DP World ILT20 Season 4 Player Auction to Take Place on 30 September
Dubai, UAE – The stage is set for the DP World International League T20 (ILT20) Season 4 Player Auction, which will take place in Dubai on Tuesday, 30 September 2025. This crucial event will see the six franchise teams battle it out to finalize their squads for the upcoming season.
Following the recent completion of player retentions and new signings, each franchise has already secured a core of eight players. The auction represents the second phase of team building, where franchises will aim to fill the remaining 13 slots per team, totaling 78 players across the league. A substantial combined purse of USD 4.8 million will be available for teams to spend during the auction.
Player Registration Now Open
Aspiring cricketers looking to enter the ILT20 fray can now register for the auction. The registration portal (registration.ilt20.ae) opened on 1st August 2025. The deadline for player registration is strict: Wednesday, 10 September 2025.
Opportunity Knocks for UAE Players
ILT20 CEO David White highlighted significant opportunities for UAE players to impress ahead of the auction. “For the UAE players, the ACC Asia Cup 2025 – September 9-28 in the UAE – is a massive opportunity for making a global impression,” White stated. He also pointed to the upcoming third edition of the DP World ILT20 Development Tournament as another key platform for local talent to showcase their skills.
Season 4 Squads So Far (Retentions & Signings):
The franchises have already locked in their initial squads:
- Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: Alex Hales, Alishan Sharafu, Andre Russell, Charith Asalanka, Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt, Sherfane Rutherford, Sunil Narine.
- Desert Vipers: Andries Gous, Dan Lawrence, David Payne, Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Lockie Ferguson, Max Holden, Sam Curran, Wanindu Hasaranga.
- Dubai Capitals: Dasun Shanaka, Dushmantha Chameera, Gulbadin Naib, Luke Wood, Muhammad Jawadullah, Rovman Powell, Shai Hope, Waqar Salamkheil.
- Gulf Giants: Aayan Afzal Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Blessing Muzarabani, Gerhard Erasmus, James Vince, Mark Adair, Moeen Ali, Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
- MI Emirates: AM Ghazanfar, Chris Woakes, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Perera, Romario Shepherd, Tom Banton, Muhammad Waseem.
- Sharjah Warriorz: Johnson Charles, Maheesh Theekshana, Tim Southee, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Saurabh Netravalkar, Sikandar Raza, Tim David.
Tournament Dates Confirmed
Season 4 of the DP World ILT20 will kick off on Tuesday, 2 December 2025, coinciding with UAE National Day (Eid-Al-Etihad), promising a blockbuster opening. The six-team tournament, featuring 34 matches, will culminate with the final on Sunday, 4 January 2026.
Next Steps
Further details, including individual team auction budgets (incorporating any remaining funds from direct signings), the auction order, and the final list of players registered for the auction, will be released by the league in the coming weeks. All eyes will now be on Dubai come September 30th as teams look to build championship-contending squads.