Gulf Giants Name Trott Head Coach, Bond to Guide Bowlers

By Teena Arya
Updated August 25, 2025 | 2 min read

Gulf Giants Reshape Coaching Staff Ahead of ILT20 2025-26 Season

Trott and Bond Take Charge

Gulf Giants have announced a major reshuffle in their coaching setup ahead of the ILT20 2025-26 season.

  • Jonathan Trott has been appointed head coach, replacing Andy Flower.

  • Shane Bond comes in as bowling coach, taking over from Ottis Gibson.

Trott, currently Afghanistan’s head coach, also had a stint with Pretoria Capitals in the SA20 before being replaced by Sourav Ganguly. Bond, meanwhile, has built strong credentials with the Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals in the IPL and with the Paarl Royals in SA20.

Trott and Bond on Their Roles

Trott expressed excitement about his new role:

“The Gulf Giants have quickly become one of the ILT20’s most successful teams. My goal is to empower players to excel and help shape a championship-winning squad through the first-ever ILT20 auction.”

Bond, too, shared his enthusiasm:

“The team’s ambition is clear. I’m excited to sharpen our bowling attack and make a decisive impact this season.”

Auction Set for September 30

The ILT20 auction will take place in Dubai on September 30, 2025, ahead of the league’s fourth season, which runs from December 2, 2025, to January 4, 2026. This will be the first-ever auction in ILT20 history, adding extra anticipation to the competition.

New Support Staff Additions

Along with Trott and Bond, the Giants have strengthened their support staff with:

  • Andrew Puttick – Batting Coach

  • Jim Troughton – Fielding Coach

  • Nick Lee – Fitness Coach

Current Squad and Signings

The Gulf Giants have retained a strong core while making key new signings:

  • Retained players: James Vince, Aayan Khan, Mark Adair, Blessing Muzarabani, Gerhard Erasmus

  • New signings: Moeen Ali, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz

Performance in Previous Seasons

  • 2023: Won the inaugural edition of ILT20

  • 2024: Knocked out in Qualifier 2

  • 2025: Finished second from bottom

With a refreshed coaching team and fresh auction dynamics, the Gulf Giants are aiming to bounce back strongly in the upcoming season.

Gulf Giants Name Trott Head Coach, Bond to Guide Bowlers
Who is the new head coach of Gulf Giants for ILT20 2025-26?
Jonathan Trott has been appointed as the new head coach of Gulf Giants, replacing Andy Flower ahead of the ILT20 2025-26 season.
What role will Shane Bond play with Gulf Giants?
Shane Bond has joined the Gulf Giants as the bowling coach, taking over from Ottis Gibson. He will focus on strengthening the team’s bowling attack.
When will the ILT20 2025-26 season be played?
The fourth season of ILT20 will run from December 2, 2025, to January 4, 2026, with the first-ever ILT20 auction scheduled for September 30, 2025, in Dubai.
Who else has joined the Gulf Giants coaching staff?
Alongside Trott and Bond, the Giants have added Andrew Puttick (batting coach), Jim Troughton (fielding coach), and Nick Lee (fitness coach) to their support staff.
Who are the key players in the Gulf Giants squad for ILT20 2025-26?
Retained players include James Vince, Aayan Khan, Mark Adair, Blessing Muzarabani, and Gerhard Erasmus. New signings are Moeen Ali, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
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By Teena Arya