MI Emirates paid USD 380,000 for Afghan left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi at the 1 October auction in Dubai, a new ILT20 record, and the logic holds up. His tournament record and the Afghanistan squad rules justify the bid, while the purse edge only made it easier. Three records fell in one day, and Farooqi’s fee topped them all. Here is how the number came about, why the purse barely mattered, and what every rival now has to work around next season.
Record Falls Three Times in One Day
Andre Fletcher’s USD 260,000 from Season 4 stood until Thursday. Then Gulf Giants paid USD 310,000 for Rahmanullah Gurbaz using a right-to-match card and USD 350,000 for Liam Livingstone. MI Emirates topped both with Farooqi at USD 380,000. The record fell three times in a single day.
Player | Franchise | Auction price | Previous record broken | Role |
Fazalhaq Farooqi | MI Emirates | USD 380,000 | Livingstone’s USD 350,000 | Left-arm pacer |
Liam Livingstone | Gulf Giants | USD 350,000 | Gurbaz’s USD 310,000 | All-rounder |
Rahmanullah Gurbaz | Gulf Giants | USD 310,000 | Fletcher’s USD 260,000 | Wicketkeeper-batter |
Faf du Plessis | Dubai Capitals | USD 300,000 | None | Batter |
Alzarri Joseph | Gulf Giants | USD 230,000 | None | Pacer |
Faf du Plessis also cleared the old mark at USD 300,000, while Alzarri Joseph went for USD 230,000. Four players beat Fletcher’s figure, which shows how far the top of the market moved. Livingstone and Gurbaz both went to the same franchise, so Gulf Giants helped lift a market they were also shopping in.
MI Emirates’ Purse Advantage in Numbers
Franchises worked with roughly USD 1.3 million each, and MI Emirates began with USD 1.39 million, the largest. Abu Dhabi Knight Riders had USD 1.365 million, Desert Vipers and Gulf Giants USD 1.305 million, and Dubai Capitals and Sharjah Warriorz USD 1.30 million. That is an edge of USD 25,000 to USD 90,000, hardly decisive. The gap between the richest and poorest purse is smaller than the gap between Farooqi’s fee and Joseph’s.
Farooqi took about 27 per cent of it. MI Emirates finished with nothing left, while Desert Vipers kept USD 456,000 and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders USD 451,000. The purse allowed the bid, but the club chose to spend it on one player. Keeping nothing back is a commitment: Desert Vipers can still chase another name; MI Emirates cannot.
Fazalhaq Farooqi ILT20 Season 5 auction price
Farooqi’s results explain the choice. In Season 2 he took 17 wickets in eight matches at an economy of 7.66 as MI Emirates won the title. In Season 3 he led the tournament with 21 wickets, including 5/16 against Dubai Capitals, a league-best figure. This is his fifth consecutive season with the club. Those numbers describe a bowler who wins matches, not one who fills a quota slot.
Powerplay and death-over splits are not available in verified form, so we make no claim on them. The next-highest paid fast bowler, Alzarri Joseph, went for USD 230,000, USD 150,000 less. Even at USD 380,000, the premium over Joseph reflects a proven record rather than a gamble on form.
Afghanistan Quota Rules Explained for Fans
Each squad must have 18 to 23 players, including at least four from Afghanistan and one from Ireland. Every playing XI needs at least two Afghan players. The rule exists because of availability problems in the first four editions, with access to Afghan players secured through the Afghanistan Cricket Board. The squad rules therefore do real work in the market, because they shrink the pool of players who can satisfy them.
Rashid Khan, Farooqi and Allah Ghazanfar are the three Afghans we could confirm in MI Emirates’ 21-man squad. A first-choice Afghan pacer protects the XI requirement. With Khan already in the squad, Farooqi’s arrival gives MI Emirates cover if either is unavailable.
His Fee Resets the Rival Market
Gulf Giants spent USD 890,000 on Livingstone, Gurbaz and Joseph and had USD 28,000 left. Dubai Capitals had USD 266,000 left. Teams with spare money, such as Desert Vipers and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, now know what a top Afghan or overseas player costs.
Season 5 runs from 22 November to 20 December 2026. The Fazalhaq Farooqi ILT20 Season 5 auction price sets the bar every rival must now clear, and MI Emirates have shown they will pay it for a proven wicket-taker.
Was USD 380,000 too much for one pacer, or the smartest spend of the auction? Tell us in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is the most expensive player in ILT20 history?
Fazalhaq Farooqi is the most expensive player in ILT20 history at USD 380,000. He edged Liam Livingstone (USD 350,000) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (USD 310,000), both bought by Gulf Giants on the same day.
How much did MI Emirates pay for Fazalhaq Farooqi?
MI Emirates paid USD 380,000 for the Afghan left-arm pacer. That is about 27 per cent of their USD 1.39 million auction purse, the largest of any franchise before the bidding began.
How many Afghanistan players must play in each ILT20 XI?
Every ILT20 playing XI needs at least two Afghanistan players. Squads of 18 to 23 must also include at least four Afghan players and one from Ireland, which protects availability across the tournament.
When does ILT20 Season 5 start?
ILT20 Season 5 starts on Sunday 22 November 2026. The final follows on 20 December 2026, and the auction that set the record was held in Dubai on 1 October.
Which team has the biggest purse in the ILT20 auction?
MI Emirates had the biggest purse at USD 1.39 million. Abu Dhabi Knight Riders followed with USD 1.365 million, while Desert Vipers and Gulf Giants each began with USD 1.305 million.
Disclaimer: This blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.