(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Cricket fans, get ready for some high-stakes bidding action! The International League T20 (ILT20) Season 4 player auction kicks off on October 1 in Dubai, marking the league’s first-ever auction. Top stars like India’s Ravichandran Ashwin, England’s Jason Roy, Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman, and Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan headline the list of nearly 300 players from over 20 countries. This event opens doors for emerging talents and regional cricketers from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, alongside UAE players, boosting cricket’s growth in the region.
Organizers have slotted players into four price categories: $120,000, $80,000, $40,000, and $10,000. Leading the top $120,000 tier is Ashwin, the veteran spinner making his franchise cricket debut after retiring from international play. He’s the big name everyone will watch.
In the $80,000 bracket, explosive batters like Jason Roy, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub from Pakistan, and West Indies’ Andre Fletcher promise fireworks. All-rounders add muscle with Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi and Karim Janat, Pakistan’s Muhammad Nawaz, plus pacers Naseem Shah, Faheem Ashraf, and Afghanistan’s Naveen-ul-Haq.
The $40,000 group packs experience, with Shakib Al Hasan topping it as a seasoned all-rounder. He’s joined by England’s bowling legend James Anderson, Australia’s Andrew Tye, and Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran and Najibullah Zadran. Associate nation standouts include USA’s Unmukt Chand, Netherlands’ Logan van Beek and Roelof van der Merwe.
Don’t sleep on the $10,000 category—it’s loaded with potential. South Africa’s Temba Bavuma, Ireland’s Paul Stirling, India’s Siddarth Kaul and Priyank Panchal, Zimbabwe’s Richard Ngarava, and Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee shine here. Namibia’s JJ Smit, Scotland’s Brandon McMullen, and Canada’s Kaleem Sana bring associate nation flair. All UAE players start at this base price, including Junaid Siddique, Vriitya Aravind, Aryan Lakra, Basil Hameed, Rohan Mustafa, Zuhaib Zubair, Zahoor Khan, Dhruv Parashar, and Rahul Chopra.
Several ILT20 superstars have already signed with teams, keeping the talent pool deep for Season 4. Look for Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and Phil Salt with Abu Dhabi Knight Riders; Tim Southee, Dinesh Karthik, and Tim David with Sharjah Warriorz; Fazalhaq Farooqi, Muhammad Waseem, and Romario Shepherd with MI Emirates; Gulbadin Naib and Rovman Powell with Dubai Capitals; Moeen Ali and Rahmanullah Gurbaz with Gulf Giants; plus Wanindu Hasaranga and Shimron Hetmyer with Desert Vipers.
Each of the six franchises enters the auction with a solid budget, starting at $800,000 plus leftovers from their $1.2 million for retentions and direct signings. Dubai Capitals and Gulf Giants lead with $1,035,000 each, followed by Sharjah Warriorz at $1,025,000, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at $925,000, Desert Vipers at $802,500, and MI Emirates at $800,000. Teams must build squads of 19 to 21 players, spending between $1.5 million and $2 million total. Rules require at least 11 players from full ICC member nations, four UAE players (including one under-23), one from Kuwait, one from Saudi Arabia, and two from other associate nations. Every match lineup needs at least two UAE players and one more from an associate nation, which could be a third UAE cricketer or someone from Kuwait or Saudi Arabia. Teams can also grab up to two wildcard players outside the auction for $250,000 each.
Here’s a quick look at each team’s purse and needs heading into the ILT20 auction:
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Abu Dhabi Knight Riders ($925,000): Current squad has one UAE under-23 and seven full members like Liam Livingstone, Alex Hales, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Phil Salt, and Olly Stone. They need three more UAE players, four full members, two associates, one Kuwaiti, and one Saudi.
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Desert Vipers ($802,500): Squad includes one UAE player, six full members (Lockie Ferguson, Sam Curran, Wanindu Hasaranga), and one associate. Still seeking two UAE players, one under-23 UAE, five full members, one associate, one Kuwaiti, and one Saudi.
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Dubai Capitals ($1,035,000): Two UAE players and six full members (Rovman Powell, Gulbadin Naib, Jimmy Neesham) on board. They aim to add one UAE, one under-23 UAE, five full members, two associates, one Kuwaiti, and one Saudi.
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Gulf Giants ($1,035,000): One UAE under-23, six full members (Moeen Ali, Rahmanullah Gurbaz), and one associate. Looking for three UAE players, five full members, one associate, one Kuwaiti, and one Saudi.
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MI Emirates ($800,000): One UAE player and seven full members (Fazalhaq Farooqi, Muhammad Waseem, Jonny Bairstow, Chris Woakes). Need two UAE, one under-23 UAE, four full members, two associates, one Kuwaiti, and one Saudi.
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Sharjah Warriorz ($1,025,000): Six full members (Tim Southee, Dinesh Karthik, Tim David, Sikandar Raza) and one associate. They must acquire three UAE players, one under-23 UAE, five full members, one associate, one Kuwaiti, and one Saudi.
The DP World ILT20 Season 4 starts on December 2, 2025—UAE National Day—with a 34-match showdown across six teams wrapping up in the final on January 4, 2026. Expect another thrilling edition of T20 cricket packed with global stars and local flavor.
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