West Indies’ explosive batter Andre Fletcher set the tone on day one of the International League T20 Season 4 Auction in Dubai, fetching a whopping USD 260,000 from Mumbai Indian (MI) Emirates to become the highest-paid player so far. English pacer Scott Currie wasn’t far behind, signing with Dubai Capitals for USD 250,000, while Pakistan-native UAE local Junaid Siddique was snapped up by Sharjah Warriorz for USD 170,000. England’s left-arm spinner Liam Dawson also commanded attention, joining Gulf Giants for the same amount.
Among the other notable picks were Muhammad Rohid (MI Emirates, USD 140k), Naveen-ul-Haq (MI Emirates, USD 100k), Nathan Sowter (Sharjah Warriorz, USD 100k), Tymal Mills (Dubai Capitals, USD 80k) and Pakistan’s duo Fakhar Zaman and Naseem Shah, both acquired by Desert Vipers for USD 80k each. Rising talent from Pakistan Hasan Nawaz, PSL's Emerging Player and leading run-getter, also went under the hammer, securing a deal with Desert Vipers for USD 40k.
The opening day of the two-day auction turned out to be a spectacle of high bids, unexpected snubs and calculated strategies, as franchises went all out to bolster their squads. Yet, some of the game’s biggest names were left unsold, adding an intriguing twist to the event.
A notable trend was the subdued demand for Pakistani players, many of whom were picked at their base prices. None of the five franchises with Indian ownership showed interest, reflecting a lingering reluctance amid strained India-Pakistan relations. As a result, most Pakistani cricketers found takers only at minimum valuations, limiting the kind of bidding wars seen for others.
Equally eye-catching were the high-profile names that went unsold. India’s off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, despite a base price of USD 120k, failed to attract any bids. He was joined on the sidelines by Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan, England’s opener Jason Roy, Pakistan’s former quick Mohammad Amir and rising talent Saim Ayub—all missing out on contracts despite their international pedigree.
Franchises entered the auction with a base purse of USD 800k, supplemented by unspent amounts from the 1.2m reserved for direct signings and retentions. Each team is required to spend atleast USD 1.5 million and maximum USD 2 million overall. They also have the option to sign up to two Wildcard players outside the auction for an extra USD 250k, giving further flexibility to fine-tune their squads.
In addition, squad composition rules mandate at least 19 and no more than 21 players (excluding wildcards), including 11 from ICC Full Member nations, four from the UAE (one under-23), one from Kuwait, one from Saudi Arabia and two from other Associate nations—ensuring a balance of global stars and regional talent.
Complete Squads for ILT20 2025
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (Total spend: USD 1,457,000) Auction signings: Michael Pepper (40k), George Garton (10k), Brandon McMullen (110k), Ibrar Ahmed (22k), Ajay Kumar (10k), Adnan Idrees Muhammad (10k), Abdul Manan Ali (10k), Mayank Chowdary (10k), Khary Pierre (10k), Shadley Van Schalkwyk (10k), Unmukt Chand (40k). Retentions/direct signings: Liam Livingstone, Alishan Sharafu, Alex Hales, Sherfane Rutherford, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Phil Salt, Olly Stone.
Desert Vipers (Total spend: USD 1,617,500) Auction signings: Vriitya Aravind (10k), Fakhar Zaman (80k), Naseem Shah (80k), Qais Ahmad (40k), Sanjay Pahal (10k), Bilal Tahir (10k), Faisal Khan (10k), Hasan Nawaz (40k), Tom Bruce (80k), Matiullah Khan (10k), Tawanda Muyeye (40k), Faridoon Dawoodzai (10k). Retentions/direct signings: Dan Lawrence, Max Holden, David Payne, Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Lockie Ferguson, Wanindu Hasaranga, Sam Curran, Andries Gous.
Dubai Capitals (Total spend: USD 1,475,000) Auction signings: Muhammad Farooq (10k), Tymal Mills (80k), Scott Currie (250k), Mohammad Nabi (80k), Farhan Khan (10k), Anudeep Chenthamara (10k), Usman Najeeb (10k), Ritesh Mallikarjuna Grandhi (10k), Shayan Jahangir (10k), Rushil Ugarkar (10k), Naveen Bidiasee (10k), Toby Albert (10k), Akshay Wakhare (10k). Retentions/direct signings: Jordan Cox, Rovman Powell, Gulbadin Naib, Sediqullah Atal, Waqar Salamkheil, Haider Ali, Muhammad Jawadullah, Jimmy Neesham.
Gulf Giants (Total spend: USD 1,471,000) Auction signings: Asif Khan (26k), Zuhaib Zubair (10k), Sean Dickson (10k), Tabraiz Shamsi (40k), Liam Dawson (170k), Fred Klaassen (40k), Haider Razzaq (50k), Meet Bhavsar (14k), Ishtiaq Ahmad (16k), Lorcan Tucker (10k), Chris Wood (40k), Tom Moores (40k), Ramon Simmonds (40k). Retentions/direct signings: Aayan Afzal Khan, Mark Adair, Gerhard Erasmus, Blessing Muzarabani, Moeen Ali, James Vince, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
Mumbai Indian Emirates (Total spend: USD 1,868,000) Auction signings: Muhammad Rohid (140k), Jordan Thompson (48k), Naveen-ul-Haq (100k), Andre Fletcher (260k), Nosthush Kenjige (10k), Mohamed Shafeeq (10k), Zain Ul Abidin (10k), Usman Khan (10k), Ackeem Auguste (10k), Arab Gul (10k), Tajinder Dhillon (10k), Zahoor Khan (10k), Shakib Al Hasan (40k). Retentions/direct signings: Fazalhaq Farooqi, Tom Banton, Romario Shepherd, Chris Woakes, Jonny Bairstow, AM Ghazanfar, Muhammad Waseem, Kamindu Mendis.
Sharjah Warriorz (Total spend: USD 1,664,000) Auction signings: Junaid Siddique (170k), James Rew (10k), Nathan Sowter (100k), Dwaine Pretorius (120k), Jayden Seales (80k), Harmeet Singh (10k), Wasim Akram (55k), Mohamed Nawfer Mohamed Aslam (14k), Raees Ahmad (10k), Richard Ngarava (10k), Shubham Ranjane (10k), Ethan D’Souza (10k), Taskin Ahmed (80k), Abdul Salman Khan (10k). Retentions/direct signings: Dinesh Karthik, Sikandar Raza, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Tim David, Johnson Charles, Tim Southee, Saurabh Netravalkar.
Among the other notable picks were Muhammad Rohid (MI Emirates, USD 140k), Naveen-ul-Haq (MI Emirates, USD 100k), Nathan Sowter (Sharjah Warriorz, USD 100k), Tymal Mills (Dubai Capitals, USD 80k) and Pakistan’s duo Fakhar Zaman and Naseem Shah, both acquired by Desert Vipers for USD 80k each. Rising talent from Pakistan Hasan Nawaz, PSL's Emerging Player and leading run-getter, also went under the hammer, securing a deal with Desert Vipers for USD 40k.
The opening day of the two-day auction turned out to be a spectacle of high bids, unexpected snubs and calculated strategies, as franchises went all out to bolster their squads. Yet, some of the game’s biggest names were left unsold, adding an intriguing twist to the event.
A notable trend was the subdued demand for Pakistani players, many of whom were picked at their base prices. None of the five franchises with Indian ownership showed interest, reflecting a lingering reluctance amid strained India-Pakistan relations. As a result, most Pakistani cricketers found takers only at minimum valuations, limiting the kind of bidding wars seen for others.
Equally eye-catching were the high-profile names that went unsold. India’s off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, despite a base price of USD 120k, failed to attract any bids. He was joined on the sidelines by Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan, England’s opener Jason Roy, Pakistan’s former quick Mohammad Amir and rising talent Saim Ayub—all missing out on contracts despite their international pedigree.
Franchises entered the auction with a base purse of USD 800k, supplemented by unspent amounts from the 1.2m reserved for direct signings and retentions. Each team is required to spend atleast USD 1.5 million and maximum USD 2 million overall. They also have the option to sign up to two Wildcard players outside the auction for an extra USD 250k, giving further flexibility to fine-tune their squads.
In addition, squad composition rules mandate at least 19 and no more than 21 players (excluding wildcards), including 11 from ICC Full Member nations, four from the UAE (one under-23), one from Kuwait, one from Saudi Arabia and two from other Associate nations—ensuring a balance of global stars and regional talent.
Complete Squads for ILT20 2025
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (Total spend: USD 1,457,000) Auction signings: Michael Pepper (40k), George Garton (10k), Brandon McMullen (110k), Ibrar Ahmed (22k), Ajay Kumar (10k), Adnan Idrees Muhammad (10k), Abdul Manan Ali (10k), Mayank Chowdary (10k), Khary Pierre (10k), Shadley Van Schalkwyk (10k), Unmukt Chand (40k). Retentions/direct signings: Liam Livingstone, Alishan Sharafu, Alex Hales, Sherfane Rutherford, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Phil Salt, Olly Stone.
Desert Vipers (Total spend: USD 1,617,500) Auction signings: Vriitya Aravind (10k), Fakhar Zaman (80k), Naseem Shah (80k), Qais Ahmad (40k), Sanjay Pahal (10k), Bilal Tahir (10k), Faisal Khan (10k), Hasan Nawaz (40k), Tom Bruce (80k), Matiullah Khan (10k), Tawanda Muyeye (40k), Faridoon Dawoodzai (10k). Retentions/direct signings: Dan Lawrence, Max Holden, David Payne, Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Lockie Ferguson, Wanindu Hasaranga, Sam Curran, Andries Gous.
Dubai Capitals (Total spend: USD 1,475,000) Auction signings: Muhammad Farooq (10k), Tymal Mills (80k), Scott Currie (250k), Mohammad Nabi (80k), Farhan Khan (10k), Anudeep Chenthamara (10k), Usman Najeeb (10k), Ritesh Mallikarjuna Grandhi (10k), Shayan Jahangir (10k), Rushil Ugarkar (10k), Naveen Bidiasee (10k), Toby Albert (10k), Akshay Wakhare (10k). Retentions/direct signings: Jordan Cox, Rovman Powell, Gulbadin Naib, Sediqullah Atal, Waqar Salamkheil, Haider Ali, Muhammad Jawadullah, Jimmy Neesham.
Gulf Giants (Total spend: USD 1,471,000) Auction signings: Asif Khan (26k), Zuhaib Zubair (10k), Sean Dickson (10k), Tabraiz Shamsi (40k), Liam Dawson (170k), Fred Klaassen (40k), Haider Razzaq (50k), Meet Bhavsar (14k), Ishtiaq Ahmad (16k), Lorcan Tucker (10k), Chris Wood (40k), Tom Moores (40k), Ramon Simmonds (40k). Retentions/direct signings: Aayan Afzal Khan, Mark Adair, Gerhard Erasmus, Blessing Muzarabani, Moeen Ali, James Vince, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
Mumbai Indian Emirates (Total spend: USD 1,868,000) Auction signings: Muhammad Rohid (140k), Jordan Thompson (48k), Naveen-ul-Haq (100k), Andre Fletcher (260k), Nosthush Kenjige (10k), Mohamed Shafeeq (10k), Zain Ul Abidin (10k), Usman Khan (10k), Ackeem Auguste (10k), Arab Gul (10k), Tajinder Dhillon (10k), Zahoor Khan (10k), Shakib Al Hasan (40k). Retentions/direct signings: Fazalhaq Farooqi, Tom Banton, Romario Shepherd, Chris Woakes, Jonny Bairstow, AM Ghazanfar, Muhammad Waseem, Kamindu Mendis.
Sharjah Warriorz (Total spend: USD 1,664,000) Auction signings: Junaid Siddique (170k), James Rew (10k), Nathan Sowter (100k), Dwaine Pretorius (120k), Jayden Seales (80k), Harmeet Singh (10k), Wasim Akram (55k), Mohamed Nawfer Mohamed Aslam (14k), Raees Ahmad (10k), Richard Ngarava (10k), Shubham Ranjane (10k), Ethan D’Souza (10k), Taskin Ahmed (80k), Abdul Salman Khan (10k). Retentions/direct signings: Dinesh Karthik, Sikandar Raza, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Tim David, Johnson Charles, Tim Southee, Saurabh Netravalkar.
