Dubai, 12 October 2026: UAE players Muhammad Waseem, Alishan Sharafu, Muhammad Rohid, Aayan Khan and Vriitya Aravind welcomed the growing investment in local talent at the DP World ILT20, highlighting the opportunities the competition offers to play
alongside international stars and build their careers. The investment was evident at the DP World ILT20 Season 5 Player Auction, where Waseem became the highest-priced UAE player in the league’s history after MI Emirates secured him for USD 210,000 through
their Right-to-Match option.
The franchises’ faith in UAE talent also extended to Alishan Sharafu (USD 110,000) and Muhammad Rohid (USD 95,000) who were secured by the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, while Dubai Capitals acquired Aayan Khan for USD 95,000. Desert Vipers signed Khuzaima Bin Tanveer
for USD 75,000 and Vriitya Aravind for USD 70,000.
Waseem’s record signing is backed by an impressive record across four seasons of the DP World ILT20. In 46 matches for MI Emirates, the opener has scored 1,241 runs, making him the competition’s third-highest run-scorer. His 68 sixes trail only Nicholas Pooran
(84) and Alex Hales (69). Waseem also won the Blue Belt, awarded to the best UAE player, last season.
Waseem said: “I am extremely grateful to MI Emirates for showing such belief in me. It is a proud moment for me and a reflection of the hard work that has gone into my journey. With that belief comes responsibility, and I want to repay the franchise by contributing
to the team’s success and showcasing what UAE players can achieve.”
Sharafu, who will feature for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders for a fourth consecutive season, said: “It is very encouraging to see UAE players attracting this level of investment and trust from the franchises. The DP World ILT20 has created a fantastic platform for
local players to play alongside and learn from some of the best cricketers in the world. This will mean a lot for younger players coming through, showing them that they can build a career in cricket and make a good living playing the sport here in the UAE.”
Rohid added: “It is a proud moment for me to receive this kind of faith from Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. There is a lot of talent among fast bowlers in the UAE, and it is great to see more of us getting opportunities like this at our doorstep. I want to keep
improving my game, learn from the experienced players around me and show what UAE fast bowlers can achieve on the DP World ILT20 stage.”
Aayan Khan, who has taken 24 wickets in 35 matches for the Gulf Giants, is the leading wicket-taker among UAE bowlers in the league. Looking ahead to his Season 5 campaign with Dubai Capitals, he said: “The growing investment in UAE players is a tremendous
sign for the future of cricket in the country and reflects the progress being made in developing local talent and creating pathways for players to succeed at the highest level. I am looking forward to building on what I have achieved and contributing to Dubai
Capitals in Season 5.”
Vriitya Aravind, who was part of the Desert Vipers squad that won the DP World ILT20 title last season, said: “Winning the title with Desert Vipers last season was a special experience, and I’m keen to be part of another successful campaign. I hope the growth
of the game at this level translates to more interest in the game at the grassroots. The more they see local players competing and succeeding on a stage like this, the more they can believe that a career in cricket is within their reach.”
The demand for UAE talent reiterates the confidence in local players and their ability to compete at the highest level and aligns with the Emirates Cricket Board’s (ECB) long-term vision for the growth and development of UAE cricket. The league is creating
pathways for local players to strengthen their skills, build sustainable professional careers, and contribute to the country’s ambitions on the international cricket stage.
The fifth edition of the DP World ILT20 will be played from Saturday, 21 November to Sunday, 20 December 2026.
Top UAE signings at the DP World ILT20 Season 5 Player Auction
Muhammad Waseem – MI Emirates – USD 210,000
Alishan Sharafu – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – USD 110,000
Muhammad Rohid – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – USD 95,000
Aayan Khan – Dubai Capitals – USD 95,000
Khuzaima Bin Tanveer – Desert Vipers – USD 75,000
Vriitya Aravind – Desert Vipers – USD 70,000
Ibrar Ahmed – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – USD 46,000
Haider Ali – Dubai Capitals – USD 38,000
Zuhaib Zubair – Dubai Capitals – USD 26,000
DP World ILT20 Season 5 Squads
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
Auction Signings: Alishan Sharafu, Amshi De Silva, Muhammad Rohid, Moeen Ali, Arab Gul, Usman Tariq, Gulbadin Naib, Ibrar Ahmed, Andre Fletcher, Ajay Kumar, Colin Munro, Michael Pepper, Qais Ahmad, Jakeem Pollard, Abdul Mannan Ali, Ravija Sandaruwan,
Abdullah Tarakhail, Lorcan Tucker
Pre-Auction Signings: Finn Allen, Jason Holder, Matthew Tromp, Sunil Narine
Desert Vipers
Auction Signings: David Payne, Fakhar Zaman, Naseem Shah, Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Vriitya Aravind, Aneurin Donald, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Joe Clarke, Nangeyalia Kharote, Sanjay Pahal, Harry Tector, Ishtiaq Ahmed, Nilansh Keswani, Saleem
Safi, Bilal Tahir, Wali Muhammad
Pre-Auction Signings: Andries Gous, Dan Lawrence, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, Shimron Hetmyer
Dubai Capitals
Auction Signings: Faf du Plessis, Max Holden, Dasun Shanaka, Aayan Khan, Hassan Khan, Phil Salt, Sediqullah Atal, Mark Adair, Karim Janat, Luke Wood, Tom Moores, Haider Ali, Zuhaib Zubair, Darwish Rasooli, Muhammad Arfan, Matt Potts, Usman Najeeb, Anudeep
Chenthamara, Masood Ul Rahman Gurbaz
Pre-Auction Signings: Marcus Stoinis, Mustafizur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Rovman Powell
Gulf Giants
Auction Signings: Liam Livingstone, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, David Wiese, Ibrahim Zadran, Tabraiz Shamsi, Curtis Campher, Dhruv Parashar, Matiullah Khan, Haider Razzaq, Imran Mir, Imtiaz Khan, Meet Bhavsar, Shubham Ranjane,
Wahidullah Zadran, Awais Ahmed, Sagar Kalyan, Alick Athanaze
Pre-Auction Signings: Azmatullah Omarzai, Blessing Muzarabani, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen
MI Emirates
Auction Signings: Fazalhaq Farooqi, Muhammad Waseem, Chris Jordan, Allah Ghazanfar, Lizaad Williams, James Coles, Jonny Bairstow, Kusal Perera, Jordan Thompson, Zahoor Khan, Wasim Akram, Zain Ul Abidin, Muhammad Shafeeq, Asa Tribe, Raizal Nadir Nather
Shah, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Faridoon Dawoodzai, Ross Adair
Pre-Auction Signings: Nicholas Pooran, Rashid Khan, Romario Shepherd, Sherfane Rutherford
Sharjah Warriorz
Auction Signings: Richard Gleeson, Mohammad Nabi, Paul Walter, Adil Rashid, Brandon McMullen, Tom Banton, Craig Overton, George Linde, Ali Aamer Naseer, Fareed Malik, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Logan van Beek, Junaid Siddique, Tanish Suri, Nabeel Aziz, George
Dockrell, Mohammad Saqib, Arunraj Selvaraj, James Rew
Pre-Auction Signings: Adam Milne, James Vince, Waqar Salamkheil, Sikandar Raza
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