Pakistan cricket star Babar Azam has been picked by Desert Vipers for $80,000 in the fifth season auction of the International League T20 (ILT20) in Dubai. The deal came at his listed base price, making him one of the major additions to the UAE based league for the upcoming season.
Babar entered the auction in the highest price category of $80,000. The ILT20 had placed more than 200 players from 23 countries into three base price groups of $80,000, $40,000 and $10,000. The auction was held at the ICC Academy Indoors in Dubai on October 1, 2026.
The move will see Babar join Desert Vipers for the upcoming ILT20 season, which is scheduled to run from November 21 to December 20. The franchise had around $1.3 million available for the auction before making its selections.
Babar’s signing also adds to the Pakistani presence in the Desert Vipers squad. Fakhar Zaman and Naseem Shah were also placed in the $80,000 category, while several other Pakistani players entered the auction at lower base prices.
