Dubai, 7 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Desert Vipers CEO Phil Oliver has revealed the reason behind signing Pakistan batter Babar Azam for the International League T20 (ILT20) 2026, praising the former Pakistan captain’s stature and record in T20 cricket. Babar was signed for a base price of $80,000 during the auction held at the ICC Academy in Dubai on October 1, with the franchise also securing Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman and fast bowler Naseem Shah for the same price. Speaking to Wisden, Oliver said Babar was a player of the highest pedigree, highlighting his record as one of the leading run-scorers in men’s T20 internationals and the top scorer in the Pakistan Super League. He said the franchise needed a balanced squad for the tournament and Babar was high on its list of priorities because of what he could bring to the top order. Oliver added that playing T20 cricket in UAE conditions requires a different skill set in some areas and said Desert Vipers were pleased with the combination of their top-order batters. He described Babar as a key signing and expressed satisfaction that the franchise secured him early in the auction.