🏏 Fakhar Zaman Among Five Pakistan Players to Headline First-Ever ILT20 Auction Complete Breakdown
📌 A Landmark Moment for ILT20
The DP World International League T20 (ILT20) is gearing up for its historic first-ever player auction on October 1, 2025. Unlike its previous editions, where player signings were conducted through a draft, the ILT20 has now shifted to an auction model—similar to the Indian Premier League (IPL).
This major change has caught the attention of global cricket fans, with nearly 300 players from over 20 countries registering for the auction. Among them are top-tier stars like Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman, India’s Ravichandran Ashwin, England’s Jason Roy, and Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan.
With six franchises competing to build balanced squads, the ILT20 auction promises to be one of the most exciting cricket events of 2025. Let’s dive into the details, highlighting key players, auction categories, franchise purse values, and what this means for world cricket.
🌍 ILT20 Auction 2025 – Players, Nations & Categories
The ILT20 Season 4 auction pool is stacked with both marquee international cricketers and rising Associate Nation players.
🔥 Auction Player Categories & Price Slabs
Players have been divided into four base price brackets:
- 💰 USD 120,000 – Elite marquee names
- 💰 USD 80,000 – Established internationals & T20 specialists
- 💰 USD 40,000 – Senior internationals & all-rounders
- 💰 USD 10,000 – Associate & domestic players
This pricing model ensures that franchises can build star-studded squads while also promoting regional talent.
🇵🇰 Pakistan Stars in Focus – Fakhar Zaman Leads the Pack
Pakistan will have a strong presence in the ILT20 auction, with five major names attracting attention:
- Fakhar Zaman (USD 80,000 bracket) – The explosive left-handed opener is expected to be one of the most in-demand players, given his T20 pedigree and ability to dominate in powerplays.
- Saim Ayub (USD 80,000 bracket) – Known as one of Pakistan’s brightest young batting talents.
- Naseem Shah (USD 80,000 bracket) – Pakistan’s pace sensation, who brings raw speed and wicket-taking ability.
- Faheem Ashraf (USD 80,000 bracket) – A reliable all-rounder with both batting and bowling depth.
- Muhammad Nawaz (USD 80,000 bracket) – A versatile left-arm spinner who doubles up as a useful lower-order hitter.
These players bring a perfect mix of experience and youth, ensuring Pakistan has a strong footprint in the auction.
🇮🇳 Indian Players in ILT20 Auction – A Rare Appearance
One of the biggest surprises of the ILT20 auction is the participation of five Indian cricketers.
- Ravichandran Ashwin (USD 120,000) – The legendary spinner headlines the list, marking his first franchise cricket stint abroad since retirement.
- Ankit Rajput – Experienced seamer with domestic T20 expertise.
- Priyank Panchal – Consistent top-order batter.
- Siddarth Kaul – Fast bowler with IPL and India experience.
- Piyush Chawla – Veteran leg-spinner with over 150 IPL wickets.
Ashwin’s presence adds star value, while the other four provide specialist roles for franchises looking for balance.
🌐 International Superstars – Big Names Going Under the Hammer
Beyond South Asian players, the ILT20 auction features superstars from England, West Indies, Australia, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.
⭐ USD 120,000 Category
- Ravichandran Ashwin (India)
- Jason Roy (England)
- Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan – in USD 80k, but among top-tier names)
⭐ USD 80,000 Category
- Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan)
- Saim Ayub (Pakistan)
- Naseem Shah (Pakistan)
- Faheem Ashraf (Pakistan)
- Jason Roy (England)
- Andre Fletcher (West Indies)
- Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan)
- Karim Janat (Afghanistan)
- Muhammad Nawaz (Pakistan)
⭐ USD 40,000 Category
- Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh)
- James Anderson (England – surprise T20 inclusion)
- Andrew Tye (Australia)
- Najibullah Zadran (Afghanistan)
- Ibrahim Zadran (Afghanistan)
⭐ USD 10,000 Category
- Temba Bavuma (South Africa)
- Paul Stirling (Ireland)
- Richard Ngarava (Zimbabwe)
- Dipendra Singh Airee (Nepal)
- Multiple UAE and Associate Nation players
🏟️ ILT20 Auction Rules & Franchise Requirements
The ILT20 has laid out clear rules to balance international star power with local development.
- 📌 Squad Size: 19–21 players
📌 Composition:
- Minimum 11 players from Full Member nations
- At least 4 UAE players (including 1 under-23)
- 1 player each from Kuwait & Saudi Arabia
- 2 players from other Associate Nations
📌 Franchise Purse:
- Base purse: USD 800,000
- Additional funds: Up to USD 1.2 million for signings & retentions
- Spending range: USD 1.5m – 2m
- Wildcard signings: 2 per team (USD 250,000 each)
🔑 Matchday XI Requirements
- At least 2 UAE players
- At least 1 Associate Nation player (or a 3rd UAE player)
This rule ensures UAE cricket talent growth, while also giving exposure to players from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Namibia, Scotland, Canada, and more.
💸 Franchises & Purse Values – Who Can Spend Big?
Each of the six ILT20 franchises comes into the auction with different purse balances.
- 🟠 Dubai Capitals – USD 1,035,000
- 🟡 Gulf Giants – USD 1,035,000
- 🔴 Sharjah Warriorz – USD 1,025,000
- 🟣 Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – USD 925,000
- 🟢 Desert Vipers – USD 802,500
- 🔵 MI Emirates – USD 800,000
Clearly, Dubai Capitals and Gulf Giants are best positioned to dominate bidding wars.
🔥 Star Players Already Retained
Before the auction, franchises had already secured key superstars through direct signings:
- Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Phil Salt
- Sharjah Warriorz – Tim Southee, Dinesh Karthik, Tim David
- MI Emirates – Fazalhaq Farooqi, Muhammad Waseem, Romario Shepherd
- Dubai Capitals – Gulbadin Naib, Rovman Powell
- Gulf Giants – Moeen Ali, Rahmanullah Gurbaz
- Desert Vipers – Wanindu Hasaranga, Shimron Hetmyer
This means the auction will largely be about completing squads with missing roles—openers, finishers, wrist-spinners, and pace-bowling all-rounders.
📰 Cricketory Insight & Analysis
The ILT20’s first-ever auction represents a strategic pivot in global franchise cricket. Unlike drafts, auctions create bidding wars that inflate player value, making it a more exciting and financially competitive model.
For Pakistan, Fakhar Zaman’s inclusion as a marquee name is huge—it not only boosts his international T20 stock but also underlines how UAE-based leagues are embracing Pakistani stars. With Naseem Shah and Saim Ayub also in the mix, Pakistan’s young guns will gain exposure alongside global legends.
For India, the surprise entry of Ravichandran Ashwin adds star appeal. Even though retired, his participation opens doors for other Indian veterans in non-IPL leagues—a move that could set a precedent.
From a cricket economics perspective, ILT20 is sending a clear message: it wants to rival the IPL, PSL, and CPL by mixing global stars with Associate Nation mandates. This ensures growth of UAE cricket while attracting international eyeballs.
Expect Dubai Capitals and Gulf Giants to dominate bids with their large purses, but the real stories will come from Associate players like Dipendra Singh Airee (Nepal) or Paul Stirling (Ireland), who might become cult heroes overnight.
📊 Why This Auction is Historic for Global T20 Cricket
The ILT20 auction isn’t just another league event—it represents a new era in cricket economics.
- 🏏 Competition with IPL & PSL – With big names like Ashwin, Fakhar Zaman, and Shakib, the ILT20 is positioning itself as a serious competitor.
- 🌍 Platform for Associate Nations – No other league mandates spots for Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and other Associate players.
- 💰 Financial Growth – With USD 2m spending per team, players from smaller nations get unprecedented exposure.
- 🎯 Scouting Ground for Future Stars – Like IPL unearthed Bumrah & Hardik, ILT20 could discover the next big Associate Nation superstar.
📢 Key Takeaways
- Fakhar Zaman ILT20 Auction
- ILT20 2025 Player Auction
- Ravichandran Ashwin ILT20
- Shakib Al Hasan T20 League 2025
- Jason Roy ILT20 Auction
- Pakistan players in ILT20
- UAE cricket league 2025
- ILT20 franchises purse value
- Associate Nation cricketers ILT20
- DP World ILT20 Season 4
🎯 Conclusion – The World is Watching ILT20 Auction 2025
The ILT20 2025 Auction is set to be a game-changer for franchise cricket. With Fakhar Zaman leading Pakistan’s representation, Ashwin making a surprise entry from India, and stars like Shakib, Roy, and Nabi up for grabs, fans are in for a thrilling spectacle.
Franchises will battle hard in bidding wars, not just for global icons, but also to secure emerging UAE and Associate Nation talents. For cricket fans, this auction is more than just about money—it’s about reshaping the T20 landscape.
As October 1 approaches, all eyes will be on Dubai, where the hammer will decide the fate of nearly 300 cricketers.
❓ FAQs on ILT20 Auction 2025
Q1. When is the ILT20 Auction 2025 taking place?
A: 📅 The ILT20 Auction will be held on October 1, 2025, in Dubai.Q2. Which Pakistani players are in the ILT20 Auction?
A: 🇵🇰 Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Naseem Shah, Faheem Ashraf, and Muhammad Nawaz are the five headline Pakistani players.Q3. Who is the biggest Indian name in the ILT20 Auction?
A: 🇮🇳 Ravichandran Ashwin, listed in the USD 120,000 bracket, is the marquee Indian name.Q4. How much purse money do ILT20 franchises have?
A: 💰 Between USD 800,000 and USD 1,035,000, depending on pre-auction signings and retentions.