Farooqi's Record USD 380,000 Bid Highlights ILT20 Season 5 Auction

Afghan left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi became the most expensive player in ILT20 auction history on October 1, 2026, when MI Emirates secured him for USD 380,000 at the Season 5 Player Auction in Dubai. This landmark bid at the ICC Academy Indoors surpassed the previous benchmark of USD 260,000, set by Andre Fletcher for MI Emirates during the Season 4 auction, marking a USD 120,000 increase and underscoring a sharp rise in demand for elite fast bowlers.

The day was particularly dynamic as the auction record changed hands three times. Gulf Giants initially set a new high by securing Rahmanullah Gurbaz for USD 310,000 via a Right-to-Match card. They then further escalated the bidding, acquiring Liam Livingstone for USD 350,000. However, Farooqi's USD 380,000 hammer price ultimately closed the day as the definitive high-water mark, reflecting MI Emirates' aggressive strategy, which saw them spend a total of USD 2,000,000.

Beyond the top bids, Dubai Capitals signed Faf du Plessis for USD 300,000, while Gulf Giants added Alzarri Joseph for USD 230,000. MI Emirates also made Muhammad Waseem the highest-priced UAE player, retaining him for USD 210,000 via a Right-to-Match card. Desert Vipers assembled a Pakistan-heavy group, picking up Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Fakhar Zaman, and Shadab Khan, each at the USD 80,000 base price, with Babar set to make his ILT20 debut.

What to watch: How these high-value signings impact team dynamics and on-field performance in ILT20 Season 5.

Editor's note: Comprehensive coverage of the auction dynamics, record-breaking bids, and specific player signings as detailed in the source.

This article is AI-generated and fact-gated. Original reporting: Crictracker