# Babar Azam joins Desert Vipers at ILT20 auction for USD 80,000 with Shadab, Fakhar and Naseem

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/cricket/babar-azam-joins-desert-vipers-at-ilt20-auction-for-usd-80000-with-shadab-fakhar)
Type: News article
Author: Searchable Editorial
Published: 3 Oct 2026
Updated: 3 Oct 2026
Retrieved: 3 Oct 2026

> All four Pakistan stars went unopposed at base price, about Rs 2.2 crore each. Only one other Pakistani was picked, while Afghanistan's Farooqi set an auction record.

Babar Azam will play the ILT20 for the first time after **Desert Vipers** bought him at the 2026 auction for his base price of **USD 80,000**, about **Rs 2.2 crore** at today's dollar rate. He joins three other Pakistan stars at the defending champions: **Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman and Naseem Shah**, all signed for the same USD 80,000, ESPNcricinfo reported.

The four cost Vipers USD 320,000 in total (roughly Rs 8.9 crore), and not one of them drew a rival bid. That is the second auction in a row in which the Vipers have built their **Desert Vipers squad** around Pakistan players.

## Only one other Pakistani was picked

The other five franchises, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Dubai Capitals, Sharjah Warriorz, Gulf Giants and MI Emirates, all have Indian owners. Of those five, only **Abu Dhabi Knight Riders** bought a Pakistan player: **Usman Tariq**, for USD 80,000 in the accelerated rounds. Vipers are owned by American businessman Avram Glazer.

So of the six teams, Pakistan's presence in the 2026 ILT20 rests almost entirely on one dressing room.

## What the Pakistan players cost, in rupees

Converted at the [dollar rate](/data/usd-pkr) of Rs 277.07 recorded on 3 October 2026:

| Player | Team | Price (USD) | About (PKR) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Babar Azam | Desert Vipers | 80,000 | Rs 2.22 crore |
| Shadab Khan | Desert Vipers | 80,000 | Rs 2.22 crore |
| Fakhar Zaman | Desert Vipers | 80,000 | Rs 2.22 crore |
| Naseem Shah | Desert Vipers | 80,000 | Rs 2.22 crore |
| Usman Tariq | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | 80,000 | Rs 2.22 crore |

Work out any other figure with our [currency converter](/tools/finance/currency-converter).

## The big money went to Afghanistan

Afghanistan left-arm seamer **Fazalhaq Farooqi** became the most expensive buy in ILT20 auction history when MI Emirates paid **USD 380,000** (about Rs 10.5 crore), beating the record Andre Fletcher set in 2025. Farooqi is the league's leading wicket-taker, with 64 wickets in 40 innings.

England all-rounder **Liam Livingstone** went to Gulf Giants for USD 350,000, and Giants used their right-to-match to keep **Rahmanullah Gurbaz** at USD 310,000 after Abu Dhabi bid for him. New rules require every franchise to carry at least four Afghanistan players, and 25 were picked on the day.

## When the ILT20 is played

The 2026 season runs in the UAE from **21 November to 20 December**. Pakistan's home Test series against Sri Lanka ends on 21 November in Lahore, so Test players in the Vipers squad would join after the second Test, if selected for it. The full home season, including the T20Is against Sri Lanka from 9 October, is on our [Pakistan cricket schedule](/news/cricket/pakistan-cricket-schedule-2026-27-fixtures-in-pakistan-time).

## What it means for Pakistan fans

For viewers here, the Vipers become the team to follow: four of Pakistan's best-known T20 players in one XI, playing in a time zone one hour behind Pakistan, so evening matches in Dubai and Sharjah start at a comfortable hour at home. Broadcast and streaming details for Pakistan have not been announced yet.

Before then, Babar's next big stage is domestic and international cricket at home, and Pakistan play India in the Asian Games final today: [match timings and probable XIs](/news/cricket/asian-games-2026-cricket-schedule-pakistan-time).

## Frequently asked questions

**Which Pakistan players are in the Desert Vipers squad for ILT20 2026?**

Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman and Naseem Shah, each bought at the auction for their base price of USD 80,000.

**How much did Babar Azam get in the ILT20 auction?**

USD 80,000, his base price, which is about Rs 2.22 crore at the 3 October 2026 dollar rate of Rs 277.07.

**When does ILT20 2026 start?**

The season runs in the UAE from 21 November to 20 December 2026.

## Sources

- MI Emirates bag Farooqi with record bid, Babar heads Vipers' Pakistan contingent (ESPNcricinfo): https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/1556885
- USD to PKR rate, 3 October 2026 (Searchable): https://searchable.pk/data/usd-pkr

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