Babar Azam coming to UAE: Reports of ILT20 move emerge

Dubai: Recent reports suggest that Pakistan batter Babar Azam may join the International League T20 (ILT20) league for the first time in 2021. The 31-year-old has registered for the Season 5 auction, set to take place on October 1 in Dubai. However, his inclusion is not guaranteed, as prior attempts to secure his participation were reportedly thwarted by issues related to the Pakistan Cricket Board's No Objection Certificate (NOC), image rights, and payment conditions.

Azam has previously played in prominent franchise leagues, such as the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and the Big Bash League (BBL). Currently, he is a member of Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) in Pakistan's domestic first-class cricket circuit, having last competed in domestic cricket in 2019. The ILT20 auction will be held at the ICC Academy's indoor facility in Dubai, with each of the six participating franchises receiving a $1.3 million (Dh 4.77 million) fund.

Season 5 of the ILT20 is scheduled to commence on November 22 and conclude on December 20, with matches held throughout the UAE. If Babar Azam moves to the ILT20, it could cause speculation about his availability for the upcoming Big Bash League season. He made his BBL debut with Sydney Sixers the previous season, but his future plans remain uncertain.

For now, Babar's registration for the auction has put him under the spotlight ahead of the October 1 event, where franchises will aim to finalize their squads for the fifth ILT20 season.