The ILT20 Season 5 is set to feature plenty of promising stars like Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller and Finn Allen prepare to make their first appearances in the UAE-based T20 league.

With South Africa’s Klaasen and Miller set to represent the Gulf Giants, New Zealand opener Finn Allen is set to join the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders for the six-team competition set to be played in November-December.

Considered as one of the destructive batters in the format, Heinrich Klaasen has scored 1000 runs in 58 T20I appearances and is close to 7,000 runs from almost 300 T20 matches across his career.

Meanwhile, David Miller has played 140 T20Is and scored 2804 runs at an average of 33.78 and a strike rate of 141.40.

On the other hand, Finn Allen, who smashed a 33-ball century against South Africa in the semi-finals of the 2026 T20 World Cup, has scored 1663 runs in 62 T20Is at a strike rate of 170.73, including three centuries.

Meanwhile, Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis will be returning to the league with Dubai Capitals after a three-year gap.

All the franchises have completed their foreign player pre-auction signings on August 03 with each team securing four players before the main auction.

Players like Jason Holder and Sunil Narine will continue with Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, while defending champions Desert Vipers have retained Shimron Hetmyer.

Rovman Powell and Mustafizur Rahman have remained with Dubai Capitals, while Nicholas Pooran, Rashid Khan and Romario Shepherd will be returning to MI Emirates.

Sikandar Raza will stay with Sharjah Warriorz, while Desert Vipers have retained Andries Gous and Dan Lawrence, and Gulf Giants are going with Azmatullah Omarzai and Blessing Muzarabani.

Among the pre-auction signings, Afghanistan’s Mujeeb Ur Rahman will move to Desert Vipers after playing for Dubai Capitals in Season 04.

Sherfane Rutherford will be joining MI Emirates, while James Vince, Adam Milne and Waqar Salamkheil have joined Sharjah Warriorz.

Dubai Capitals have also made a crucial signing of Noor Ahmad, who played for Desert Vipers last season.

The six teams will be completing their squads at the ILT20 season 5 player Auction in Dubai on October 01. Every squad must contain a total count between 18 and 23 players, with UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and additional overseas players available through the auction.

Players can register for the auction until September 12, and each franchise will be permitted one additional wildcard signing after the auction.