Marking a significant milestone for cricket in the region, international stars like Ravichandran Ashwin, Jason Roy, Fakhar Zaman, and Shakib Al Hasan will headline the DP World ILT20 Season 4 Player Auction on October 1, 2025.
This inaugural auction will feature nearly 300 players from over 20 countries, showcasing both renowned internationals and promising talents, along with regional players from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. This heralds a new era of opportunities for regional cricketers alongside those from the UAE.
Players are categorized into price brackets of $120,000, $80,000, $40,000, and $10,000. Ravichandran Ashwin, in the $120,000 bracket, returns to franchise cricket post his international career.
In the $80,000 bracket, notable names include England’s Jason Roy, Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub, and West Indies’ Andre Fletcher. All-rounders like Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi and Karim Janat, alongside Pakistan’s Muhammad Nawaz, add to the mix. Fast bowlers Naseem Shah and Faheem Ashraf from Pakistan, and Afghanistan’s Naveen-ul-Haq bring extra firepower.
The $40,000 category features seasoned talents, led by Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan. Joining him are England’s James Anderson and Australia’s Andrew Tye, alongside Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran and Najibullah Zadran. From the Associate Nations, USA’s Unmukt Chand and Netherlands’ Logan Van Beek and Roelof van der Merwe stand out.
The $10,000 category includes South Africa’s Temba Bavuma, Irish veteran Paul Stirling, India’s Siddarth Kaul and Priyank Panchal, Zimbabwe’s Richard Ngarava, and Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee. Namibia’s JJ Smit, Scotland’s Brandon McMullen, and Canada’s Kaleem Sana add further strength from the Associate Nations. All UAE players, including Junaid Siddique and Vriitya Aravind, are also listed at this base price.
Several notable performers are already aligned with franchises. Key players include Sunil Narine and Andre Russell with Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Tim Southee and Dinesh Karthik with Sharjah Warriorz, and Moeen Ali with Gulf Giants. These stars ensure a strong line-up of global talent for Season 4.
Each franchise starts the auction with a budget of $800,000, plus any leftover funds from the previous $1.2 million allocation for direct signings.
Dubai Capitals and Gulf Giants lead with $1,035,000 each. Sharjah Warriorz have $1,025,000, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders have $925,000, Desert Vipers have $802,500, and MI Emirates have $800,000 to spend.
Post-auction, squads must have 19 to 21 players, with at least 11 from full member nations, four from the UAE, and specific slots for players from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and other ICC associate nations.
Each playing XI must include two UAE players and one from an associate nation, with flexibility for an additional UAE or associate nation player.
Auction Purses and Squad Composition
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (purse: $825,000)
• Current squad: one UAE U-23, seven from full member nations
• Needed: Three UAE players, four from full member nations, two from associate nations, one from Kuwait, one from Saudi Arabia
Desert Vipers (purse: $802,500)
• Current squad: One UAE player, six from full member nations, one from associate nation
• Needed: Two UAE players, one UAE U-23, five from full member nations, one associate nation, one from Kuwait, one from Saudi Arabia
Dubai Capitals (purse: $1,035,000)
• Current squad: Two UAE players, six from full member nations
• Needed: One UAE player, one UAE U-23, five from full member nations, two from associate nations, one from Kuwait, one from Saudi Arabia
Gulf Giants (purse: $1,035,000)
• Current squad: one UAE U-23, six from full member nations, one from associate nation
• Needed: Three UAE Players, five from full member nations, one associate nation, one from Kuwait, one from Saudi Arabia
MI Emirates (purse: $800,000)
• Current squad: One UAE player, seven from full member nations
• Needed: Two UAE players, one UAE U-23, four from full member nations, two from associate nations, one from Kuwait, one from Saudi Arabia
Sharjah Warriorz (purse: $1,025,000)
• Current squad: Six from full member nations, one from associate nation
• Needed: Three UAE players, one UAE U-23, five from full member nations, one from associate nation, one from Kuwait, one from Saudi Arabia
The auction will be streamed live in India on ZEE5 and YouTube (@ILT20onZee), while fans worldwide can watch on YouTube (@ILT20Official).
The DP World ILT20 Season 4 will kick off on December 2, UAE National Day, concluding on January 4, 2026, with a total of 34 matches featuring six teams.
Current Squads
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: Liam Livingstone, Alishan Sharafu, Alex Hales, Sherfane Rutherford, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Phil Salt, Olly Stone, Jason Holder (wildcard), Piyush Chawla (wildcard)
Desert Vipers: Lockie Ferguson, Dan Lawrence, David Payne, Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Max Holden, Sam Curran, Wanindu Hasaranga, Andries Gous, Shimron Hetmyer (wildcard)
Dubai Capitals: Jordan Matthew Cox, Rovman Powell, Gulbadin Naib, Sediqullah Atal, Waqar Salamkheil, Haider Ali, Muhammad Jawadullah, Jimmy Neesham, David Willey (wildcard), Leus de Plooy (wildcard)
Gulf Giants: James Vince, Aayan Afzal Khan, Blessing Muzarabani, Gerhard Erasmus, Mark Adair, Azmatullah Omarzai, Moeen Ali, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Kyle Mayers (wildcard), Matthew Forde (wildcard)
MI Emirates: AM Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kamindu Mendis, Romario Shepherd, Tom Banton, Muhammad Waseem, Chris Woakes, Jonny Bairstow
Sharjah Warriorz: Tim Southee, Dinesh Karthik, Johnson Charles, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Saurabh Netravalkar, Sikandar Raza, Tim David, Tom Abell (wildcard), Adil Rashid (wildcard)
