The Emirates Cricket Board has officially announced the date for the first-ever International League T20 (ILT20) Player Auction. The much-anticipated auction for Season 4 will take place on Tuesday, September 30, in Dubai, while Wednesday, September 10, will be the last day for player registrations.
ILT20 Player Auction: Date and Registration Deadline Confirmed
The fourth edition of ILT20 is set to begin on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, and will wrap up with the final on Sunday, January 4, 2026.
Six teams will compete across 34 matches, and each team will add 13 players to their squads, with 8 of those players being picked during the historic player auction. In total, 78 players will be signed during this phase.
Teams will have a combined budget of USD 4.8 million to spend at the auction. Many of them have already announced their retained players and new signings, building excitement ahead of the event.
“The auction is a big milestone for the league as we continue to grow” – David White
In an official statement, ILT20 CEO David White called the auction a huge step forward for the league.
“We are delighted to confirm the DP World International League Season 4 Player Auction date, Tuesday, 30 September. The auction is a big milestone for the league as we continue to grow as a world-class T20 tournament. The auction will be a great opportunity for our franchises to add local and international firepower to their Season 4 squads.”
“For the UAE players, the ACC Asia Cup 2025, September 9-28 in the UAE, is a massive opportunity for making a global impression ahead of the Player Auction. The players will have incredible exposure in the continental championship where they will be pitted against some of the top-ranked T20 teams.”
White also spoke about the upcoming DP World ILT20 Development Tournament, which will run alongside the Asia Cup 2025, offering another big stage for local talent.
“We are also set to play the third edition of the DP World ILT20 Development Tournament from later this month which – alongside the Asia Cup – is another platform for the local players to impress ahead of the Player Auction.”
ILT20 Season 4: Retained and Signed Players Before Auction
Here’s a look at each team’s current squad ahead of the auction:
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: Alex Hales, Alishan Sharafu, Andre Russell, Charith Asalanka, Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt, Sherfane Rutherford, and Sunil Narine.
Desert Vipers: Andries Gous, Dan Lawrence, David Payne, Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Lockie Ferguson, Max Holden, Sam Curran, and Wanindu Hasaranga.
Dubai Capitals: Dasun Shanaka, Dushmantha Chameera, Gulbadin Naib, Luke Wood, Muhammad Jawadullah, Rovmann Powell, Shai Hope, and Waqar Salamkheil.
Gulf Giants: Aayan Afzal Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Blessing Muzarabani, Gerhard Erasmus, James Vince, Mark Adair, Moeen Ali, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
MI Emirates: AM Ghazanfar, Chris Woakes, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Perera, Romario Shepherd, Tom Banton, and Muhammad Waseem.
Sharjah Warriorz: Johnson Charles, Maheesh Theekshana, Tim Southee, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Maheesh Theekshana, Saurabh Netravalkar, Sikandar Raza, and Tim David.
With the auction and two major tournaments lined up before the season, excitement is building quickly for what’s expected to be ILT20’s biggest season yet.
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