UAE cricket marked a defining moment in its journey on Wednesday as local pacers Junaid Siddique and Muhammad Rohid emerged among the biggest headline-makers of the inaugural ILT20 Season 4 Player Auction, securing blockbuster deals worth USD 170,000 and USD 140,000 with Sharjah Warriorz and MI Emirates, respectively. Their signings—ranked fourth and fifth among the most expensive acquisitions—signaled a new era for UAE cricketers on the global franchise stage.
The landmark auction, hosted at Dubai’s Four Seasons Hotel in Jumeirah Beach, brought together all six franchises as they competed to complete their squads under the new auction format. Yet, it was the spirited bidding wars for homegrown pacers that underlined the rising stature of Emirati cricket talent.
For 32-year-old Junaid Siddique, the day held special significance as his franchise, Sharjah Warriorz, exercised its only Right-to-Match card to retain his services, edging out a strong bid from the Gulf Giants. The right-arm fast bowler has been a linchpin of the UAE national side and made waves earlier this year during the Men’s T20 Asia Cup, where he finished as the tournament’s third-highest wicket-taker with nine scalps, including two four-wicket hauls against Oman and Pakistan.
Reflecting on his record-breaking deal, Junaid said:
“This is a very special moment for me. To be brought back by the Warriorz at the first auction gives me a lot of confidence, and it also shows how far UAE cricket has come. Opportunities like these are important because they allow local players to share the stage with some of the best cricketers in the world. I want to make the most of it, contribute to my team, and show what UAE players are capable of.”
The excitement extended to 23-year-old Muhammad Rohid, whose Right-to-Match retention by MI Emirates capped a breakthrough year for the left-arm pacer. Having made his UAE debut only earlier this year, Rohid has swiftly cemented his place in the national setup, sharing new-ball responsibilities with Junaid. His performances across two seasons for MI Emirates—returning 19 wickets in 15 matches—had already made him one of the most promising young quicks in the region.
“It feels incredible to be picked up by MI Emirates at the first auction,” Rohid said. “Playing for this team has been a great learning curve, and I see this as another opportunity to keep improving alongside world-class players. I hope it also inspires young cricketers in the region to dream big and believe that opportunities like these are real.”
The day’s proceedings also highlighted the growing strength of the UAE’s developmental cricket pipeline. Uncapped pacers Wasim Akram and Haider Razzaq attracted significant attention after stellar performances in the ILT20 Development Tournament 2025, where they combined for 27 wickets in seven games for the tournament-winning Sharjah Warriorz Development side. Razzaq, the tournament’s top wicket-taker with 16 dismissals, was snapped up by Gulf Giants for USD 50,000, while Akram’s five-wicket haul and hat-trick helped him earn a USD 55,000 deal with Sharjah Warriorz.
“The Development Tournament was a great platform to prove ourselves,” Razzaq said. “With the auction pressure in mind, every performance mattered. I’m thankful for this opportunity, and now that I’m with the Giants, I want to learn and grow as much as I can.”
Elsewhere, Sanjay Pahal, who was named Player of the Tournament in the Development League for his explosive hitting and knack for breakthroughs, earned a maiden ILT20 contract with Desert Vipers for USD 10,000. Asif Khan (USD 26,000, Gulf Giants) and Ibrar Ahmed (USD 22,000, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders via Right-to-Match) were among other prominent UAE players to land contracts.
The auction, hailed as a landmark moment for the league, also underscored the commitment of ILT20 franchises toward nurturing local and associate talent, ensuring that UAE cricketers share the same global stage as established international stars.
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