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What happened during 1 October 2025’s International League T20 player auction?
This is the first time the tournament has had a player auction.
Several big names were bought or overlooked.
Who landed big deals?
1. Andre Fletcher: $260,000
Who doesn’t love a bit of ‘The Spiceman’ Andre Fletcher? MI Emirates certainly do and coughed up $260,000 for the West Indian big-hitter, who has plenty of experience during those pivotal opening powerplays when the field is dead set and ripe for sixes.
The team, which is part of the global behemoth that also owns MI Cape Town in the SA20, MI New York in Major League Cricket and Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League, want to go all the way again and add to their 2024 ILT20 title. The purchase of Fletcher is a big boost for this.
2. Jordan Thompson: $48,000
We need to talk about Jordan Thompson. Or get left behind. Not yet a graduate to international cricket, Thompson is making a splash at domestic level.
Unfortunate not to get a gig at the SA20, where his name was hot on the lips of a few suitors, Thompson’s ship came in during the ILT20 player auction. He’ll be with MI Emirates as well for $48,000.
Anticipate plenty of big hits from the Yorkshire and Southern Brave all-rounder, who is a handy asset with the ball as well – and has experience in the Pakistan Super League.
3. Jayden Seales: $80,000
Never underestimate the value of specialist bowlers and outright pace in T20 cricket. It’s not all about big-hitting batter, ladies and gentlemen.
The Sharjah Warriorz got this sentiment spot on when they threw $80,000 at Jayden Seales. The West Indies will be challenged by batting-friendly conditions in the UAE, but is among the few bowlers who really know how to extract what’s needed from flat wickets.
4. Liam Dawson: $170,000
“Flight, turn, deception – simply the whole package,” announced the International League T20, as the Gulf Giants nabbed Liam Dawson for $170,000.
Whether this ceases to amaze you or flatters to deceive, we are consistently baffled by Dawson’s ability to prolong his popularity. He’s won an SA20 title with the Sunrisers Eastern Cape, he’s earned an England recall after several years in the wilderness – and will now get a go in the UAE with the former champions in the ILT20.
5. Brandon McMullen: $110,000
A tip of the proverbial hat to the Associate nations here. They have increasing representation on the biggest stages with every domestic T20 league these days.
A field previously dominated by big names in small nations such as Rashid Khan now features Brandon McMullen and many others. Ireland’s Josh Little didn’t crack the nod for this one, but Scotland’s hard-hitting McMullen sure did to the tune of $110,000 for the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.
Who knows? This could even lead to a sweet deal with the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League next year. Time will tell. Patience is key. Etc.
Also read: Rated: 5 of the biggest upsets in international cricket of all time
Who went unsold?
1. Ravichandran Ashwin: $0
India‘s Ravichandra Ashwin and England’s James Anderson were among the biggest names to go unsold. Ashwin, who is no longer contracted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India, fetched a deal with the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League in Australia recently.
But his popularity in domestic T20 leagues has stopped there for now. Nobody wanted him during the ILT20 player auction – the legendary Indian spinner and underrated all-rounder did not get a single bid.
Several base prices of $10,000 came and went, but Ashwin’s minimum fee of 12 times that amount was just too rich for any of the franchises’ pockets. Next time, mate, next time. Maybe.
2. James Anderson: $0
England‘s James Anderson also went unsold. The same happened to him last month, when he put his hand up for involvement in South Africa’s SA20. Interest in England’s greatest Test wicket-takers is lacking at T20 level.
This, indeed, could be the very end of the England great’s playing career. He has flirted with an extended stay with gigs in the T20 Blast and The Hundred, but runways is running out for the 43-year-old.
3. Shakib Al Hasan: $0
Another big name that went unsold at the ILT20 player auction was Shakib Al Hasan. There’s a pattern developing for the Bangladesh all-rounder, who was top billing for the SA20 auction but ultimately wasn’t even mentioned during the event.
Capable of winning matches almost singlehandedly with bat or ball, Al Hasan is prone to injury lately and doesn’t seem as committed to the cause as much as he used to be. Franchises are evidently picking up on this when overlooking him.
4. Temba Bavuma: $0
Spare a thought, if you would, for Temba Bavuma. South Africa‘s Test and ODI captain must be finding it hard to ward off a complex about not being good enough on the international stage.
Yes, he has won a World Test Championship title, which will bring its own riches, but unlikely at the level offered by big paydays in the United Arab Emirates. Bavuma, too, didn’t get a deal at the SA20 player auction last month. Moving along swiftly, then.
5. David Wiese: $0
Dare we suggest this or that franchise missed a trick in not going for David Wiese? The cosmopolitan all-rounder has international experience for two countries – South Africa and Namibia – and is a household name on the global T20 circuit.
Wiese was in the Caribbean Premier League recently and – get this – has played more than 400 T20s at professional level. You can’t buy that level of experience. Actually, you can, but nobody did this time.
Read next: Rated: The 7 most underrated all-rounders of all-time
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