Afghanistan fast bowler
The acquisition marks a significant commitment from the franchise, which has retained Farooqi for a fifth consecutive season. His record-setting deal served as the climax of a highly competitive bidding process that saw the auction record broken three separate times throughout the day as teams looked to bolster their rosters ahead of the upcoming campaign.
A Day of Record-Breaking Bids and Notable Signings
The auction floor saw intense activity as franchises navigated their budgets, which ranged between USD 1.3 million and USD 1.39 million. Before Farooqi’s record-breaking bid, England’s Liam Livingstone briefly held the top spot after being purchased by the Gulf Giants for USD 350,000. Earlier in the proceedings, the Gulf Giants also utilized their Right-to-Match option to retain Afghanistan batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz for USD 310,000, a figure that had briefly stood as the highest price in the history of the tournament's auction.
The day also saw significant movement for other international stars. Faf du Plessis, who had previously set a high benchmark, was signed by the Dubai Capitals for USD 300,000. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s
Other notable acquisitions included West Indies pacer Alzarri Joseph, who joined the Gulf Giants for USD 230,000. The talent pool, which featured over 200 players representing 23 different nations, also saw Allah Ghazanfar secure a deal for USD 150,000, while veteran all-rounders Mohammad Nabi and Dasun Shanaka were picked up for USD 140,000 and USD 100,000 respectively. With squads now finalized between 18 and 23 players, teams are set to move into their final preparations for the new season.
