The inaugural historic ILT20 auction has created a stir in the cricketing world. West Indies' veteran opening batsman, Andre Fletcher, set a record by becoming the most expensive player in the ILT20 auction, with a hefty bid of USD 260,000.
Sports News: West Indies opening batsman Andre Fletcher grabbed everyone's attention in the inaugural historic auction of the International League T20 (ILT20). He was bought by MI Emirates for a massive USD 260,000, making Fletcher the most expensive player sold in the ILT20 auction. The most surprising aspect of the auction was that India's veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, whose base price was USD 120,000, went unsold and was not bought by any team.
England's Scott Currie was bought by Dubai Capitals for USD 250,000, becoming the second most expensive player sold in the auction. Meanwhile, Gulf Giants signed England all-rounder Liam Dawson for USD 170,000. Naveen-ul-Haq secured a spot in the MI Emirates squad for USD 100,000.
Andre Fletcher's Dominance in the Auction
The sensational purchase of the 37-year-old Fletcher in the auction surprised everyone. Given his performance and experience, MI Emirates spent a huge sum on him. After acquiring Fletcher, their team's opening batting and overall experience have been significantly strengthened. In this auction, England's batsman Scott Currie was bought by Dubai Capitals for USD 250,000, making him the second most expensive player in the auction.
Meanwhile, Gulf Giants spent USD 170,000 on England all-rounder Liam Dawson. Naveen-ul-Haq was included in the MI Emirates squad for USD 100,000.
Impressive Showing by UAE Players
This day also proved historic for UAE players in the ILT20 auction. Sharjah Warriors re-acquired Junaid Siddique for USD 170,000 by using their RTM (Right To Match) card. Similarly, Muhammad Rohid was included in the MI Emirates squad for USD 140,000 through RTM. This move is a milestone for UAE cricket, as it will provide local players with an opportunity to showcase their talent in a major tournament.
Pakistani players also made their mark in the ILT20 auction. Desert Vipers bought Pakistan's Fakhar Zaman and Naseem Shah at their base price of USD 80,000. Abu Dhabi Knight Riders bid USD 110,000 for Scotland's Brandon McMullen. Faisal Khan from Saudi Arabia made history by becoming the first Saudi player to join the ILT20, signing a contract with Desert Vipers for USD 10,000. This move is also considered significant for Saudi cricket.
MI Emirates' Strong Squad
Besides Fletcher, MI Emirates further strengthened their team. The team signed Shakib Al Hasan for USD 40,000 and England all-rounder Jordan Thompson for USD 48,000. Meanwhile, Sharjah Warriors placed significant bids on players like Dwaine Pretorius (USD 120,000) and Nathan Souter (USD 100,000).
Gulf Giants included Tabraiz Shamsi, Fred Klaassen, and Chris Wood in their squad to strengthen their bowling attack. The fourth season of ILT20 will commence on December 2, 2025. This time, 6 teams will play a total of 34 matches in the tournament, which will conclude on January 4, 2026.
