R Ashwin Goes Unsold in ILT20 2025 Auction; Pakistan Players Snapped Up Amid PCB NOC Drama
Veteran Indian offspinner R Ashwin surprisingly went unsold in the inaugural player auction for the 2025-26 edition of the International League T20 (ILT20), held in Dubai on Tuesday. Ashwin, the only cricketer with a base price in six figures, did not find any takers and was not brought back in the accelerated round. However, he still has a chance to feature in the tournament through the wildcard route, with franchises MI Emirates and Desert Vipers yet to use their wildcard picks.
The auction saw significant drama around Pakistan players after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) abruptly suspended all No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) for its players in overseas leagues just a day prior. Despite the PCB's move, Desert Vipers went ahead and picked three Pakistan players — Fakhar Zaman, Naseem Shah, and Hasan Nawaz — all at their base prices of USD 80,000 and USD 40,000 respectively. No official reason has been provided for the PCB’s action.
Desert Vipers also secured Afghanistan players Qais Ahmad and Faridoon Dawoodzai, as they look to build a balanced and diverse squad.
The highest-paid player at the auction was West Indies wicketkeeper-batter Andre Fletcher, who fetched USD 260,000. He was retained by MI Emirates for a fourth consecutive season after the franchise outbid strong competition.
Emerging Talents and Bidding Wars
The auction opened with UAE wicketkeeper-batter Vriitya Aravind, who was signed by Desert Vipers for USD 10,000. In a notable highlight, Pakistan-born UAE pacer Junaid Siddique triggered an intense bidding war, eventually going to Sharjah Warriorz for USD 170,000 after they used their Right-to-Match (RTM) option to retain him. Siddique recently impressed in the Asia Cup, finishing as the third-highest wicket-taker.
Former Ranji Trophy winner Akshay Wakhare earned a deal with Dubai Capitals, while former India Under-19 captain Unmukt Chand, now representing the USA, was picked by Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.
In a major development on the eve of the auction, Sharjah Warriorz unveiled former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik as a replacement for Kusal Mendis, adding experience and leadership to their squad.
ILT20 Season 4: Schedule and Format
The fourth edition of the ILT20 is scheduled to be held from December 2, 2025 to January 4, 2026, across venues in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah. The tournament will feature six teams competing over 34 matches.
Team Spending and Key Signings
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (USD 1.46 million spent)
Key Signings: Brandon McMullen (USD 110,000), Unmukt Chand (USD 40,000)
Retained Stars: Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Liam Livingstone, Alex Hales
Desert Vipers (USD 1.62 million spent)
Key Signings: Fakhar Zaman, Naseem Shah, Qais Ahmad, Tom Bruce
Retained Stars: Sam Curran, Lockie Ferguson, Wanindu Hasaranga
Dubai Capitals (USD 1.48 million spent)
Key Signings: Scott Currie (USD 250,000), Mohammad Nabi, Tymal Mills
Retained Stars: Rovman Powell, Jimmy Neesham, Gulbadin Naib
Gulf Giants (USD 1.47 million spent)
Key Signings: Liam Dawson (USD 170,000), Tabraiz Shamsi, Lorcan Tucker
Retained Stars: Moeen Ali, James Vince, Rahmanullah Gurbaz
MI Emirates (USD 1.87 million spent)
Key Signings: Andre Fletcher (USD 260,000), Naveen-ul-Haq, Muhammad Rohid
Retained Stars: Jonny Bairstow, Chris Woakes, Romario Shepherd
Sharjah Warriorz (USD 1.66 million spent)
Key Signings: Junaid Siddique (USD 170,000), Dwaine Pretorius, Taskin Ahmed
Retained Stars: Dinesh Karthik (replacement for Mendis), Ethan D’Souza, Raees Ahmad