ILT20 Auction 2026: Fazalhaq Farooqi Becomes Most Expensive Player at USD 380,000

The ILT20 Season 5 auction produced a new record on October 1 as Fazalhaq Farooqi became the most expensive player in the history of the International League T20 auction. MI Emirates secured the Afghanistan fast bowler for USD 380,000 at the auction in Dubai.

Farooqi’s price surpassed the previous ILT20 auction record of USD 260,000, which was set by Andre Fletcher and MI Emirates in Season 4. The Afghanistan pacer was one of several players who crossed that previous benchmark during a busy auction, with Liam Livingstone, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Faf du Plessis also commanding major bids.

The auction also saw Pakistan star Babar Azam join Desert Vipers at his USD 80,000 base price, while Livingstone went to Gulf Giants for USD 350,000 and Gurbaz was retained by the Giants through the Right-to-Match option for USD 310,000.

With the auction now complete, all six ILT20 franchises have finalised their main squads for Season 5.

Fazalhaq Farooqi Creates ILT20 Auction History

MI Emirates made the biggest statement of the ILT20 Season 5 auction by spending USD 380,000 on Fazalhaq Farooqi.

The Afghanistan left-arm fast bowler entered the auction with a base price of USD 80,000 but attracted a much larger bid. His final price comfortably eclipsed the previous record of USD 260,000.

Farooqi’s signing also continues his association with MI Emirates. The franchise had previously bought Andre Fletcher for the record price in Season 4, but Farooqi’s deal has now established a new benchmark for ILT20 auctions.

The record-breaking purchase was the biggest individual transaction of an auction that saw several international stars attract significant interest.

Liam Livingstone, Gurbaz and Faf du Plessis Also Cross USD 300,000

Farooqi was not the only player to generate a huge bid.

England all-rounder Liam Livingstone was bought by Gulf Giants for USD 350,000, making him the second-highest purchase of the auction.

The Giants also used their Right-to-Match option to secure Afghanistan batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz for USD 310,000. Gurbaz briefly became the most expensive player during the auction before Livingstone and then Farooqi moved above him.

South African veteran Faf du Plessis also crossed the USD 300,000 mark after Dubai Capitals bought him for USD 300,000.

These four players were the only ones to surpass the previous USD 260,000 ILT20 auction record.

Babar Azam Joins Desert Vipers

One of the biggest talking points before the auction was the participation of Babar Azam, who was entering the ILT20 auction for the first time.

The Pakistan batter was eventually picked by Desert Vipers for USD 80,000, exactly matching his base price.

Babar will join Pakistan teammates Fakhar Zaman and Naseem Shah at Desert Vipers. Shadab Khan was another Pakistan player picked by the defending champions at the same USD 80,000 price.

Babar’s arrival gives Desert Vipers another established international batter as they prepare to defend their ILT20 title.

UAE Players Also Make an Impact

The auction was also significant for UAE cricket.

Muhammad Waseem became the most expensive UAE player in ILT20 auction history after MI Emirates used their Right-to-Match option to retain him for USD 210,000.

Alishan Sharafu was another major UAE purchase. Abu Dhabi Knight Riders used their RTM option to acquire him for USD 110,000.

Muhammad Rohid went to Abu Dhabi Knight Riders for USD 95,000, while Aayan Khan was bought by Dubai Capitals for the same amount.

The auction therefore provided considerable financial recognition to several UAE players.

ILT20 Season 5: Complete Team Squads

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Squad

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders entered the auction with four pre-auction signings and added a large group of players during the auction.

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders full squad:

• Finn Allen
• Jason Holder
• Matthew Tromp
• Sunil Narine
• Muhammad Rohid
• Alishan Sharafu
• Ibrar Ahmed
• Ajay Kumar
• Moeen Ali
• Andre Fletcher
• Arab Gul
• Kieron Pollard
• Gulbadin Naib
• Colin Munro
• Amish De Silva
• Michael Pepper
• Lorcan Tucker
• Usman Tariq
• Abdullah Tarakhail
• Qais Ahmad
• Ravija Sandaruwan

The Knight Riders added considerable experience through Moeen Ali, Andre Fletcher, Kieron Pollard and Colin Munro, while also strengthening their UAE and Associate player contingent.

Desert Vipers Squad

The defending champions retained a strong international core before the auction and then added several major names.

Desert Vipers full squad:

• Andries Gous
• Dan Lawrence
• Mujeeb-ur-Rahman
• Shimron Hetmyer
• Khuzaima Bin Tanveer
• Vriitya Anand
• Nilansh Keshwani
• Babar Azam
• Naseem Shah
• Fakhar Zaman
• Aneurin Donald
• David Payne
• Nangeyalia Kharote
• Sanjay Pahal
• Harry Tector
• Joe Clarke
• Saleem Safi
• Abdullah Ahmadzai
• Shadab Khan
• Bilal Tahir
• Ishtiaq Ahmed
• Wali Muhammad

Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan are among the major additions, giving the defending champions a significant Pakistan presence.

Dubai Capitals Squad

Dubai Capitals made one of the auction’s biggest investments by buying Faf du Plessis for USD 300,000.

Dubai Capitals full squad:

• Marcus Stoinis
• Mustafizur Rahman
• Noor Ahmad
• Rovman Powell
• Zuhaib Zubair
• Aayan Khan
• Haider Ali
• Faf du Plessis
• Dasun Shanaka
• Phil Salt
• Max Holden
• Darwish Rasooli
• Sediqullah Atal
• Karim Janat
• Mark Adair
• Muhammad Arfan
• Matt Potts
• Hassan Khan
• Anudeep Chenthamara
• Usman Najeeb
• Tom Moores
• Luke Wood
• Masood Ul Gurbaz

The Capitals have combined experienced T20 players such as Stoinis, Faf, Salt, Powell and Shanaka with younger players from Afghanistan, UAE and Associate nations.

Gulf Giants Squad

Gulf Giants were one of the biggest spenders during the auction, with Liam Livingstone and Rahmanullah Gurbaz among their headline purchases.

Gulf Giants full squad:

• Azmatullah Omarzai
• Blessing Muzarabani
• David Miller
• Heinrich Klaasen
• Matiullah Khan
• Dhruv Parashar
• Ibrahim Zadran
• Rahmanullah Gurbaz
• Liam Livingstone
• Curtis Campher
• Haider Razzaq
• Shamar Joseph
• Imran Mir
• Alzarri Joseph
• David Wiese
• Shubham Ranjane
• Meet Bhavsar
• Imtiaz Khan
• Alick Athanaze
• Tabraiz Shamsi
• Sagar Kalyan
• Awais Ahmed
• Wahidullah Zadran

The Giants have assembled a squad featuring major international names across batting, bowling and all-rounder positions. Livingstone, Gurbaz, Miller, Klaasen and Alzarri Joseph are among their biggest acquisitions.

MI Emirates Squad

MI Emirates produced the headline signing of the auction by spending USD 380,000 on Fazalhaq Farooqi.

MI Emirates full squad:

• Nicholas Pooran
• Rashid Khan
• Romario Shepherd
• Sherfane Rutherford
• Muhammad Waseem
• Zahoor Khan
• Fazalhaq Farooqi
• Kusal Perera
• Wasim Akram
• AM Ghazanfar
• Asa Tribe
• Mohamed Shafeeq
• Zain ul Abidin
• Chris Jordan
• James Coles
• Lizaad Williams
• Jonny Bairstow
• Jordan Thompson
• Ross Adair
• Faridoon Dawoodzai
• Sanjay Krishnamurthi
• Raizal Nadir Nather Shah

MI Emirates now have a formidable group of international players, with Rashid Khan, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Sherfane Rutherford, Farooqi, Chris Jordan and Jonny Bairstow among the major names.

Sharjah Warriorz Squad

Sharjah Warriorz also made several significant purchases, including Richard Gleeson, Mohammad Nabi and Paul Walter.

Sharjah Warriorz full squad:

• Adam Milne
• James Vince
• Waqar Salamkheil
• Sikandar Raza
• Tanish Suri
• Ali Ameer Naseer
• Adil Rashid
• Mohammad Nabi
• Richard Gleeson
• George Linde
• Paul Walter
• Nabeel Aziz
• George Dockrell
• Brandon McMullen
• Arunraj Selvaraj
• Mohammad Saqib
• Craig Overton
• James Rew
• Tom Banton
• Logan van Beek
• Sharafuddin Ashraf
• Fareed Malik

Richard Gleeson was their most expensive auction purchase at USD 180,000, while Mohammad Nabi cost USD 140,000 and Paul Walter went for USD 110,000.

ILT20 Auction 2026: Top Five Most Expensive Players

The list shows the dominance of overseas players at the top end of the auction, with Gulf Giants accounting for three of the top five purchases.

Other Major ILT20 Auction Deals

Several other players attracted significant bids during the auction.

MI Emirates bought Muhammad Waseem for USD 210,000, while Sharjah Warriorz paid USD 180,000 for Richard Gleeson.

MI Emirates also purchased Chris Jordan for USD 170,000 and retained AM Ghazanfar through RTM for USD 150,000.

Sharjah Warriorz added Mohammad Nabi for USD 140,000, while Lizaad Williams cost MI Emirates USD 110,000.

Paul Walter also joined Sharjah Warriorz for USD 110,000.

ILT20 Season 5 Squad Structure

The six ILT20 franchises had to build squads under specific composition rules.

Each team must have between 18 and 23 players. The squad composition includes minimum requirements for Full Member nations, Afghanistan, Ireland, UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and other Associate nations.

The playing XI must also meet nationality requirements, including at least two UAE players, two Afghanistan players and one additional Associate player.

These requirements played an important role in the auction, particularly when franchises were filling their local and Associate player slots.

When Will ILT20 Season 5 Begin?

The fifth season of the DP World ILT20 is scheduled to run from November 21 to December 20, 2026.

The six-team tournament will be played across Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Dubai International Stadium and Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

With the auction completed, the franchises can now begin preparations with their final squads ahead of the new season.

ILT20 Auction 2026 FAQs

Who was the most expensive player in the ILT20 auction 2026?

Fazalhaq Farooqi was the most expensive player, with MI Emirates buying the Afghanistan fast bowler for USD 380,000.

How much did Babar Azam cost in the ILT20 auction?

Babar Azam was bought by Desert Vipers for USD 80,000, which was his base price.

Which team bought Fazalhaq Farooqi?

MI Emirates bought Fazalhaq Farooqi for USD 380,000.

Who was the second-most expensive player in the ILT20 auction?

Liam Livingstone was the second-most expensive player after being bought by Gulf Giants for USD 350,000.

How much did Faf du Plessis cost?

Dubai Capitals bought Faf du Plessis for USD 300,000.

Which team bought Rahmanullah Gurbaz?

Gulf Giants used their Right-to-Match option to retain Rahmanullah Gurbaz for USD 310,000.

How many teams are playing in ILT20 Season 5?

Six franchises are participating in ILT20 Season 5: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Desert Vipers, Dubai Capitals, Gulf Giants, MI Emirates and Sharjah Warriorz.

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