ILT20 Unsold Players 2026 Full List of Big Names Left Out
Wanindu Hasaranga, Alex Hales, Chris Woakes and Shakib Al Hasan are the biggest names among the ILT20 unsold players of 2026. All four went without a bid at the Season 5 auction in Dubai on 1 October, along with nine other well known players including Imran Tahir, Pathum Nissanka and Tymal Mills. Below is the full list of 13 unsold stars, with country and role, and the reasons the six franchises passed on them.
The auction at the ICC Academy had about 400 players from 23 countries in the pool, and each team could buy only enough to fill an 18 to 23 player squad. To see who did get picked and for how much, read our full Season 5 auction report or check the ten priciest ILT20 signings. You can also compare the six franchise squads side by side.
Full List of ILT20 2026 Unsold Players
| Player | Country | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Wanindu Hasaranga | Sri Lanka | Leg spin all rounder |
| Chris Woakes | England | Seam bowling all rounder |
| Alex Hales | England | Opening batter |
| Pathum Nissanka | Sri Lanka | Opening batter |
| Shakib Al Hasan | Bangladesh | Spin all rounder |
| Imran Tahir | South Africa | Leg spinner |
| Dushmantha Chameera | Sri Lanka | Fast bowler |
| Tymal Mills | England | Left arm fast bowler |
| Ollie Stone | England | Fast bowler |
| Dwayne Pretorius | South Africa | All rounder |
| Saurabh Netravalkar | USA | Left arm seamer |
| Bas de Leede | Netherlands | All rounder |
| KS Bharat | India | Wicketkeeper batter |
England had the most players left out with four. Sri Lanka had three, South Africa had two, and Bangladesh, the USA, the Netherlands and India had one each.
The Biggest Surprises
Alex Hales
This is the shock of the auction. Hales is the leading run scorer in ILT20 history with 1,405 runs from 47 matches for Desert Vipers and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. He also made 110 in the first season, which stood as the highest score in the league until Andries Gous hit 120 not out. You can see where he sits on the all time ILT20 run charts. Most teams already had their openers locked in before the auction, and that left no room for him.
Wanindu Hasaranga
Hasaranga has been one of the most dangerous spinners the ILT20 has seen. Going unsold says more about the market than about his skill. MI Emirates already have Rashid Khan and bought AM Ghazanfar, Dubai Capitals have Noor Ahmad, and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders loaded up on Usman Tariq, Arab Gul and Qais Ahmad. With so many spinners already signed, there was simply no slot left for another overseas leg spinner.
Chris Woakes
Woakes is a proven new ball bowler who can also bat in the lower order. Teams looking for a seam all rounder went in other directions though. Desert Vipers spent on David Payne, MI Emirates paid for Chris Jordan and Sharjah Warriorz made Richard Gleeson their top buy, so the demand for English seamers was met before his name came up.
Shakib Al Hasan
One of the best all rounders of his generation, Shakib went unsold in a pool full of younger spin options. Franchises leaned towards Afghan spinners this year, and Afghanistan had three players in the top 10 buys alone.
Why So Many Big Names Went Unsold
- Squads were mostly built before the auction. Every team arrived with pre signed and retained stars, so only a few overseas spots were open.
- Purses ran out fast. MI Emirates spent every dollar and Gulf Giants finished with just $28,000 left.
- Teams wanted UAE talent. Every side must field UAE players, so a lot of money went on local names like Muhammad Waseem at $210,000.
- Base prices mattered. Big names at the $80,000 bracket had to beat players like Babar Azam and Phil Salt, who were available for the same price.
- Spin was already covered. Hasaranga, Shakib and Imran Tahir were competing for very few spin places.
Other Notable Unsold Players
Pathum Nissanka is a classy Sri Lankan opener, but openers were the most crowded position in the pool. Imran Tahir remains a crafty leg spinner even in his forties. Dushmantha Chameera, Tymal Mills and Ollie Stone are all genuine quicks, yet teams had already filled their fast bowling slots. Dwayne Pretorius and Bas de Leede are useful all rounders, Saurabh Netravalkar is a left arm seamer who starred for the USA, and KS Bharat is an experienced Indian wicketkeeper batter who has played Test cricket.
Can Unsold Players Still Play in ILT20 2026?
Yes, they can still come in. When a player gets injured or pulls out, the franchise can sign a replacement, and unsold players are the obvious place to look. Desert Vipers ($456,000) and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders ($451,000) have the most money left, so they are best placed to make a late signing. Season 5 starts on 21 November, and any new arrivals will show up in our match centre as the season goes on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who went unsold in the ILT20 2026 auction?
Thirteen big names went unsold. They include Wanindu Hasaranga, Chris Woakes, Alex Hales, Pathum Nissanka, Shakib Al Hasan, Imran Tahir, Dushmantha Chameera, Tymal Mills, Ollie Stone, Dwayne Pretorius, Saurabh Netravalkar, Bas de Leede and KS Bharat.
Why was Alex Hales unsold in ILT20 2026?
Most teams already had their openers in place before the auction, so there was no slot for him. It is still a surprise because Hales is the top run scorer in ILT20 history.
Is Wanindu Hasaranga playing in ILT20 2026?
Not right now. He went unsold at the auction, but a team could still sign him later as an injury replacement.
Which country had the most unsold players at the ILT20 auction?
England, with four. They were Chris Woakes, Alex Hales, Tymal Mills and Ollie Stone.
Can an unsold player join an ILT20 team later?
Yes. Teams can sign replacements during the season, and players who went unsold are usually the first option.
When was the ILT20 2026 auction held?
On 1 October 2026 at the ICC Academy in Dubai.
Last updated: 8 October 2026
