Fazalhaq Farooqi became the most expensive player in ILT20 auction history after MI Emirates secured the Afghanistan fast bowler for USD 380,000 at the 2026 auction. England allrounder Liam Livingstone was the second-highest purchase at USD 350,000, while Rahmanullah Gurbaz also crossed the USD 300,000 mark before Gulf Giants brought him back using their Right-to-Match option.
The auction also marked Babar Azam's first ILT20 appearance, with the Pakistan batter joining defending champions Desert Vipers for his base price of USD 80,000. He will be part of a four-player Pakistan contingent at the franchise, alongside Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman and Naseem Shah.
Farooqi Sets New ILT20 Auction Record
MI Emirates made Farooqi the headline signing of the auction, paying USD 380,000 to secure the left-arm seamer. The bid surpassed the previous record of USD 260,000, paid by MI Emirates for West Indies wicketkeeper-batter Andre Fletcher in 2025.
Fletcher's fortunes changed considerably this time, with Abu Dhabi Knight Riders signing him for just USD 40,000.
Farooqi's record price reflects his established reputation in the competition. He is the ILT20's leading wicket-taker, with 64 wickets in 40 innings at an economy rate of 7.76.
Livingstone was the next major signing, with Gulf Giants paying USD 350,000 for the England allrounder. The move will reunite him with Giants coach Simon Helmot, with whom he worked at Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL earlier in 2026.
Babar Azam Joins Desert Vipers' Pakistan Contingent
Babar will make his ILT20 debut with Desert Vipers after the defending champions signed him for USD 80,000. The franchise also secured Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman and Naseem Shah at the same base price.
The four Pakistan players cost the Vipers a combined USD 320,000. None attracted competing bids from the other franchises.
It was the second consecutive auction in which the Avram Glazer-owned team built a significant part of its squad around Pakistan players. Among the other franchises, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders were the only side to purchase another Pakistan player, signing Usman Tariq for USD 80,000 in the accelerated round.
The remaining franchises — Dubai Capitals, Gulf Giants, MI Emirates and Sharjah Warriorz — did not purchase Pakistan players at the auction.
Gurbaz and Afghanistan Players in Demand
Afghanistan players attracted considerable interest under the new squad-building rules, which require each franchise to have at least four players from the country. A total of 25 Afghanistan players were picked by the six teams.
Gurbaz was the third player to cross the USD 300,000 threshold. Abu Dhabi Knight Riders initially outbid Desert Vipers to secure the wicketkeeper-batter for USD 310,000, but Gulf Giants used their Right-to-Match option to retain him.
ADKR subsequently signed Gulbadin Naib for USD 75,000 and Qais Ahmad for USD 38,000 in the accelerated rounds. They also picked up 21-year-old legspinner Arab Gul, who played for MI Emirates last season and recently made his T20I debut for Afghanistan at the Asian Games in Japan.
MI Emirates used their Right-to-Match option to bring back mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar for USD 150,000, pairing him with pre-auction signing Rashid Khan.
Sharjah Warriorz invested USD 140,000 in veteran allrounder Mohammad Nabi, who will turn out for the franchise at 41. His son, Hassan Eisakhil, went unsold.
Gulf Giants also brought back Wahidullah Zadran, who had played two matches for them in the 2024-25 season.
UAE Player Availability Remains a Concern
Uncertainty over the availability of UAE players could have influenced some of the auction prices. The ILT20 runs from November 21 to December 20, while the 2027 ODI World Cup Qualifier playoffs are scheduled for December 1 to 22.
The International Cricket Council has yet to confirm the venue for the Qualifier playoffs. It is understood that the Emirates Cricket Board approached the ICC about moving the playoffs to January, but the packed international calendar presented a challenge.
UAE T20I captain Harpreet Singh did not attract any bids. However, wicketkeeper-batter Vriitya Aravind was signed by Desert Vipers for USD 70,000, despite not having represented the national team for more than a year.
Former UAE captain Muhammad Waseem also returned to MI Emirates after the franchise used its Right-to-Match option at USD 210,000. Waseem is currently outside the national setup and could therefore be available throughout the ILT20 season.
Former India international KS Bharat, who has moved to the UAE and registered as a local wicketkeeper-batter, went unsold despite participating in the ILT20 development tournament before the auction.
New Faces Set for ILT20 Debuts
Desert Vipers signed England batter Aneurin Donald for USD 40,000. Donald, who can also keep wicket, has a T20 strike rate of 171.33 and could add considerable hitting power to the defending champions' lineup.
MI Emirates picked up his compatriot James Coles for USD 100,000. Coles impressed in the SA20 with Sunrisers Eastern Cape and in The Hundred with London Spirit, and will now have an opportunity to make his ILT20 debut.
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders also signed Jakeem Pollard, who will work under coach Dwayne Bravo. The left-arm quick made an impression during the 2026 Caribbean Premier League, generating steep bounce and troubling established batters.
ADKR added USA allrounder Amshi de Silva for USD 100,000 after a bidding contest. De Silva, who was among the breakout performers for Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket 2026, will reunite with Bravo in the UAE.
Major ILT20 Auction Signings
The three highest-priced players were Farooqi, Livingstone and Gurbaz, while several other established international cricketers also attracted substantial bids.
| Player | Franchise | Auction Price |
|---|---|---|
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | MI Emirates | USD 380,000 |
| Liam Livingstone | Gulf Giants | USD 350,000 |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | Gulf Giants (RTM) | USD 310,000 |
| Faf du Plessis | Dubai Capitals | USD 300,000 |
| Alzarri Joseph | Gulf Giants | USD 230,000 |
| Muhammad Waseem | MI Emirates (RTM) | USD 210,000 |
| Richard Gleeson | Sharjah Warriorz | USD 180,000 |
| Chris Jordan | MI Emirates | USD 170,000 |
| David Payne | Desert Vipers | USD 150,000 |
| AM Ghazanfar | MI Emirates (RTM) | USD 150,000 |
| Mohammad Nabi | Sharjah Warriorz | USD 140,000 |
Criclines Analysis
The 2026 ILT20 auction produced a new spending benchmark with Farooqi's USD 380,000 signing, while Livingstone and Gurbaz also commanded significant investment. The high prices paid for Afghanistan players reflect the importance of the country's representation under the competition's squad rules.
Desert Vipers' acquisition of Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman and Naseem Shah for a combined USD 320,000 gives the defending champions a substantial Pakistan contingent without bidding above the base price for any of the four.
The availability of UAE players remains a key variable ahead of the season. With the ILT20 overlapping with the ODI World Cup Qualifier playoffs, franchises could face changes to their plans depending on which local players are available for the full competition.
