ILT20 2026 salaries: Who are the highest-paid players in the UAE league?
The DP World International League T20 held its second player auction, with some of the biggest names in franchise cricket landing mega deals. The ILT20 has become one of the most lucrative leagues in the world. This time, the rules were altered to ensure that local and Associate-nation players also get a slice of the cash pie. As a result, more than $1 million was spent on 24 UAE players with a…
The second player auction of the DP World International League T20 concluded with a record-breaking haul of contracts for players across the globe. Among the highest earners were overseas stars, with Afghanistan's Fazalhaq Farooqi leading the pack. The Afghan fast bowler inked the biggest deal of the ILT20 2026 season, amassing $380,000 to join MI Emirates.
Not far behind was England's Liam Livingstone, who secured a $350,000 contract with Gulf Giants. The auction saw a significant increase in salaries for local and Associate-nation players, with a minimum of $10,000 for each player. UAE-based Muhammad Waseem took home $210,000 to continue with MI Emirates, while Alishan Sharafu was snapped up by Abu Dhabi Knight Riders for $110,000.
The auction raised the bar for UAE cricketers, following Junaid Siddique's previous record deal of $170,000.
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