ILT20 Season 5 signings feature David Miller, Finn Allen, Heinrich Klaasen and Marcus Stoinis as franchises strengthen squads before October’s player auction.
DUBAI: Some of T20 cricket’s biggest international hitters are heading to the UAE, with David Miller, Finn Allen, Heinrich Klaasen and Marcus Stoinis headlining the ILT20 Season 5 signings announced ahead of the player auction.
Finn Allen will join Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, while South African stars Miller and Klaasen have signed for Gulf Giants. All three are set to make their DP World ILT20 debuts. Australian all-rounder Stoinis will return to the competition with Dubai Capitals after a three-year absence.
The six-team tournament will stage its fifth season across the UAE in November and December 2026, with 34 matches scheduled.
Which T20 stars are joining Season 5?
New Zealand opener Allen arrives with a reputation as one of the most explosive batters in the format. The 27-year-old has scored 1,663 runs in 62 T20 internationals at a strike rate of 170.73.
Gulf Giants have added considerable batting experience with Miller and Klaasen. Miller has accumulated 2,804 T20I runs across 140 matches for South Africa, while wicketkeeper-batter Klaasen has nearly 7,000 runs from close to 300 T20 appearances.
Stoinis, a member of Australia’s 2021 T20 World Cup-winning squad, adds all-round strength to Dubai Capitals with his powerful batting and right-arm medium pace.
Several established league names are also returning to familiar franchises. Jason Holder and Sunil Narine feature for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, while Shimron Hetmyer returns to defending champions Desert Vipers.
Dubai Capitals retain Rovman Powell and Mustafizur Rahman, while MI Emirates welcome back Nicholas Pooran, Rashid Khan and Romario Shepherd. Sikandar Raza returns to Sharjah Warriorz.
Other notable moves include Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb-ur-Rahman joining Desert Vipers, Sherfane Rutherford signing for MI Emirates and James Vince moving to Sharjah Warriorz.
What happens at the player auction?
Franchises will complete their squads at the DP World ILT20 Season 5 Player Auction in Dubai on October 1, 2026. Teams can add UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabian and additional overseas players, with final squads containing between 18 and 23 players.
Player registrations for the auction remain open until September 12, 2026. Following the auction, every franchise will also be permitted one additional wildcard signing.
The ILT20 Season 5 signings give franchises an early foundation before the auction determines the final shape of their squads.
Impact to expect
Star power should increase significantly in Season 5, with proven international match-winners strengthening the league’s appeal to UAE and global cricket audiences while creating intriguing new franchise combinations ahead of the November opening.
