Ashwin Unsold at ILT20 Auction in Dubai

Former India offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin went unsold at the International League T20 auction held in Dubai on October 1, despite entering the sale as the only player with a six figure base price of USD 120,000. Ashwin did not attract any bids during the main auction and was not taken in the accelerated phase, though he remains eligible to join a franchise later as one of the permitted wildcard signings.

The Dubai auction, which ran with nearly 300 players from more than 20 countries on the roster, required each of the six franchises to comply with roster and regional quotas. Squads must include a minimum of four UAE players, including one under 23, one player each from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, and two players from other Associate nations. Teams are also required to field two UAE players and one Associate player in their playing elevens. Franchises entered the auction with minimum purses of USD 800,000, while permitted spending ranges vary from USD 1.5 million to USD 2 million in total for squad construction. Dubai Capitals and Gulf Giants began the auction with the largest remaining purses at USD 1,035,000 each.

Organisers had allowed teams to retain several marquee names...