The DP World ILT20 is set for a landmark moment with its first-ever player auction on October 1, 2025, ahead of Season 4. Nearly 300 players from more than 20 countries are shortlisted, with a mix of global stars, seasoned pros, and emerging talent — including regional cricketers from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, who must also be picked.
This new auction format promises not only blockbuster signings but also historic opportunities for Associate Nation players, signaling a new era for cricket in the Gulf.
Big names in the spotlight
- USD 120,000 Bracket: India’s spin legend Ravichandran Ashwin, bidding for his first franchise stint since international retirement.
- USD 80,000 Bracket: England’s Jason Roy, Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub, Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi and Karim Janat, Pakistan’s Naseem Shah, Faheem Ashraf, and Afghanistan’s Naveen-ul-Haq.
- USD 40,000 Bracket: Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, England’s veteran seamer James Anderson, Australia’s Andrew Tye, Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran and Najibullah Zadran, USA’s Unmukt Chand, and Netherlands’ Logan van Beek and Roelof van der Merwe.
- USD 10,000 Bracket: South Africa’s Temba Bavuma, Ireland’s Paul Stirling, India’s Siddarth Kaul and Priyank Panchal, Zimbabwe’s Richard Ngarava, Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee, Namibia’s JJ Smit, Scotland’s Brandon McMullen, Canada’s Kaleem Sana, and the full pool of UAE stars including Vriitya Aravind, Rohan Mustafa, and Zahoor Khan.
Squad composition rules
By the end of the auction, each team must have 19–21 players:
- Minimum 11 from Full Member nations
- Four UAE players (including one U-23)
- One each from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia
- Two from other ICC Associate Nations
Every match XI must include at least two UAE players and one more Associate cricketer. Teams can also sign up to two Wildcards outside the auction for USD 250,000 each.
Franchise purses heading into auction
Each side starts with USD 800,000 + rollover funds from pre-auction signings/retentions.
- 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
Spending must total between USD 1.5m and USD 2m per squad.
Star power already secured
Some of the game’s biggest names are already locked in:
- 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: Rovman Powell, Gulbadin Naib
- Gulf Giants: Moeen Ali, Rahmanullah Gurbaz
- Desert Vipers: Wanindu Hasaranga, Shimron Hetmyer
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)
Where to watch
- India: ZEE5 and YouTube (@ILT20onZee)
- Rest of the world: YouTube (@ILT20Official)
Season 4 dates
The DP World ILT20 Season 4 begins on Tuesday, December 2, 2025 (UAE National Day) and concludes with the Final on January 4, 2026, featuring six franchises across 34 matches.
