Dubai – Pakistan’s star batsman Babar Azam has been signed by Desert Vipers for $80,000 in the DP World ILT20 Season 5 auction.

Under the deal, Babar, who is one of the leading cricketers in world cricket, becomes part of the UAE-based franchise league.

Babar currently features in Pakistan’s President’s Trophy Grade I and is involved in domestic cricket. They also enjoyed an impressive campaign in this year’s Pakistan Super League (PSL).

In May, Babar led Peshawar Zalmi to their second PSL title, the franchise winning their first championship in 2017.

It was Babar’s first PSL title as captain. He finished the tournament as their highest run scorer with 588 runs, including two centuries, and was subsequently named captain of the PSL Team of the Tournament.

His arrival provides Desert Vipers with an experienced top-order batsman with extensive experience in international and franchise cricket.

Babar’s inclusion in the ILT 20 is also expected to attract significant interest from cricket fans in Pakistan and UAE.

All six ILT20 franchises are picking up players in the Season 5 auction as they strengthen their squads ahead of the fifth edition.