Babar Azam joins Desert Vipers for ILT20 new season - [Source: AFP]Babar Azam emerged as the most prominent Pakistan player at the ILT20 2026 auction in the UAE. During the bidding event, the Pakistan batter was acquired by the Desert Vipers at his base price.Although Babar is set to enter the ILT20 2026 season later this year as Pakistan’s biggest representative in the UAE league, the ‘Men in Green’ skipper received a significantly smaller pay cheque compared to his PSL salary.Babar Azam salary: Comparing his ILT20 and PSL pay chequesEarlier this year, Babar Azam was retained by the Peshawar Zalmi franchise for the PSL 2026 season under the platinum category. The cricketer fetched a lucrative 7 crore (PKR) deal to play his fourth straight season with the franchise.In terms of INR, the same amount roughly translates to Rs. 2.5 crores in India, thus making Babar one of the most sought-after commodities in PSL history.Also Read- List Of All Pakistan Players Sold In ILT20 Auction 2026However, his maiden ILT20 gig fetched him an $80,000 (PKR 2.2 crore) deal for the Desert Vipers, which also happened to be his base price for the ILT20 2026 auction. The same amount translates to roughly Rs. 77 lakhs in INR. Comparison the two salaries, Babar makes significantly more in his home domestic league back in Pakistan for the Peshawar Zalmi. What is the percentage difference between Babar Azam’s ILT20 and PSL salary?The difference between Babar Azam’s ILT20 and PSL salaries highlights a notable gap in his earnings across the two leagues. While his PSL deal with Peshawar Zalmi commands a higher value, his ILT20 contract with the Desert Vipers represents a considerably smaller financial package.As per calculation, Babar’s ILT20 salary is roughly 69 percent lower than his PSL worth, with a difference of approximately Rs. 1.73 crore between the two contracts. This means Babar earns less than one-third of his PSL salary from his maiden ILT20 stint with the Desert Vipers.In any case, the legendary Pakistan batter can certainly raise his ILT20 stocks before next auction by coming up clutch for the Desert Vipers in this year’s ILT20 2026 season in the UAE.Also Read- ‘Unhappy’ Abhishek Sharma Wants To Leave SRH Before IPL 2027: Report
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