Alzarri Joseph Lands US$230,000 Gulf Giants Deal in ILT20 Auction

Antiguan fast bowler Alzarri Joseph has secured one of the biggest deals of the DP World ILT20 auction, with Gulf Giants paying US$230,000 to add the West Indies pacer to their squad.

Joseph’s acquisition was the fifth-highest deal of Thursday’s auction, placing the Antiguan among the most sought-after players as franchises invested heavily ahead of the upcoming season.

The 29-year-old has established himself as one of the Caribbean’s leading fast bowlers, representing the West Indies across formats while also gaining considerable experience in franchise cricket around the world.

His pace and ability to trouble batters made him an attractive option for Gulf Giants, who committed nearly US$2 million to assembling their squad.

Afghanistan fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi commanded the largest price of the auction, with MI Emirates spending US$380,000 to secure his services. The deal reportedly made Farooqi the most expensive player in the league’s auction history, surpassing the previous US$260,000 mark set by Andre Fletcher in Season 4.

Several other international stars attracted bids exceeding US$300,000, including England’s Liam Livingstone, Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz and former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis.

MI Emirates emerged as the biggest spenders, committing US$2 million during the auction. Gulf Giants followed closely at US$1.972 million, while Dubai Capitals spent US$1.834 million.

For Joseph, the US$230,000 contract represents another major franchise opportunity as the Antiguan continues to feature in prominent T20 competitions around the world.

His signing also ensures Antigua and Barbuda will have a notable presence in the Gulf Giants camp when the next edition of the DP World ILT20 gets underway.