Ishtiaq Ahmad’s cricket journey began in the bustling streets of Jeddah, where he honed his skills playing tape-ball matches with friends. His natural talent and dedication led him to join the Jeddah Gladiators, where consistent medium-pace bowling earned praise in club tournaments.

His big break came in October 2021 when he debuted for the Saudi national side in a T20I against Maldives, quickly becoming the team’s leading wicket-taker. Since then, he has taken 59 T20I wickets with a stellar average under 18, including a memorable five-for. His dream is to help Saudi Arabia qualify for the T20 World Cup and inspire the next generation of pace bowlers in the Kingdom.