Dubai: UAE left-arm pacer Muhammad Rohid believes the ILT20 has transformed the landscape for local cricketers by creating a clear pathway from domestic cricket to the professional stage.
Rohid’s rise gathered fresh momentum when MI Emirates secured his services for $140,000 at the league’s first-ever player auction ahead of Season 4. The deal made him the fifth-most expensive signing of the auction and underlined the growing confidence franchises have in homegrown UAE talent.
For Rohid, however, the significance extends beyond the financial reward.
“The biggest thing the ILT20 has done is create a clear pathway for UAE players,” Rohid said. “Young cricketers can now see that if you perform well, opportunities will come, whether it’s with a franchise or the national team. That’s incredibly inspiring, and I hope my journey encourages more youngsters to believe they can achieve their dreams.”
The left-arm seamer credits MI Emirates for accelerating his development through exposure to some of the world’s leading T20 players. One of the defining moments of his campaign came in Qualifier 2, when he was told just 10 minutes before the toss that he would be playing. Rohid responded with an impressive spell of 2 for 19, dismissing Brandon McMullen and Liam Livingstone under pressure.
“The biggest lesson I learnt was to stay ready because opportunities can come at any moment,” he said. “The environment taught me to trust my preparation, stay calm under pressure and back my skills.”
Sharing the dressing room with stars such as Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Shakib Al Hasan also proved invaluable.
“Watching how they prepare, train and handle pressure taught me a lot. They were always willing to share advice, and Dubai: UAE left-arm pacer Muhammad Rohid believes the ILT20 has transformed the landscape for local cricketers by creating a clear pathway from domestic cricket to the professional stage.
Rohid’s rise gathered fresh momentum when MI Emirates secured his services for USD 140,000 at the league’s first-ever player auction ahead of Season 4. The deal made him the fifth-most expensive signing of the auction and underlined the growing confidence franchises have in homegrown UAE talent.
For Rohid, however, the significance extends beyond the financial reward.
“The biggest thing the ILT20 has done is create a clear pathway for UAE players,” Rohid said. “Young cricketers can now see that if you perform well, opportunities will come, whether it’s with a franchise or the national team. That’s incredibly inspiring, and I hope my journey encourages more youngsters to believe they can achieve their dreams.”
The left-arm seamer credits MI Emirates for accelerating his development through exposure to some of the world’s leading T20 players. One of the defining moments of his campaign came in Qualifier 2, when he was told just 10 minutes before the toss that he would be playing. Rohid responded with an impressive spell of 2 for 19, dismissing Brandon McMullen and Liam Livingstone under pressure.
“The biggest lesson I learnt was to stay ready because opportunities can come at any moment,” he said. “The environment taught me to trust my preparation, stay calm under pressure and back my skills.”
Sharing the dressing room with stars such as Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Shakib Al Hasan also proved invaluable.
“Watching how they prepare, train and handle pressure taught me a lot. They were always willing to share advice, and those conversations helped me grow as a cricketer.”
Rohid has also cemented his place in the UAE national side, representing the country in three ODIs and 17 T20Is, including an appearance at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup against New Zealand.
Looking ahead, the 25-year-old hopes to become a bowler his captain can rely on in every phase of an innings while continuing to justify MI Emirates’ faith in him.those conversations helped me grow as a cricketer.”
Rohid has also cemented his place in the UAE national side, representing the country in three ODIs and 17 T20Is, including an appearance at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup against New Zealand.
Looking ahead, the 25-year-old hopes to become a bowler his captain can rely on in every phase of an innings while continuing to justify MI Emirates’ faith in him.
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