Qais Ahmad
Player Information
Qais Ahmad Player Overview
Qais Ahmad is an Afghanistan international leg-spinner who joins Abu Dhabi Knight Riders for DP World ILT20 Season 5 in 2026. Born on 15 August 2000 in Nangarhar, Afghanistan, Qais is a right-handed batter and specialist leg-break bowler.
He arrives at ADKR with experience across international cricket and franchise T20 competitions. Unlike several younger additions to the Knight Riders squad, Qais has already played almost 200 senior T20 matches and has represented Afghanistan in Tests, ODIs and T20 internationals.
Qais Ahmad Playing Style
Qais is primarily a wrist-spinner whose main bowling method is leg break. His career numbers show that wicket-taking has been the central feature of his T20 role. By October 2026, he had taken more than 200 wickets in senior T20 cricket, including a five-wicket haul.
He is capable of contributing lower down the batting order as well. Although bowling remains his primary skill, his senior career includes a first-class century and a T20 half-century, giving him more batting experience than his specialist-bowler classification might initially suggest.
Which Team Does Qais Ahmad Play for in ILT20?
Qais Ahmad plays for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in ILT20 Season 5. He was one of the 18 players added by ADKR through the Season 5 auction, joining four pre-auction signings to form the franchise’s published post-auction squad.
His move to ADKR is not his first experience of the competition. Qais has previously represented Sharjah Warriors, Dubai Capitals and Desert Vipers in the ILT20, meaning Season 5 adds another UAE franchise to his career.
See the complete Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Squad 2026 for the full Season 5 player list.
Qais Ahmad International Career
Qais progressed through Afghanistan’s Under-19 system before reaching senior international cricket. He made his Test debut against Bangladesh in September 2019 and later appeared for Afghanistan in both ODI and T20I cricket.
His international record includes 17 wickets from 12 T20 internationals, with best figures of 3/16. Those wickets came at a bowling average of 14.17 and an economy rate of 6.88. He has also taken six wickets from three ODIs.
Qais returned to Afghanistan’s Test side against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi in October 2026. He took two wickets in the match and also made an unbeaten 49, his highest Test score to date.
Qais Ahmad T20 Career
Franchise cricket forms a major part of Qais Ahmad’s career. His experience extends across competitions in the Caribbean, Australia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, England, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and the UAE.
His teams have included St Lucia Stars, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Stars, Quetta Gladiators, Barbados Royals and several Afghanistan domestic sides. Across senior T20 cricket, his record stands at more than 200 wickets, with career-best figures of 5/18.
That breadth of experience is especially relevant for a spinner. Qais has operated against different batting styles and in competitions played under varying conditions rather than building his career in one domestic league alone.
Qais Ahmad Previous ILT20 Experience
Qais enters the 2026 season with recent ILT20 cricket behind him. He represented Desert Vipers during the 2025-26 edition, taking five wickets from four appearances. His best bowling figures during that campaign were 2/29.
His earlier ILT20 journey also included Sharjah Warriors and Dubai Capitals. That history makes his move to Abu Dhabi Knight Riders different from a tournament debut: he already has direct experience of the league before changing franchises for Season 5.
Qais Ahmad Recent Form in 2026
Qais remained active in Afghanistan domestic cricket during 2026. In the Shpageeza Cricket League, he took 10 wickets across eight matches, with best figures of 3/18. He also collected three wickets in two matches during the Ghazi Amanullah Khan Regional One Day Tournament.
His October return to Afghanistan’s Test team added further match experience shortly before ILT20 Season 5. Against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi, he contributed with both ball and bat, taking two wickets and scoring 49 not out.
Why Qais Ahmad Adds Experience to ADKR’s Spin Attack
Qais joins an ADKR squad that already contains different spin options, but his own profile is distinctive: he is an Afghanistan international leg-spinner with extensive franchise experience and more than 200 senior T20 wickets.
Season 5 also gives him another opportunity to build on his existing ILT20 record with a new franchise. Rather than arriving in Abu Dhabi as an inexperienced prospect, Qais brings years of T20 cricket, previous ILT20 appearances and recent competitive bowling into his first campaign with the Knight Riders.