Phil Oliver, CEO of Desert Vipers, has outlined the reasons behind the UAE-based franchise’s decision to sign Pakistan star batter Babar Azam for the 2026 International League T20 ( ILT20) season. Babar Azam occupies an outstanding role in T20 cricket and offers considerable experience and value to the franchise. He noted that Babar is the highest run-scorer in T20 international cricket and continues to lead the Pakistan Super League in runs.
The defending champions, Desert Vipers, acquired Babar Azam at the ILT20 auction on October 2, 2026, for the upcoming season, which kicks off on November 22. The Pakistan batter was selected at his base price of USD 80,000, along with teammates Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, and Naseem Shah. The auction occurred before the tournament finals, set for December 20, 2026.
Desert Vipers CEO Phil Oliver outlined the franchise’s strategy for securing Babar during the auction. The Vipers’ decision-making team comprised Development Lead Jack Luffman, Head of Operations Sam Charnley, and cricket analyst Freddie Wilde. He listed the particular attributes that made Babar a top target for the franchise.
Wisden quotes Oliver saying, “It’s good to have Babar with us. I mean, he is a player of high pedigree. I mean, that’s what you start with. I think we’re talking about the player with the most men’s T20 international runs, top scorer in the PSL, and that’s not to be sniffed at. So, when someone like that is available, you absolutely look at what it can bring to your top order. You obviously need a bit of a balance with this squad when you go into an auction, and he was very much high on our list of priorities.”
He further added, “I think T20 conditions, playing the UAE, you do need a different skill set in some cases with your batting, and yeah, I think the combination we’ve got at the top of the order, it feels like we’ve got all bases covered. So yeah, we’re very pleased to have him, and yeah, I think a key pickup for us, really, that we were delighted to secure him pretty early on.”
Babar’s performance in T20 internationals highlights his importance to the franchise. At 31 years old, he holds the record for the most runs in men’s T20Is, with 4,596 runs from 136 innings at a strike rate of 128. In the Pakistan Super League, Babar is the top run-scorer, amassing 4,380 runs across 109 innings. In 2026, his strong performance saw him top the run-scoring charts with 588 runs in 11 innings, including two centuries, and he was awarded captain of the PSL Team of the Tournament.
