Gulf Giants have appointed Australian Simon Helmot as their new head coach for this year’s ILT20. Helmot replaces Jonathan Trott in the role after a single season in charge.

Melbourne Renegades announced last month that Helmot was stepping back from his role as their WBBL head coach despite having two years left on his contract in order to “explore a new opportunity”. That has now been confirmed as the ILT20, which has moved to a November-December window and therefore overlaps with the WBBL.

Gulf Giants were the inaugural ILT20 champions in 2023 under Andy Flower’s stewardship. Flower was replaced as head coach by Trott last season, and Trott has himself been replaced now after a fifth-place finish in his only campaign in charge.

Helmot is currently in India as an assistant coach at Sunrisers Hyderabad, and met with the Giants’ ownership in Ahmedabad. “My discussions with Mr Pranav Adani [director of the group that owns Gulf Giants] reflected [our] long-term commitment towards building strong sporting ecosystems, nurturing talent and creating competitive teams,” he said in a statement.

The fifth season of the ILT20 will run from November 22 to December 20, a shift designed to avoid clashing with other franchise leagues including Australia’s Big Bash League and South Africa’s SA20. The player auction is expected to be held in early October.

Helmot has previously worked in the ILT20 as an assistant coach at Desert Vipers.