Pakistan National Cricket Team’s captain for the Tests, Babar Azam, is reportedly registering his name for the upcoming season of the ILT20 League. If the recent reports are to be believed, Pakistan’s batting superstar is set to test his luck at the next International League T20 (ILT20) auction, the UAE’s only T20 franchise league.
The International League T20 (DP World ILT20) Season 5 is scheduled to run from November 21 to December 20, 2026, and will run till December 30, 2026. Matches in the league will be played across UAE venues, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah.
Babar Azam is likely to make his debut in International League T20 (ILT20)
Like the previous editions, this time too, the league will be held between six franchises: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Desert Vipers, Dubai Capitals, Gulf Giants, MI Emirates, and Sharjah Warriorz.
Ahead of the fifth season, the league has already attracted global attention, with Shoaib Akhtar and Brett Lee joining as brand ambassadors. If Babar Azam joins the tournament, then it can prove helpful in the growth of the league.
Azam, who played in multiple franchise leagues around the globe, including the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Big Bash League (BBL), Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Lankan Premier League (LPL), and Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), has never played in the ILT20 League.
Babar Azam had previous chances to join ILT20
The 31-year-old previously came very close to joining the league in the past. It was previously reported that, to secure the services of the star performer, multiple franchises were ready to invest heavily in him. The stage was set, but it did not work out well enough for Azam. If all the procedures could have gone in favour of the right-hander, then he could have played in the very first season of the T20 tournament.
Reports indicated that potential blockbuster deals fell through for multiple reasons. The required No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was considered one of the reasons behind the unsuccessful deal. Disagreements regarding image rights and payment structures were some of the other possible reasons that did not allow Babar Azam to sign any deal in the league so far.
Babar Azam to skip the Big Bash League?
If Babar enters into the players’ auction, then there can be high demand to get him on board. In the previous season of the Pakistan Super League, he was one of the standout batters for the Peshawar Zalmi. Under the leadership of Babar, Peshawar emerged as the winner of the previous edition of the tournament.
With his recent achievements as a batter and as the leader, there will be no surprise if the franchises go all out for him in the upcoming auction. Additionally, the update on Babar Azam’s chances to play in the ILT20 has raised question marks about his Big Bash League (BBL) career. Azam made his debut in the league the previous season with the Sydney Sixers, which did not go well for him.