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New faces, some familiar fire power in the house, gen next looking to make their mark and one blockbuster auction later, MI Emirates have found their #Batchof2026. The wait is over; the hammer has fallen and the Blue and Gold squad for ILT20 season 5 is finally complete. What a day it was at the ICC Academy indoors facility, Dubai. A 22-member side packed with power, experience, versatility…with the biggest names in world cricket set to roar next month on field. This auction had a bit of every flavour and the fans enjoyed it galore.&nbsp;MI Emirates already had four pre-signed players in their set up: All-rounders Rashid Khan and Romario Shepherd, West Indies batter Sherfane Rutherford followed by wicketkeeper-batter Nicholas Pooran.&nbsp; After a tough battle in the middle, MI Emirates first buy of the afternoon was none other than Muhammad Waseem. Using our ‘Right To Match’ option, we got him for $210,000. UAE bowler Zahoor Khan was then purchased for a sum of $30,000. Fazalhaq Farooqi, was a name that created a lot of buzz in the auction room. We went big for him and snapped him up for $380,000. Back in Blue and Gold…the “F factor’ will be looking to create his own magic.&nbsp;Wicketkeeper Kusal Perera was picked for $40,000 while Wasim Akram, the UAE bowler was fetched for $10,000. Then came the most familiar face of the #OneFamily set up, AM Ghazanfar. We wanted him back no matter what, it was time to use another RTM again. Finally, it appeared on our screens, Ghazanfar goes to MI Emirates for $150,000. Phew!&nbsp; Next, the Jersey's batter Asa Tribe also found himself a home in Blue and Gold for $10,000. Bowler Mohammed Shafeeq from Kuwait and all rounder Zain ul Abidin from Saudi Arabia were snapped up for $10,000 each.&nbsp;Then came a ton of experience in the middle, MI Emirates was on a shopping spree with Chris Jordan ($170,000), James Coles ($100,000) and Lizaad Williams ($110,000). All rounder Jordan Thompson fetched $40,000 while Ireland’s Ross Adair was picked for his base price of $10,000. The Afghan youngster’s dream came true, as MI Emirates added Faridoon Dawoodzai to the squad ($10,000).&nbsp;But this auction wasn’t just about the big names, it was also about investing in the future. Sanjay Krishnamurthi ($10,000) and Raizal Nadir Nather Shah from UAE ($10,000) are ready to create their own magic in Blue and Gold. FINALLY, the big and the last name announced was like music to our ears… Jonny Bairstow, the England superstar, arrived for ($80,000).This is MI Team, MI Pride…We are MI EMIRATES!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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#AuctionDiaries: The build up to MI Emirates ILT20 season 5!

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As MI Emirates begin a new chapter, the franchise would like to thank Robin Singh for his contribution to the team and to the wider Mumbai Indians organisation.A part of the Mumbai Indians setup since 2010, Robin has been involved in five title-winning campaigns with the organisation and has played an important role across its teams and franchises over the years. He later took charge of MI Emirates as Head Coach, guiding the team to its first ILT20 title in 2024. MI Emirates are grateful for his contribution and wish him the very best for the future.Taking the team into its next chapter, Mark Boucher returns to the Mumbai Indians setup, bringing with him a strong connection to the organisation and a wealth of experience across international and franchise cricket.Boucher first joined Mumbai Indians as Head Coach in 2023, before taking charge of MI New York, where he guided the team to the championship title in 2025.A former South African international and accomplished wicketkeeper, Boucher brings extensive playing and coaching experience, along with a strong understanding of the culture and values that connect the organisation’s teams around the world.He now takes on a new challenge with MI Emirates, and the franchise looks forward to welcoming him back and seeing him lead the team into the ILT20 2026 season.

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Mark Boucher appointed Head Coach of MI Emirates for ILT20

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MI Emirates fans, here are all the details you were waiting for. The ILT20 auctions will take place on 1st October, 2026. The upcoming extravaganza will be an exciting one, as all six teams aim to build their squads for season 5. MI Emirates are pumped up, as we look forward to rebuilding our squad. New names, some familiar faces and a whole lot of Blue and Gold. We are all set to recreate the season 2 magic with proven match winners, and moreover another title insight.Here is everything you need to know:Date: 1st October, 2026Time: 2 pm GST| 3:30 pm ISTLocation: ICC Academy indoors facility, DubaiPurse Available: Each franchise will have a purse of USD 1,300,000 to spend at the auction plus whatever spend remains unutilised from the USD 700,000 that was available for direct signings and retentions.&nbsp;At the end of the auction, each franchise must have spent a minimum of $1.5m and a maximum of $2m, excluding a wildcard player that may be added after the auction.Squad size: All franchises must have a minimum of 18 players and a maximum of 23 players at the end of the auction. There must be a minimum of 11 players from ICC Full Member countries (at least four of which must be from Afghanistan and at least one of which must be from Ireland), a minimum of four players from the UAE, a minimum of one player from Kuwait, a minimum of one player from Saudi Arabia and at least one further player from ICC Associate countries (excluding the UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia).Players’ base prices: The minimum base price for all players is USD 10,000. Players may also have a base price of USD 40,000 or USD 80,000.Right-To-Match (RTM) rules: All franchises will each have four Rights to Match to use during the auction: --&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;One for a Full member player that played for that particular franchise in Season 4 (including Afghanistan and Ireland).-&nbsp; One for an Associate Member player that played for that particular franchise in Season 4.-&nbsp;One for a UAE player that played for that particular franchise in Season 4, or was part of their Development Squad in the 2026 ILT20 Development Tournament.-&nbsp;One for a Kuwait or Saudi player that played for that particular franchise in Season 4.-&nbsp; All of these ‘Rights to Match’ are optional and not obligatory.The countdown begins for a new squad to take shape. The pieces of the puzzle will all come together at the auction, but for MI Emirates…our biggest strength will be waiting in the stands.&nbsp;

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ILT20 SEASON 5: Auction Date, Time, Rules, Purse, RTMs

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Habibi, welcome back to Abu Dhabi!&nbsp;With just over three months to go until the first ball is bowled at the fifth edition of the ILT20, here’s the first bit of MI Emirates building up the #BatchOf2026. We begin with the Pre-Auction Signings, and leading the way is our pocket dynamo, Nicholas Pooran, who’s set to repeat the magic of 2024, followed by Afghanistan spin wiz, Rashid Khan. Adding further Caribbean flavour are the power all-rounders in Romario Shepherd and Sherfane Rutherford. Having represented the Blue and Gold of the #OneFamily around the globe, these four superstars are all set to light up the desert with their heroics once again!&nbsp; &nbsp;MI Emirates’ Pre-Auction Signings for ILT20 Season 5:<ol><li>Nicholas Pooran</li><li>Rashid Khan</li><li>Romario Shepherd&nbsp;</li><li>Sherfane Rutherford &nbsp;</li></ol>Each team has been allowed a total of four pre-auction signings. The rest of the squad (18 to 23 players) would be made up at the Player Auction, set to be held in Dubai on October 1, 2026. All teamswould be allowed one Wildcard signing post the Auction.Although this marks the end of the Season 4 squad as we know it and it is always sad to see players go, we know there’s a chance for them to come back into the Blue and Gold at the Auction. But goodbyes are always difficult as we convey a heartfelt thank you to the boys who made the Batch of Season 4 a special one!&nbsp;

#AuctionDiaries: The build up to MI Emirates ILT20 season 5!

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