The UAE is recognised as an Associate Member country in international cricket. However, in terms of hosting cricket competitions, the Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi cricket stadiums enjoy a prominent status. From the world’s biggest cricket league, the IPL, to the well-known and popular PSL, matches have been held at these venues. The UAE has also hosted ICC events such as the T20 World Cup, the Champions Trophy, and several tournaments of the Asian Cricket Council. As a result, the UAE is now seen playing international cricket on a regular basis.

These days, one of the world’s emerging T20 leagues, The International League T20 (ILT20), is underway with its third edition being played in full swing.

In this league, organized under the auspices of the Emirates Cricket Board, three Pakistani cricketers Fakhar Zaman, Naseem Shah, and Hasan Nawaz are in action for the franchise Desert Vipers.

Subhan Ahmad served the Pakistan Cricket Board for 25 years. He also held the position of Chief Operating Officer.

He possesses vast experience in cricket administration. During the Asia Cup, a meeting took place with Subhan Ahmad, during which he shared that the Emirates Cricket Board is working on priority plans for the UAE cricket team.

He added that the UAE team’s performance at the Asian level is improving day by day, and he is hopeful that in the future the UAE team will appear even more stable and competitive. Recently, the UAE Under-19 cricket team won the trophy of the Asian Cricket Council’s premier cricket tournament.

Subhan Ahmad is working effectively as the Chief Operating Officer of the Emirates Cricket Board. Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi has expressed his commitment to further strengthen and sustain cricketing relations with the UAE in the future, and he has also demonstrated this commitment in practice. As a result, in August–September 2025, instead of playing a series against Afghanistan, the PCB participated in a tri-series hosted by the UAE team.

Subhan Ahmed, as the Chief Operating Officer of the Emirates Cricket Board, is not only working excellently with his team, but is also playing a key role in expanding the rapidly emerging ILT20 League and presenting it impressively on the global cricket stage over the past three years.

The UAE regularly hosts several events of the Asian Cricket Council and the ICC. In such circumstances, if the UAE national team continues to get regular playing opportunities, cricket can grow further in the country. Families from around the world residing in the UAE are keen to introduce their children to cricket. Alongside ICC academies, many private academies are also actively working.

In this entire context, the continued growth and rising popularity of the ILT20 will be highly noteworthy. Indian cricketers are generally seen playing less in leagues outside the IPL; however, they do participate in the UAE league. This time, only three Pakistani cricketers are in action, all with the Desert Vipers. If more Pakistani players feature in the future, Pakistanis living across different UAE states will travel to Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Dubai to support and encourage their favourite cricketers.