ILT20 2026: Four most expensive players in auction

The auction for the DP World ILT20 season 5 was successfully held on Thursday, October 1, in Dubai, as several big stars from around the world went under the hammer. All six franchises broke the bank to have the best of the local UAE talent as well as the global superstars on their rosters.

From the large pool of players, a select few emerged as the top buys of the auction, breaking previous records for the most expensive signings in the history of the tournament.

Here are the top four most expensive players from the DP World ILT20 season five auction:

1. Fazalhaq Farooqi (USD 380,000)

Afghanistan fast bowler etched his name in the record books, becoming the most expensive player in the history of the ILT20. He broke the previous record held by Andre Fletcher, who was sold for USD 260,000 to MI Emirates in 2025. However, MI shelled out a whopping USD 380,000 to have Farooqi back in their team for the upcoming edition.

The left-arm seamer is the highest wicket-taker in the ILT20, with 64 wickets in 40 innings at an economy rate of 7.76.

2. Liam Livingstone (USD 350,000)

The England all-rounder emerged as the second most expensive player at the auction, being sold for USD 350,000 to Gulf Giants. Livingstone has played 14 matches in his ILT20 career so far, scoring 258 runs at a strike rate of 142.54. He will be a valuable addition for the Giants in the upcoming edition of the tournament.

3. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (USD 310,000)

The wicketkeeper-batter was another high-in-demand player at the bidding event, with several franchises ready to break the bank to acquire his services. It was Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ADKR), who put the highest bid for the Afghan batter of USD 310,000. However, it was Gulf Giants who managed to secure him in their team using the Right-to-Match option.

DP World ILT20 2026 Auction: Full Team-wise Players List

4. Faf du Plessis (USD 300,000)

The Proteas star was also another ‘hot commodity’ at the auction, given his vast experience at both international and franchise level. After an intense bidding war, Faf du Plessis was eventually sold for USD 300,000 to Delhi Capitals. While Du Plessis will be making his debut at the ILT20, he has an illustrious career, playing in franchise league cricket across the globe.