Desert Vipers sign Babar Azam for $80,000 at ILT20 auction

Desert Vipers secured Pakistan batter Babar Azam for his base price of $80,000 during the DP World ILT20 Season 5 auction held on Thursday, 1 October. The signing brings the former Pakistan captain to the UAE-based league following his successful domestic campaign in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Performance and Captaincy Record The 31-year-old enters the ILT20 after leading Peshawar Zalmi to the PSL 11 title in May 2026. During that tournament, Babar finished as the leading run-scorer with 588 runs, a tally that included two centuries. This performance led to his selection as captain of the PSL Team of the Tournament. Beyond his domestic success in Pakistan, Babar recently completed a stint in Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL) with the Sydney Sixers. In 11 BBL appearances, he recorded 202 runs at an average of 22.44, maintaining a strike rate of 103.06 and scoring two half-centuries. Tactical Shift for Desert Vipers The acquisition is timed as ILT20 franchises finalize their rosters for the fifth edition of the competition. Desert Vipers sought to bolster their top-order batting, and Babar’s signing provides a high-profile anchor for the squad. The franchise expects the move to draw significant engagement from the substantial Pakistani expatriate community in the UAE. Babar is currently active in the President’s Trophy Grade-I in Pakistan. His transition to the Desert Vipers marks his first stint in the UAE's premier T20 franchise league. The ILT20 Season 5 auction…