The International League T20 (ILT20) will make history this season with the first-ever player auction, which will take place on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, in Dubai. This is a significant shift for the league, which has so far only depended on direct signings and retentions. All six franchises will gather in Dubai to fill out their squads for Season 4, following retained player announcements earlier in July. History will be written! 👨‍⚖️The first-ever DP World ILT20 Player Auction isn’t just about who goes where... it’s a landmark moment that cements the UAE as the stage where cricket’s future is shaped for the region and beyond.🗓️ October 1, 2025⏰ 2 PM GST#DPWorldILT20… pic.twitter.com/gq8tNfdSWT — International League T20 (@ILT20Official) September 21, 2025 Also Read | ILT20 2025-26 Shifted to Dec-Jan to Avoid T20 WC Clash ILT20 Season 4 Auction Rules and Spending Limits Every franchise will start the auction with a kitty of at least USD 800,000 (over ₹7 crore), brought forward from the initial USD 1.2 million that went into retentions and direct signings. Teams will have to spend a minimum of USD 1.5 million (around ₹13 crore) by the close of the auction but cannot exceed USD 2 million (around ₹17 crore). Also, franchises can pick up to two Wildcard players outside the auction for an additional USD 250,000 (₹2.2 crore). Squad size should be between 19 and 21 players (excluding Wildcards), and there should be a definite composition. Every team should have: At least 11 players representing Full Member countries 4 players from UAE 1 player from Kuwait and one player from Saudi Arabia 2 players from other ICC Associate countries Also Read | ILT20 cuts team salary cap by 20% after SA20 shift ILT20 2025 Auction Format and Player Registration Player registrations were done between July and September. Base prices have been fixed at USD 10,000, USD 40,000, and USD 80,000. The auction will be in sets, starting with the Full Member country players. They will be categorized by player role and experience, with marquee players likely to set the tone for the bidding. Unsold players can re-enter through a fast-tracked process later in the auction if teams still have vacancies available. Teams will also have the privilege of replacing injured or unavailable players, even with cricketers from outside the auction pool. There can be a special Right-to-Match (RTM) card utilized by franchises but only for UAE players who either belonged to their development squads or played for them in Season 3. Every team can utilize this option once. When and Where to Watch ILT20 Auction The ILT20 auction will be live-streamed on ZEE5 and the official YouTube channel of the league on October 1, 2025 at 03:30 PM IST (2:00 PM GST). The fourth edition of the tournament is set to start on UAE National Day, December 2, 2025, with the final being held on January 4, 2026.