MI Emirates seal ILT20 Season 5 squad with Bairstow, Jordan, Farooqi
Synopsis
MI Emirates have gone all-in for ILT20 Season 5 — retaining a record-breaking Fazalhaq Farooqi at USD 380,000, snapping up Jonny Bairstow and Chris Jordan at auction, and appointing championship-winning coach Mark Boucher. With Rashid Khan, Nicholas Pooran and Muhammad Waseem also in the mix, this could be the strongest side the franchise has fielded.
Key Takeaways
MI Emirates completed their ILT20 Season 5 squad following the player auction in Dubai on 1 October 2026 .
Fazalhaq Farooqi returns for a record USD 380,000 — the most expensive player in ILT20 history.
Muhammad Waseem was retained via RTM for USD 210,000 , the highest price ever paid for a UAE player at the ILT20 auction.
England internationals Chris Jordan (USD 170,000) and Jonny Bairstow (USD 80,000) were among the new auction additions.
Mark Boucher was appointed Head Coach for Season 5, having previously guided MI New York to the championship title in 2025 .
MI Emirates begin their Season 5 campaign in November 2026 .
MI Emirates have finalised their squad for ILT20 Season 5 following the league's player auction held in Dubai on 1 October 2026, assembling a star-studded lineup headlined by Nicholas Pooran, Rashid Khan, and the most expensive player in ILT20 history, Fazalhaq Farooqi. The franchise added several high-profile international names at the auction to round out what is arguably their deepest squad since the league's inception.
Key Auction Signings
Afghanistan pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi returns to the franchise for a record USD 380,000 — the highest price ever paid for a player in ILT20 history. Muhammad Waseem was retained through the Right to Match (RTM) option for USD 210,000, the highest sum ever paid for a UAE player at the ILT20 auction. England international Chris Jordan was signed for USD 170,000, bringing proven T20 death-bowling expertise, while England batter Jonny Bairstow was the franchise's final auction pick at USD 80,000. Sri Lanka wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Perera was also added for USD 40,000, and Zahoor Khan returns for USD 30,000.
Long-Standing Loyalists Return
Farooqi, Waseem, and Zahoor have been part of the MI Emirates setup since the inaugural ILT20 season, and will now represent the franchise for a fifth consecutive year. The franchise also exercised its RTM option to retain Afghanistan spinner Allah Ghazanfar, a highly rated young talent who adds significant bowling variety. Pre-auction signings Romario Shepherd and Sherfane Rutherford further bolster the all-round department.
Mark Boucher Named Head Coach
Earlier on the same day, MI Emirates appointed former South Africa international Mark Boucher as Head Coach for Season 5. Boucher first joined the Mumbai Indians coaching structure in 2023 before moving to lead MI New York, where he guided the side to the championship title in 2025. His return to the MI Emirates dugout is expected to bring continuity, given his deep familiarity with the franchise's culture and playing philosophy.
About ILT20 and What to Expect
The International League T20 (ILT20) is sanctioned by the Emirates Cricket Board and features six franchise teams. The league permits up to nine overseas players in a playing XI — higher than most global T20 competitions — while mandating at least one UAE player and one Associate Member nation player per team. MI Emirates are scheduled to begin their Season 5 campaign in November 2026.
Full MI Emirates Squad — Season 5: Nicholas Pooran, Rashid Khan, Romario Shepherd, Sherfane Rutherford, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Muhammad Waseem, Zahoor Khan, Kusal Perera, Chris Jordan, Jonny Bairstow, Allah Ghazanfar, James Coles, Lizaad Williams, Asa Tribe, Mohamed Shafeeq, Zain Ul Abidin, Jordan Thompson, Ross Adair, Wasim Akram, Faridoon Dawoodzai, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Raizal Nadir Nather Shah.
Point of View
While the addition of Bairstow and Jordan imports proven big-game experience from England's white-ball setup. The real subplot, though, is Mark Boucher: a coach who has now won silverware with MI New York will arrive in Dubai with expectations attached. If MI Emirates fall short again, the question of whether the Mumbai Indians' global franchise model delivers trophies — or just marquee names — will grow louder.
NationPress
2 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the key players in MI Emirates' ILT20 Season 5 squad?
MI Emirates' Season 5 squad features marquee names including Nicholas Pooran, Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Muhammad Waseem, Jonny Bairstow, Chris Jordan, Kusal Perera, and Allah Ghazanfar, among others. Farooqi returns as the most expensive player in ILT20 history at USD 380,000.
When does MI Emirates' ILT20 Season 5 campaign begin?
MI Emirates are scheduled to begin their ILT20 Season 5 campaign in November 2026. The International League T20 is sanctioned by the Emirates Cricket Board and features six franchise teams.
Who is the most expensive player in ILT20 history?
Afghanistan pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi is the most expensive player in ILT20 history, signed by MI Emirates for USD 380,000 at the Season 5 auction in Dubai. He has been with the franchise since the inaugural season.
Who has been appointed head coach of MI Emirates for Season 5?
Mark Boucher has been named Head Coach of MI Emirates for ILT20 Season 5. The former South Africa international previously coached MI New York to the championship title in 2025 and first joined the Mumbai Indians setup as head coach in 2023.
What is the ILT20 and how many overseas players are allowed?
The International League T20 (ILT20) is a franchise T20 cricket league sanctioned by the Emirates Cricket Board, featuring six teams. It permits up to nine overseas players in a playing XI, and each team must field at least one UAE player and one Associate Member nation player.
