DP World ILT20 2026: 3 most expensive UAE players at auction
Muhammad Waseem (Source: Getty Images)
Published - 01 Oct 2026, 04:09 PM• Read time - 5 mins
Veteran UAE batter Muhammad Waseem drew significant interest from the franchises as soon as his name was announced at the auction. The right-handed batter entered the auction at a base price of USD 10,000. MI Emirates exercised the Right to Match (RTM) option to rope him in at USD 210,000, making him the most expensive UAE player in the ILT20 auction history.
Waseem has represented MI Emirates across the four seasons of the tournament. The 32-year-old has played 46 ILT20 games and aggregated 1241 runs, averaging 28.86, at a strike rate of 137.73. He has scored six fifties in the competition thus far. He was the leading run-getter for MI Emirates in the previous season, accumulating 370 runs in 13 games, averaging 30.83 at a strike rate of 131.67, including a fifty.
He was the second-highest run-scorer overall behind Sam Curran of Desert Vipers. Curran amassed 397 runs in 12 games at a strike rate of 135.49 with the help of three fifties.
Muhammad Rohid was the joint-third most expensive UAE player at the auction on Thursday (October 1). The left-arm seamer was bought by Abu Dhabi Knight Riders for USD 95,000. Rohid was a part of MI Emirates in the last three seasons of the ILT20.
Slow left-arm orthodox bowler Aayan Afzal Khan also bagged a USD 95,000 deal from Dubai Capitals. Aayan, 20, represented Gulf Giants in the previous season and claimed six wickets at an economy rate of 7.11.
Most expensive UAE players at the DP World ILT20 2026 Auction
| Player | Country | Specialisation | Age | Base Price (USD) | Selling Price (USD) | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muhammad Waseem | UAE | Batter | 32 | 10,000 | 210,000 | MI Emirates (RTM) |
| Alishan Sharafu | UAE | Batter | 23 | 10,000 | 110,000 | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (RTM) |
| Muhammad Rohid | UAE | Fast Bowler | 24 | 10,000 | 95,000 | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders |
| Aayan Khan | UAE | Spinner | 20 | 10,000 | 95,000 | Dubai Capitals |