Babar Azam bought by Desert Vipers for $80,000 base price at ILT20 season 5 auction
Pakistan batter Babar Azam was bought by Desert Vipers for his $80,000 base price at the DP World ILT20 season 5 auction in Dubai. The National says Pakistani stars again went cheaply while players from elsewhere fetched far more.
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The story, neutrally told
Babar Azam was sold to Desert Vipers for $80,000 at the DP World ILT20 season 5 auction in Dubai on 1 October 2026. Gulf NewsN “Pakistan star Babar Azam has been sold for” Read at Gulf News ↗ The NationalN “He was purchased for his base rate of $80,000 by Desert Vipers, who faced no competing bids.” Read at The National ↗ Gulf News describes the sale as the addition of one of the biggest names in world cricket to the league, and notes that Babar, 31, is currently playing in the President's Trophy Grade-I in Pakistan. Gulf NewsN “The right-handed batter is currently competing in the President’s Trophy Grade-I in Pakistan” Read at Gulf News ↗ Gulf News says Babar captained Peshawar Zalmi to the HBL PSL 11 title in May and was the tournament's leading run-scorer with 588 runs, including two centuries. Gulf NewsN “he finished the tournament as the leading run-scorer with 588 runs, including two centuries” Read at Gulf News ↗
It adds that he made his Big Bash League debut with Sydney Sixers in BBL|15, scoring 202 runs in 11 matches at an average of 22.44 and a strike rate of 103.06. Gulf NewsN “Babar played 11 Big Bash matches, scoring 202 runs at an average of 22.44 and a strike rate of 103.06, with two half-centuries.” Read at Gulf News ↗ The National reports that the Vipers, owned by the American businessman Avram Glazer, also brought back Pakistanis Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan and Naseem Shah for their base prices. The NationalN “The Vipers, who are owned by the American businessman Avram Glazer, also brought back fellow Pakistanis Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan and Naseem Shah for their base prices.” Read at The National ↗ The National contrasts these prices with larger bids elsewhere: Afghanistan's Fazalhaq Farooqi went to MI Emirates for $380,000, the biggest payday in the league's history, while Liam Livingstone fetched $350,000, Rahmanullah Gurbaz $310,000 and Faf du Plessis $300,000. The NationalN “Fazalhaq Farooqi, from Afghanistan, earned the biggest payday in the short history of the competition so far, as he went to MI Emirates for $380,000.” Read at The National ↗
UAE players also did better than the Pakistanis: Muhammad Waseem's $210,000 bid broke the UAE record of $170,000 set a season earlier by Junaid Siddique. The NationalN “Muhammad Waseem, who was the leading local player in each of the first four seasons of the competition, landed a massive bid worth $210,000.” Read at The National ↗ The National attributes the low Pakistani prices to the Indian owners of the other five teams ignoring them, which let the Vipers sign several Pakistan internationals at base rates; those players formed the nucleus of the side that won the title for the first time last season. The NationalN “the Indian owners of the other five teams ignored them”“the Pakistani players formed the nucleus of the side which won the title for the first time last season” Read at The National ↗ Vipers chief executive Phil Oliver called Babar 'a very high-quality player who we know well' and said the league is shaping up to be the most competitive so far, with the season starting in November. The NationalN “He is a very high-quality player who we know well.”“we look forward to get going in November” Read at The National ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Gulf News reports the signing as a straightforward star acquisition with a career profile; The National uses it to examine pay disparity, with Pakistan's stars bought cheaply while other nationalities earned far more.
- Emphasis
- Gulf News stresses Babar's PSL and Big Bash record; The National stresses the price gap, the Indian owners' lack of interest and the Vipers' title-winning Pakistani core.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gulf News does not mention that there were no rival bids, or the other Pakistani signings and the wider price comparison. The National gives little on Babar's recent form.
- Charged language
- “bargain basement prices”“poor relations”“bumper pay days”
- For example
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“adding one of the biggest names in world cricket to the UAE-based franchise league” — Gulf News
“But Pakistan’s top stars were recruited at bargain basement prices as they continue to be overlooked by Indian franchise owners.” — The National
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Desert Vipers bought Babar Azam for $80,000 at the ILT20 season 5 auction in Dubai.
- $80,000 was his base price.
Desert Vipers organisation
Through chief executive Phil Oliver, the Vipers say they are delighted with their picks, especially the continuity, and welcome Babar to the 'Desert Vipers family'.
“We can't wait to welcome him to the Desert Vipers family.” — The National
Babar Azam person
Gulf News presents Babar as a major name joining the league after a title-winning PSL season; The National presents him as the record T20I run-scorer who still went for his base price.
“Babar Azam has scored more T20 international runs than anyone in history” — The National
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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Babar Azam sold for base price in ILT20 season 5 auction
Celebratory Presents the signing as a prestigious addition and gives a career summary, with the base price in the headline.
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Critical Treats the auction as showing that Pakistani stars are undervalued compared with other players, while noting the benefit to the Vipers.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 1 Oct 12:33 First Gulf NewsN Babar Azam sold for base price in ILT20 season 5 auction
- 1 Oct 16:37 +4h 4m The NationalN Pakistan stars Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman remain poor relations as millions are spent at ILT20 auction
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.