Gulf Giants have turned to Jonathan Trott as head coach and Shane Bond as bowling coach in a post-season shake-up designed to revive the side’s fortunes in the International League T20 (ILT20). The pair step into roles vacated by Andy Flower and Ottis Gibson after a campaign that saw the Giants finish second-bottom.
Trott’s stock has risen steadily since he moved into coaching. He guided Afghanistan to the 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final and previously ran Pretoria Capitals in South Africa’s SA20. Bond, meanwhile, brings first-hand experience from his work with Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals in the IPL and with Paarl Royals in SA20.
“The Gulf Giants have quickly become one of the ILT20’s most successful teams,” Trott said. “My goal is to empower players to excel and help shape a championship-winning squad through the first-ever ILT20 auction.”
That auction, scheduled for 30 September in Dubai, is the league’s first open bidding process and will influence the make-up of all six squads ahead of season four, which runs from 2 December 2025 to 4 January 2026. A measured strategy will matter; each franchise has only three overseas slots available on match days, so depth and balance are vital.
Bond is keen on a fresh start. “The team’s ambition is clear,” he said. “I’m excited to sharpen our bowling attack and make a decisive impact this season.” His immediate brief is to build support around retained quick Mark Adair and Zimbabwean seamer Blessing Muzarabani, while ensuring emerging UAE talent Aayan Khan continues to progress.
The coaching reshuffle extends beyond the headline appointments. Former South Africa opener Andrew Puttick becomes batting coach, ex-Warwickshire captain Jim Troughton handles fielding, and Nick Lee oversees fitness. The club hopes this broader support network will produce consistency that eluded them last term.
On the playing front, the nucleus remains intact. Captain James Vince, Aayan Khan, Adair, Muzarabani and Namibia’s Gerhard Erasmus are retained. All-rounder Moeen Ali, Afghan pair Azmatullah Omarzai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz arrive as marquee signings. Management believe the blend of established internationals and associate-nation talent reflects both the league’s ethos and the realities of its salary cap.
The Giants lifted the inaugural ILT20 trophy in 2023, reached Qualifier 2 in 2024, then slipped badly earlier this year. Trott and Bond must halt that slide quickly. With a shorter season and compressed schedule, momentum is priceless; a poor first week can leave sides chasing the table.
Supporters will be heartened by Trott’s calm, analytical style and Bond’s reputation for extracting discipline and pace from his bowlers. Yet both men know that success in franchise cricket often hinges on decisions made long before the opening delivery—at the auction table, in player welfare plans and in the clarity of roles given to each squad member.
The countdown to September’s auction has begun, and with it a new chapter for the Gulf Giants.
