Sixty-three Pakistani men and four women have registered for The Hundred 2026 draft — among them some of the most exciting T20 talents in world cricket. But as the March 11-12 auction in London approaches, a hard question looms over every single one of them: will anyone actually bid?.
The stage is officially set for a historic auction at Piccadilly Lights in London on March 11 and 12, and Pakistan players in The Hundred 2026 draft are generating massive interest. With the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) transitioning to a full public auction and an increased £2.05 million salary cap for men’s teams, the financial stakes have reached new heights.
However, behind the lucrative price tags lies a massive dilemma driven by pure mathematics and official squad rules. We are skipping the unconfirmed rumors and sticking strictly to the official board communications to analyze the real challenges facing Pakistan’s top cricketing talent.
The Numbers Game: Pakistan players in The Hundred 2026 auction registered players
The ECB officially confirmed that 711 cricketers from 18 nations registered for the men’s auction longlist. This creates a highly saturated market where world-class talent will have to fiercely compete for a very limited number of overseas roster spots.
The Hundred 2026 draft is the first of its kind, replacing the old selection system following a wave of external investment into the tournament’s eight franchises. Four of those franchises — Manchester Super Giants (RPSG Group), MI London (Reliance Industries), Southern Brave (GMR Group), and Sunrisers Leeds (Sun TV) — are now at least partly owned by companies that control IPL teams. And according to messages seen by the BBC, a senior ECB official indicated to a player agent that interest in Pakistani players would likely be limited to the sides not linked to the IPL.
That might leave Pakistan players realistically competing for spots at just four franchises: Birmingham Phoenix, London Spirit, Trent Rockets, and Welsh Fire. Half the auction, effectively off the table before a single bid is placed.
| Player Name | Category | Reserve Price | Status / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | Men's | £100,000 | Registered (Hundred veteran) |
| Haris Rauf | Men's | £100,000 | Registered (Hundred veteran) |
| Shadab Khan | Men's | £100,000 | Registered |
| Saim Ayub | Men's | £100,000 | Registered |
| Muhammad Nawaz | Men's | £100,000 | Registered |
| Naseem Shah | Men's | £100,000 | Registered |
| Mohammad Amir | Men's | £75,000 | Registered |
| Abrar Ahmed | Men's | £75,000 | Registered |
| Zaman Khan | Men's | £75,000 | Registered |
| Usman Tariq | Men's | £75,000 | Registered |
| Salman Ali Agha | Men's | £75,000 | Registered |
| Imad Wasim | Men's | £50,000 | Registered |
| Faheem Ashraf | Men's | £50,000 | Registered |
| Usama Mir | Men's | £50,000 | Registered |
| Sahibzada Farhan | Men's | £50,000 | Registered |
| Muneeba Ali | Women's | - | Confirmed Registration |
| Sadia Iqbal | Women's | - | Confirmed Registration |
| Diana Baig | Women's | - | Confirmed Registration |
| Fatima Sana | Women's | - | Confirmed Registration |
| Babar Azam | Men's | - | Absent (Scheduling conflicts) |
| Mohammad Rizwan | Men's | - | Absent (Scheduling conflicts) |
Despite the uncertainty, Pakistan’s biggest names have put their hands up. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf — both Hundred veterans — have registered at the top men’s reserve price of £100,000, alongside Shadab Khan, Saim Ayub, Muhammad Nawaz, and Naseem Shah. The Hundred has always been a stage where Shaheen Afridi thrives, and his inclusion signals that Pakistan’s elite are not walking away from the fight.
At the £75,000 tier sit Mohammad Amir, Abrar Ahmed, Zaman Khan, Usman Tariq, and Salman Ali Agha. Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Usama Mir, and Sahibzada Farhan are among those registered at £50,000. On the women’s side, all four Pakistani registrations are confirmed: Muneeba Ali, Sadia Iqbal, Diana Baig, and Fatima Sana.
Notably absent from the list are Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, unavailable due to scheduling conflicts
Why did Babar Azam opt out of the 2026 draft?
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan did not register because Pakistan is officially scheduled by the ICC Future Tours Programme to play an away Test series against the West Indies in August. This directly clashes with the tournament’s July 21 – August 16 window, completely ruling them out of full participation.
ECB official stance on The Hundred draft and Inclusivity
Following the integration of new private investment—which officially took effect on October 1, 2025—there has been widespread media speculation regarding international player selection. Addressing the media, the board has firmly pointed to the confirmed registration numbers as proof of an open market.
An ECB spokesperson officially stated:
“The Hundred welcomes men’s and women’s players from all over the world, and we would expect the eight teams to reflect that. Almost 1,000 cricketers from 18 nations have registered… with representation on the longlist of over 50 players respectively from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan and West Indies.”
Furthermore, James Sheridan, deputy chair of the Manchester Super Giants, publicly clarified his franchise’s sole objective on the auction floor, firmly denying external influences:
An ECB spokesperson officially stated:
“”The only conversations we’ve had is to pick the two best squads to give us the best possible chance of winning the two competitions.””
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What does the official ECB anti-discrimination policy mean for the draft?
The tournament operates under the jurisdiction of the independent cricket regulator, established following the 2023 Equity in Cricket report. This means the ECB’s clear anti-discrimination policies ensure no player is excluded from consideration by any franchise based on their nationality.
Have Pakistani cricketers in UK leagues played in The Hundred before?
Yes. In previous seasons, prominent stars like Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, and Haris Rauf have all officially featured for various franchises across the competition.
Related news:
Latest Cricket News:
