Dubai,:(PNP) International T20 cricket superstars Finn Allen, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen and Marcus Stoinis will headline the pre-auction signings for Season 5 of the DP World International League T20 (ILT20), adding further star power to the six-team tournament.
New Zealand opener Finn Allen has joined Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, while South Africa’s David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen will represent the Gulf Giants. Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis will return to the competition with the Dubai Capitals after a three-year absence.
Several DP World ILT20 stars will also return to their Season 4 franchises. Jason Holder and Sunil Narine will continue with Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Shimron Hetmyer with Desert Vipers, Rovman Powell and Mustafizur Rahman with Dubai Capitals, while Nicholas Pooran, Rashid Khan and Romario Shepherd return to MI Emirates. Sikandar Raza will continue with Sharjah Warriorz.
Defending champions Desert Vipers have also retained Andries Gous and Dan Lawrence, while Azmatullah Omarzai and Blessing Muzarabani return to Gulf Giants.
Among the other notable pre-auction signings are Afghanistan’s Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, who joins Desert Vipers; West Indies all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford, who moves to MI Emirates; and James Vince, who joins Sharjah Warriorz. Adam Milne and Waqar Salamkheil have also been signed by Sharjah Warriorz, while Noor Ahmad joins Dubai Capitals.
The six franchises completed the foreign-player pre-auction signing process on August 3. Each team was permitted to make up to four pre-auction signings.
The remaining squad selection will be completed at the DP World ILT20 Season 5 Player Auction, scheduled to be held in Dubai on Thursday, October 1, 2026. Each franchise will have a minimum of 18 and maximum of 23 players, including UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and additional overseas players. Following the auction, each team will be permitted one further Wildcard signing.
Players can register for the auction through the official registration portal, with the submission deadline set for Saturday, September 12, 2026.
Finn Allen is regarded as one of the most destructive openers in T20 cricket. The New Zealander smashed a sensational 33-ball century against South Africa in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final.
David Miller, one of the most experienced T20 middle-order batters, has established himself as a major force in the format, while Heinrich Klaasen is widely recognised for his powerful strokeplay, particularly against spin bowling.
Marcus Stoinis, an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 winner, has been a key member of Australia’s white-ball setup for more than a decade and brings both explosive batting and useful medium-pace bowling to the Dubai Capitals.
Season 5 of the six-team, 34-match DP World ILT20 is scheduled to be played during November and December 2026.
DP World ILT20 Season 5 Pre-Auction Signings
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: Finn Allen, Jason Holder, Matthew Tromp; Sunil Narine returns.
Desert Vipers: Andries Gous, Dan Lawrence; Mujeeb-ur-Rahman and Shimron Hetmyer; both return to the franchise after playing elsewhere or as Wildcards in Season 4.
Dubai Capitals: Marcus Stoinis, Noor Ahmad; Mustafizur Rahman and Rovman Powell return.
Gulf Giants: David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen; Azmatullah Omarzai and Blessing Muzarabani return.
MI Emirates: Sherfane Rutherford; Nicholas Pooran, Rashid Khan and Romario Shepherd return.
Sharjah Warriorz: Adam Milne, James Vince and Waqar Salamkheil; Sikandar Raza returns.
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