Watch: Desert Vipers' special 'King' promo for Babar Azam

Desert Vipers have welcomed Babar Azam with a special ‘King’ promotional video after signing the Pakistan batting star for his base price of USD 80,000 at the ILT20 auction. The franchise’s latest post has quickly caught the attention of cricket fans on social media.

In the video, Desert Vipers referred to Babar as “The King” and teased his arrival in the franchise’s colours. Sharing the clip on social media, the team wrote, “Babar Azam is ready to strike in Desert Vipers colours for DP World ILT20 Season 5!” The post comes amid ongoing discussions around Babar’s place in Pakistan’s T20 setup.

Babar Azam, who is Pakistan’s Test captain, has been left out of the T20I squad for the three-match series against Sri Lanka, while ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi has also been dropped. Neither player was included in Pakistan’s Asian Games squad.

Watch the viral Desert Vipers special promo below:

Desert Vipers post a special 'King' promo for Babar Azam

Pakistan star batter Babar Azam joined the Desert Vipers for the fifth season of the DP World International League T20 (ILT20). He was bought for his base price of USD 80,000, which is approximately ₹76 lakh, at the auction. No Indian-owned team placed a bid for Babar, allowing the Desert Vipers to sign him at the starting price.

Babar was not the only Pakistan player signed by the Desert Vipers at the base price. Naseem Shah, Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan were also bought for USD 80,000 each. No Indian-owned team bid for any of these Pakistani players during the auction.

Following Babar’s signing, the Desert Vipers shared a special promotional video calling him “The King.” The post appears to celebrate his arrival in the team and show their respect for the Pakistan star ahead of the upcoming ILT20 season.

What the promo shows and why Babar was dropped from the T20I team

The promo opens with a desert landscape, where a snake is shown approaching a crown. After a short while, Babar Azam’s picture appears inside the crown. The video ends with the Desert Vipers logo and the words “The King’s Coming”, paying tribute to the Pakistan star batter.

With these signings, the Desert Vipers now have four Pakistan players in their squad for the upcoming season. The franchise will hope that Babar’s batting and the experience of the other Pakistan stars help the team perform well in the tournament. The fifth season of the ILT20 is scheduled to take place from November 21 to December 20, 2026.

Babar’s return to Pakistan’s T20I side after missing the 2025 Asia Cup was underwhelming. He scored 91 runs in six matches at the 2026 T20 World Cup at a strike rate of 112.34 and was left out of the XI for Pakistan’s final Super Eight match against Sri Lanka. His last T20I appearance came on February 24, and Pakistan have now opted to give more opportunities to younger players as they look to move forward.

Fan reactions and what lies ahead for Babar Azam

The Desert Vipers’ special ‘King’ promo for Babar Azam has received plenty of attention from cricket fans on social media. While some fans praised the franchise for showing their support for the Pakistan star, others reacted to the use of the ‘King’ tag amid his recent struggles in T20 cricket.

Babar will now look to make a strong comeback with the Desert Vipers in the upcoming ILT20 season. The tournament will give him an opportunity to regain his confidence, score runs and show his ability in the shortest format. Here is how the fans reacted on X:

With Pakistan leaving him out of the current T20I setup, Babar’s performances in franchise cricket could become important for his future in the format. A successful ILT20 campaign could help the experienced batter silence his critics and push for a return to the national T20I team.