No Pakistani Players Picked for ILT20 Season 4

All six teams set to compete in season 4 of the International League T20 (ILT20) have announced their first wave of retained and signed players, but the absence of Pakistani cricketers has caught everyone’s eye.

This includes Desert Vipers, a team that had previously featured several Pakistani stars but confirmed no Pakistan players in their initial squad list. According to Desert Vipers’ Director of Cricket, Tom Moody, Pakistani players are still part of the franchise’s plans for the future and will be considered seriously during the upcoming auction in September.

Tom Moody explained that with only eight player retention slots available, it was difficult to bring back everyone. “It was a challenge,” he said. “We’ve built a strong core over three seasons, and continuity matters to us. But we also value our relationship with Pakistani cricketers. There’s no mistaking their talent.”

The ILT20, played in the UAE, has become one of the top T20 leagues outside of India and Australia. Star players like Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Sam Curran, Moeen Ali, and Wanindu Hasaranga have all been confirmed for Season 4, while Luke Wood, Waqar Salamkheil, and Chris Woakes have also found a team for the upcoming season.

But despite Pakistan’s deep T20 talent pool, no player has yet found a place in any of the six squads. This development is surprising, especially considering the impact players like Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Amir had during earlier editions of the competition.

For now, the absence of Pakistani representation in ILT20 Season 4 is clear—but it may only be temporary. The player auction, set for September, could change that.

With the tournament shifting to a December–January window, there’s a good chance several top Pakistan players will be available despite many plying their trade in Australia’s BBL. Whether they get picked depends on which names enter the draft and how the franchises shape their final strategies.

Until then, fans will have to wait and hope that Pakistani players get the recognition they deserve on one of T20 cricket’s growing stages.