The ILT20 Season 5 player auction will be held on October 1, 2026, at the ICC Academy indoor facility in Dubai. Following initial confusion over the auction date, organisers have now confirmed the schedule ahead of the tournament, which runs from November 22 to December 20, 2026.
Registrations were open between July and September 12, 2026, drawing more than 800 players from 20 countries. From that pool, organisers have shortlisted approximately 200 players who will go under the hammer on October 1. All six franchises competing in Season 5, namely Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Desert Vipers, Dubai Capitals, Gulf Giants, MI Emirates and Sharjah Warriorz, will take part in the bidding.
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What are the purse limits and base prices for the ILT20 Season 5 auction?
Each franchise enters the auction holding a purse of USD 1,300,000. Any funds left unspent from the USD 700,000 allocated for direct signings and retentions can be carried over and added to that figure. At the close of proceedings, total auction expenditure per franchise must fall within a band of USD 1.5 million at the lower end and USD 2 million at the upper end, with wildcard player costs excluded from that calculation.
Player base prices are structured across three tiers: USD 10,000, USD 40,000 and USD 80,000. The floor price of USD 10,000 applies to every registered player, ensuring all shortlisted names enter the auction with a guaranteed minimum value. Each franchise also holds four Rights to Match cards. These cover one Full Member player from Season 4, one Associate Member player from Season 4, one UAE player from Season 4 or the Development Squad, and one Kuwait or Saudi player from Season 4. The Rights to Match mechanism allows franchises to retain key performers from the previous edition without losing them to a rival bid.
What squad composition rules apply to ILT20 Season 5 franchises?
Every franchise must assemble a squad of between 18 and 23 players. At least 11 of those must come from ICC Full Member countries, with the rules requiring no fewer than four from Afghanistan and at least one from Ireland. On the regional side, franchises need a minimum of four UAE players, one from Kuwait and one from Saudi Arabia, plus at least one player drawn from an ICC Associate nation. These composition requirements reflect the league’s dual mandate of attracting global talent while developing cricket across the Gulf region.
Regarding replacements, a player may be substituted if he is injured, receives an international call-up or fails to secure a No Objection Certificate before the league phase concludes. Once the tournament support period is under way, any replacement requires clearance from the ILT20 Technical Committee. Where a mandatory player from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Afghanistan or Ireland needs to be replaced, the incoming player must have been part of the original auction registration pool, ensuring the integrity of the shortlisting process is maintained throughout the season.
