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…