Fazalhaq Farooqi set a new benchmark in ILT20 auction history after MI Emirates secured the Afghanistan left-arm pacer for USD 380,000 at the Season 5 Player Auction in Dubai on Thursday, October 1. The deal surpassed the previous record of USD 260,000 and was one of several high-value moves that reshaped the league’s squad economics.
Record price signals a tighter premium market
Farooqi’s valuation was not an isolated spike. The auction produced four players above the previous record threshold, showing that franchises were prepared to pay significantly more for proven international impact.
England all-rounder Liam Livingstone joined Gulf Giants for USD 350,000, while Rahmanullah Gurbaz was retained via Right-to-Match for USD 310,000. Faf du Plessis moved to Dubai Capitals for USD 300,000, placing four separate buys in a new upper band for the competition.
| Player | Team | Price (USD) |
|---|
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | MI Emirates | 380,000 |
| Liam Livingstone | Gulf Giants | 350,000 |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | Gulf Giants | 310,000 |
| Faf du Plessis | Dubai Capitals | 300,000 |
What the top prices suggest
The top end of the auction was dominated by multi-skill players and established T20 performers. That pattern indicates franchises valued role certainty over raw potential, especially with several squads already carrying core retainers from previous seasons.
Farooqi’s record fee is especially notable because pace bowling usually faces more price volatility than top-order batting. A left-arm quick with powerplay utility and death-overs value, he offered a specialized skill set that translated into a premium above the auction’s earlier ceiling.
MI Emirates and Gulf Giants lead the spending race
Among team totals, MI Emirates and Gulf Giants sat at the top of the spending charts, reflecting aggressive roster building around elite names. MI Emirates spent USD 2,000,000, while Gulf Giants closed at USD 1,972,000, both ahead of the other franchises.
Dubai Capitals also crossed the USD 1.8 million mark at USD 1,834,000, while Sharjah Warriorz reached USD 1,720,000. Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and Desert Vipers were close behind at USD 1,549,000 and USD 1,544,000 respectively, showing a relatively compressed spending range across the league.
| Team | Total Spent (USD) |
|---|
| MI Emirates | 2,000,000 |
| Gulf Giants | 1,972,000 |
| Dubai Capitals | 1,834,000 |
| Sharjah Warriorz | 1,720,000 |
| Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | 1,549,000 |
| Desert Vipers | 1,544,000 |
Average spend across the six squads
Based on the six reported totals, the average team spend stood at approximately USD 1.77 million. The gap between the highest and lowest spenders was just USD 456,000, suggesting that the auction’s competitive balance remained reasonably tight despite several record-level purchases.
That narrow spread is important in a salary-cap environment because it implies that teams were not just chasing marquee names. They were also allocating capital across retention, direct signings and role-specific auction buys, balancing cost with depth.
Desert Vipers lock in a major Pakistan core
The most striking squad-building move away from the top bids came from Desert Vipers, who secured Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan at the base price of USD 80,000 each. The quartet gives the defending champions immediate international quality across batting, pace and spin.
Babar’s arrival is particularly important because it marks his ILT20 debut in Season 5. Naseem and Fakhar return for another campaign, while Shadab adds all-round balance and over options that can materially affect match-up data over the season.
| Player | Team | Price (USD) |
|---|
| Babar Azam | Desert Vipers | 80,000 |
| Naseem Shah | Desert Vipers | 80,000 |
| Fakhar Zaman | Desert Vipers | 80,000 |
| Shadab Khan | Desert Vipers | 80,000 |
UAE and Associate players attract wider recognition
UAE talent also earned strong returns. Muhammad Waseem became the most expensive UAE player in ILT20 auction history, with MI Emirates retaining him via RTM for USD 210,000. Alishan Sharafu fetched USD 110,000 from Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, while Muhammad Rohid and Aayan Khan each secured USD 95,000 moves.
Associate-nation players also featured prominently, underlining the league’s broad talent base. USA’s Amshi De Silva went for USD 100,000, Hassan Khan for USD 90,000, Scotland’s Brandon McMullen for USD 80,000 and Namibia’s David Wiese for USD 70,000.
| Player | Nation | Team | Price (USD) |
|---|
| Muhammad Waseem | UAE | MI Emirates | 210,000 |
| Alishan Sharafu | UAE | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | 110,000 |
| Amshi De Silva | USA | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | 100,000 |
| Brandon McMullen | Scotland | Sharjah Warriorz | 80,000 |
| David Wiese | Namibia | Gulf Giants | 70,000 |
Bowling depth and all-round options remained expensive
Several franchises invested heavily in bowlers who can operate in high-pressure phases. MI Emirates added Chris Jordan for USD 170,000 and Lizaad Williams for USD 110,000, while retaining AM Ghazanfar through RTM for USD 150,000. Sharjah Warriorz responded with Richard Gleeson at USD 180,000 and Mohammad Nabi at USD 140,000.
Gulf Giants’ purchase of Alzarri Joseph for USD 230,000 reinforced the premium on wicket-taking pace. In a format where economy and strike rate often define outcomes, the auction showed consistent willingness to spend on players who can swing matches with either new-ball or death-overs value.
Key takeaway from Season 5 auction
The numbers point to a market that is increasingly stratified at the top but still balanced overall. The new record fee for Farooqi, four bids above the old ceiling, and an average team spend near USD 1.77 million all indicate a franchise market that values specialist impact and known T20 output.
If Season 5 is any indication, auction strategy is now as much about pricing certainty as it is about acquiring stars. The franchises that combined high-end investments with efficient base-price acquisitions may end up with the strongest squad-to-cost ratios when the tournament begins.