist batting option while still providing overs when required. His 2025 ILT20 campaign demonstrated both sides of his game, as he finished among the tournament’s productive batters while also taking 11 wickets.
Which Team Does Gulbadin Naib Play for in ILT20?
Gulbadin Naib plays for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in ILT20 Season 5. ADKR signed the Afghanistan all-rounder for USD 75,000 during the 2026 player auction, making him one of the franchise’s experienced overseas additions.
Before joining ADKR, Naib represented Dubai Capitals in the ILT20. His move is therefore a change of franchise rather than a tournament debut, and he arrives with experience of playing league and knockout matches in UAE conditions.
See the complete Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Squad 2026 for the full Season 5 player list.
Gulbadin Naib Afghanistan Career
Naib has been part of Afghanistan’s rise in international cricket for more than a decade. He made his ODI debut against Canada in August 2011 and his T20I debut against the Netherlands in March 2012.
By October 2026, his international career included 87 T20Is. He had scored 1,082 T20I runs at a strike rate of 122.26 and taken 35 wickets. His best T20I bowling figures are 4/20, achieved against Australia during the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Naib has also played extensive ODI cricket for Afghanistan and previously captained the national side. His longevity gives him a level of international experience that few players in the ADKR Season 5 squad can match.
Gulbadin Naib ILT20 Record
Naib enters Season 5 with a proven ILT20 record. Across his previous appearances for Dubai Capitals, he scored heavily during the 2025 campaign and contributed regularly with the ball. His overall ILT20 bowling record before joining ADKR stands at 12 wickets, with best figures of 3/13.
His 2025 season was especially productive. Naib scored 381 runs from 12 innings at an average of 42.33 and a strike rate of 158.75. He registered four half-centuries, with a highest score of 80, while also taking 11 wickets.
Gulbadin Naib’s 80 Against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
One of Naib’s best ILT20 innings came against the team he now joins. Playing for Dubai Capitals against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in January 2025, he scored 80 from 47 balls in a chase of 204 at Zayed Cricket Stadium.
His innings included four fours and five sixes and helped Dubai Capitals reach 207/2 with one ball remaining. Naib shared a major partnership with Shai Hope and was named Player of the Match as the Capitals completed an eight-wicket victory.
Season 5 now puts him on the opposite side of that matchup, with the player who once produced an 80-run match-winning innings against ADKR becoming part of their own squad.
Gulbadin Naib’s 2025 ILT20 All-Round Impact
Naib’s influence during the 2025 ILT20 was not limited to batting. In Dubai Capitals’ opening match against MI Emirates, he took 3/13 as the Capitals defended 133 and won by one run.
Later in Qualifier 1 against Desert Vipers, he delivered one of his most important all-round performances of the tournament. Naib scored 62 from 39 balls and took 2/25 as Dubai Capitals chased 189 to reach the final. The Capitals subsequently won the 2025 title.
Those performances provide useful context for his ADKR signing: Naib has already delivered with both bat and ball in important ILT20 matches rather than arriving with only general franchise experience.
Gulbadin Naib in 2026
Naib remained involved with Afghanistan throughout 2026. At the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, he scored 77 runs, including a 63 against New Zealand. Later in the year, he returned to Afghanistan’s T20I squad for the September series against India.
His 2026 franchise and domestic schedule also included cricket in Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. That continued match exposure means he approaches ILT20 Season 5 after another year of competitive T20 cricket rather than returning from a lengthy period away from the format.
What Gulbadin Naib Brings to ADKR in Season 5
Naib gives Abu Dhabi Knight Riders something particularly useful: an all-rounder with direct evidence of succeeding in the ILT20. His 2025 numbers show that he can influence matches as a batter while also providing wicket-taking support with his medium pace.
His move also creates an interesting Season 5 storyline. In January 2025, Naib’s 80 helped Dubai Capitals chase down 204 against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in Abu Dhabi. Less than two years later, ADKR have invested USD 75,000 to bring that same all-rounder into their own squad. For a team looking to combine established T20 experience with newer talent, Naib arrives with both international pedigree and a recent record of performing in the competition itself.