The Desert Vipers have officially announced the signing of Afghanistan’s exciting wrist-spinner, Noor Ahmad, for the fourth season of the International League T20 (ILT20).
The talented 20-year-old will join the squad as a replacement for Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga, who will be unavailable due to domestic cricket commitments.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Ahmad stated, “I am incredibly excited about this opportunity and deeply grateful for the trust placed in me by the team’s coaching and management, particularly Tom Moody and James Foster.”
He added, “The Vipers boast a fantastic squad, brimming with high-quality players across all departments, and I’m eager to join them in Dubai and kick off the tournament.”
Ahmad’s recent performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) was nothing short of brilliant. Playing for Chennai Super Kings earlier this year, he secured an impressive 24 wickets, finishing as the second-highest wicket-taker, narrowly behind Gujarat Titans’ Prasidh Krishna.
His stellar form continued in the 2024 Caribbean Premier League, where he was crowned Player of the Tournament after leading St Lucia Kings to their first-ever title with 22 wickets.
An established international player, Ahmad has represented Afghanistan in both One-Day Internationals (13 ODIs) and Twenty20 Internationals (22 T20Is).
He also featured in significant international tournaments, including the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2024 (Caribbean and USA) and the Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates in 2025.
Notably, his Twenty20 International economy rate stands at an outstanding 6.08 runs per over.
Tom Moody, the Desert Vipers Director of Cricket, expressed his delight, stating, “We are absolutely thrilled to bring Noor Ahmad into our ranks. He is undoubtedly one of the most promising spin bowlers in international cricket right now.”
Moody acknowledged the loss of Hasaranga, saying, “While we are certainly sad to miss Wanindu Hasaranga, who has been a core part of the Vipers from the beginning and is an exceptional all-round cricketer, we understand his commitments.”
He continued, “However, Noor’s extensive experience in franchise cricket worldwide will be a tremendous asset to our team.”
“Furthermore, his existing familiarity with the UAE conditions and DP World ILT20 venues provides him a distinct advantage, adding considerable value to the franchise.”
Moody concluded, “Noor will be joining two other talented Afghan cricketers, Qais Ahmad and Faridoon Dawoodzai, whom we acquired in the recent auction. We are delighted to complete a hat-trick of Afghanistan players representing the Desert Vipers in the fourth season of the ILT20.”