ILT20 auction 1 October: Babar Azam among 17 Pakistanis, base price Rs 22 million

Babar Azam is one of 17 Pakistan players in the ILT20 auction on Thursday 1 October 2026 at the ICC Academy Indoors in Dubai, with a base price of USD 80,000, about Rs 22.2 million at today's rate. More than 200 cricketers from 23 countries are in the pool for the fifth season of the UAE league, which runs from late November to 20 December 2026.

The Pakistan players and their base prices

Geo News listed the Pakistan contingent by bracket. At the interbank rate of about Rs 277 to the dollar (live rate), the brackets work out as follows:

A base price is only the opening bid. A player can go for much more if two franchises want him, or go unsold if no one bids.

Who is bidding and how much they can spend

Six franchises take part. Gulf News reported their remaining purses:

• MI Emirates: USD 1.39 million
• Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: USD 1.365 million
• Desert Vipers and Gulf Giants: USD 1.305 million each
• Dubai Capitals and Sharjah Warriorz: USD 1.3 million each

Each squad must have 18 to 23 players, including at least 11 from ICC Full Members (four of them Afghans and one from Ireland), four UAE players, one from Kuwait, one from Saudi Arabia and one from another associate nation. That leaves limited room for overseas stars, so the 17 Pakistanis are competing with names such as Phil Salt, Jonny Bairstow, Faf du Plessis and Wanindu Hasaranga in the same USD 80,000 bracket.

Why it matters for Pakistan fans

Babar has not played the ILT20 before, so a pick would put him in a franchise league that overlaps the end of the year, when fans follow the Big Bash and national tours too. Any Pakistan player who signs needs a no-objection certificate from the PCB, which depends on the national calendar. Check upcoming Pakistan fixtures on cricket today and the Asia Cup page.

How to watch the auction in Pakistan

Gulf News said the auction will be streamed live on the league's official YouTube channel (ILT20Official). No start time had been published by Wednesday morning. Dubai is one hour behind Pakistan, so add an hour to any UAE time the league announces.

We will add who bought each Pakistan player once the hammer falls.