Fazalhaq Farooqi leads record-breaking spending at ILT20 Season 5 auction

Afghanistan fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi became the most expensive player in the history of the DP World International League T20 (ILT20) player auction after being signed by MI Emirates for $380,000 at the Season 5 auction recently.

The October auction in Dubai saw four players surpass the previous record of $260,000, set by Andre Fletcher in Season 4, as franchises invested heavily in strengthening their squads ahead of the upcoming tournament.

England all-rounder Liam Livingstone was the second-highest purchase, joining Gulf Giants for $350,000. Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz also joined the Giants after they exercised their Right-to-Match option to secure him for $310,000.

Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis completed the leading deals, joining Dubai Capitals for $300,000.

Farooqi’s record-breaking price highlights the demand for Afghanistan’s international cricket talent ahead of the fifth season, scheduled to run from November 21 to December 20, 2026.

Pakistan stars join defending champions

The Desert Vipers strengthened their squad with four Pakistan internationals, signing Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan for their respective base price of $80,000.

Babar is set to make his ILT20 debut in Season 5, while Naseem and Fakhar return to the defending champions for another campaign.

The auction also saw Muhammad Waseem become the highest-priced UAE player in the competition’s history. MI Emirates used their Right-to-Match option to secure the UAE international for $210,000.

Other notable UAE player deals included Alishan Sharafu, who joined Abu Dhabi Knight Riders for $110,000, while Muhammad Rohid and Aayan Khan attracted bids of $95,000 each.

Franchises invest in international talent

The six franchises also targeted players from Associate Member nations, underlining the league’s international reach.

USA players Amshi De Silva and Hassan Khan secured deals worth $100,000 and $90,000 with Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and Dubai Capitals respectively. Scotland’s Brandon McMullen joined Sharjah Warriorz for $80,000, while Namibia’s David Wiese signed with Gulf Giants for $70,000.

Among the other major purchases, West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph joined Gulf Giants for $230,000. England pacer Richard Gleeson was signed by Sharjah Warriorz for $180,000, while Chris Jordan moved to MI Emirates for $170,000.

Desert Vipers also exercised their Right-to-Match option to retain England fast bowler David Payne for $150,000.

Afghanistan players feature across franchises

Afghanistan internationals featured prominently throughout the auction, with several players securing deals across the six teams.

In addition to Farooqi and Gurbaz, Mohammad Nabi joined Sharjah Warriorz for $140,000, while Gulbadin Naib signed for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders for $75,000.

Dubai Capitals secured Sediqullah Atal for $70,000 and Karim Janat for $40,000. Gulf Giants added opening batter Ibrahim Zadran for $65,000, while MI Emirates retained Allah Ghazanfar through their Right-to-Match option for $150,000.

Arab Gul also joined Abu Dhabi Knight Riders for $80,000, adding to the Afghan contingent in the competition.

Gulf Giants lead auction spending

MI Emirates recorded the highest total auction spending at $2 million, followed closely by Gulf Giants at $1.972 million. Dubai Capitals spent $1.834 million, while Sharjah Warriorz invested $1.72 million.

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders recorded spending of $1.549 million, with Desert Vipers spending $1.544 million.

The auction was attended by several prominent figures from the cricketing world, including Season 5 ambassador Brett Lee, alongside former international stars AB de Villiers, Allan Donald, Shoaib Malik and Usman Khawaja.

The fifth edition of the DP World ILT20 is scheduled to take place from November 21 to December 20, with six franchises competing for the title.

For Afghan cricket fans, the presence of Farooqi, Gurbaz, Nabi and other national players adds further interest to a tournament that continues to attract international talent and significant franchise investment.

Fans meanwhile will be able to watch all the action exclusively on ATN television and digital platforms.