Pakistan quick bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi will be a part of Desert Vipers for the second season of the ILT20, making him the primary Pakistan participant to be signed up by a franchise within the league. He has joined on a three-year contract.

"I am excited to join the Desert Vipers. I know there are many Pakistan cricket fans in the UAE and I hope they will support our team in the upcoming ILT20," Shaheen mentioned in an announcement.

"Shaheen is a player of world-class calibre who has had a significant impact not only for Pakistan but for every team he's played for in recent times," Vipers director of cricket Tom Moody mentioned on their new signing.

"He offers a huge amount as an impact pace bowler that has destroyed many, many top-orders and he also boasts terrific leadership skills that will add a huge amount of value to the Desert Vipers moving forward."

Afridi will be a part of a bowling assault that already boasts of the likes of Wanindu Hasaranga, Matheesha Pathirana, Tom Curran and Sheldon Cottrell amongst others.