Gulf Giants Make History at ILT20 Season Five Auction
Record-Breaking Auction Highlights
The Gulf Giants achieved a remarkable feat during the player auction for the fifth season of the International League T20 (ILT20) held in Dubai, setting new records for the highest-priced players in the tournament's history. Initially, they retained Afghanistan's wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz for $310,000, marking him as the most expensive player until England's all-rounder Liam Livingstone was acquired for $350,000 shortly after.
In addition to these high-profile signings, the Giants also brought in West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph for $230,000, along with several other players including Shamar Joseph, David Wiese from Namibia, Afghanistan's Ibrahim Zadran, South Africa's Tabraiz Shamsi, and Curtis Campher from Ireland.
Coach's Insights on Auction Strategy
Gulf Giants Head Coach Simon Helmot shared his thoughts on the auction, stating, "It was not our intention to break the record twice in one evening. However, these players are of exceptional quality, and we are thrilled with the additions to our squad."
Livingstone's inclusion enhances the batting lineup, which already features South African stars David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen, while Gurbaz adds another explosive option at the top. Helmot emphasized the need to balance this batting strength with effective bowling options, saying, "We have a dynamic top order and require strong death bowling."
Development Pathway and Squad Composition
The Gulf Giants' auction success follows a victorious season for their development team, which clinched the ILT20 Development Tournament. This success is mirrored in the current squad, which includes UAE players like Sagar Kalyan, Awais Ahmed, and Haider Razzaq, who were also part of the auction signings.
With the auction concluded, Helmot noted that the next step is to unify the team ahead of the tournament, stating, "Our focus now shifts to transforming the squad's quality into a cohesive unit as we prepare for the season. Performance will be key during the tournament."
Team Owner's Vision
Pranav Vora, representing Adani Sportsline, expressed the team's commitment to building a competitive squad, saying, "The Gulf Giants have consistently aimed to create a team that blends international quality with depth and a strong competitive identity. This auction has enabled us to enhance an already robust core, and we are eager to see how this group performs in Season 5."
The DP World ILT20 Season 5 is scheduled to take place from November 22 to December 20, 2026, across venues in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah.
Gulf Giants Season 5 Squad Overview
Retentions / Direct Signings
Azmatullah Omarzai – Afghanistan
Blessing Muzarabani – Zimbabwe
David Miller – South Africa
Heinrich Klaasen – South Africa
Auction Signings
Liam Livingstone – England – USD 350,000
Rahmanullah Gurbaz – Afghanistan – USD 310,000 (RTM)
Alzarri Joseph – West Indies – USD 230,000
Shamar Joseph – West Indies – USD 80,000
David Wiese – Namibia – USD 70,000
Ibrahim Zadran – Afghanistan – USD 65,000
Tabraiz Shamsi – South Africa – USD 40,000
Curtis Campher – Ireland – USD 22,000
Dhruv Parashar – UAE – USD 10,000
Matiullah Khan – UAE – USD 10,000
Haider Razzaq – UAE – USD 10,000
Imran Mir – UAE – USD 10,000
Imtiaz Khan – SAUDI – USD 10,000
Meet Bhavsar – KUWAIT – USD 10,000 (RTM)
Shubham Ranjane – USA – USD 10,000
Wahidullah Zadran – Afghanistan – USD 10,000
Awais Ahmed – UAE – USD 10,000
Sagar Kalyan – UAE – USD 10,000
Alick Athanaze – West Indies – USD 10,000.