Pakistan Cricket Team Players Headlines List of 14 Pakistan Players in Men's Hundred Auction Longlist

Haris Rauf has emerged as one of the marquee names in the spotlight for the upcoming men’s Hundred auction, with a total of 14 Pakistani players earning a place on the event’s streamlined longlist.

Pakistan’s Growing Presence in the Hundred

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), alongside the eight participating franchises, recently reaffirmed their commitment to selecting players based on performance, availability, and team requirements. This statement was issued amid media speculation that teams with Indian Premier League (IPL) affiliations might avoid bidding for Pakistani cricketers for geopolitical reasons.

From an initial pool of 710 registered players, the ECB’s first longlist featured an impressive 63 Pakistani names. Franchises were then asked to narrow down their preferences, culminating in a final longlist of 243 men’s players, including 14 from Pakistan:

Haris Rauf
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Shadab Khan
Usman Tariq
Saim Ayub
Abrar Ahmed
Mohammad Nawaz
Naseem Shah
Mohammad Amir
Zaman Khan
Usama Mir
Imad Wasim
Akif Javed
Salman Mirza

Marquee Players Set the Stage

Rauf is one of 10 marquee overseas players whose names will headline the men’s auction on March 12. Other overseas stars include Aiden Markram, David Miller, Sunil Narine, and Daryl Mitchell. The marquee domestic contingent features Jonny Bairstow, Adil Rashid, James Vince, Jordan Cox, and Joe Root. Rauf, who previously played for Welsh Fire and recently led the wicket tally at the Big Bash League, is expected to draw significant interest.

International Commitments and Player Availability

Pakistan’s Test squad is scheduled to tour the West Indies during the Hundred’s window this summer, but the white-ball core is expected to be available for the competition, pending No-Objection Certificates from the PCB. The latter stages of the Hundred will, however, overlap with the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Notable Omissions and Auction Details

Sahibzada Farhan, a standout performer in the current T20 World Cup and its leading run-scorer, is a notable exclusion from the trimmed longlist, despite his hopes of being picked. Farhan has limited experience in overseas franchise leagues, which may have influenced his omission.

This year’s Hundred will run from July 21 to August 16, marking the first season with private investment following the sale of team shares. Three teams have adopted new identities reflecting their IPL links: MI London (formerly Oval Invincibles), Sunrisers Leeds (previously Northern Superchargers), and Manchester Super Giants (formerly Manchester Originals).

Spotlight on Franchise Dynamics

With four teams now under Indian ownership-including Southern Brave-there is heightened attention on whether Pakistani players will attract bids amid ongoing debate around a potential “shadow ban.” The issue has drawn criticism from several high-profile figures within English cricket.

Women’s Hundred: Pakistani Players Seek Breakthrough

On the women’s side, allrounder Fatima Sana and left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal have been named in the longlist. To date, no Pakistani women have featured in the Hundred’s first five seasons.

The women’s auction will take place on March 11, followed by the men’s on March 12, both in Piccadilly, London. The women’s marquee names this year include Dani Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Tammy Beaumont, Davina Perrin, Nadine de Klerk, Sophie Devine, Beth Mooney, Sophie Molineux, and Deepti Sharma.

Key Players in the Men’s and Women’s Longlists

Men’s Marquee and Tier 1 Players

Marquee Domestic: Jonny Bairstow, Adil Rashid, James Vince, Jordan Cox, Joe Root
Marquee International: Aiden Markram, David Miller, Sunil Narine, Haris Rauf, Daryl Mitchell
Tier 1 Batters: Finn Allen, Quinton De Kock, Ryan Rickelton, Tim Seifert, Zak Crawley
Tier 1 Fast Bowlers: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood, Sonny Baker, Saqib Mahmood
Tier 1 Allrounders: Tom Curran, Shadab Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, David Willey, Gus Atkinson
Tier 1 Spin Bowlers: Akeal Hosein, AM Ghazanfar, Rishad Hossain, Usman Tariq, Jafer Chohan

Women’s Marquee and Tier 1 Players

Marquee Domestic: Dani Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Tammy Beaumont, Davina Perrin
Marquee International: Nadine de Klerk, Sophie Devine, Beth Mooney, Sophie Molineux, Deepti Sharma
Tier 1 Batters: Sterre Kalis, Lizelle Lee, Bryony Smith, Tazmin Brits, Emma Lamb
Tier 1 Fast Bowlers: Issy Wong, Grace Ballinger, Shabnim Ismail, Maitlan Brown, Lauren Cheatle
Tier 1 Allrounders: Deandra Dottin, Jessica Jonassen, Georgia Adams, Kathryn Bryce, Chinelle Henry
Tier 1 Spin Bowlers: Linsey Smith, Alana King, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Kirstie Gordon, Sophia Smale
Tier 1 Wicketkeepers: Richa Ghosh, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Yastika Bhatia, Georgia Redmayne, Seren Smale

Looking Ahead

As anticipation builds for the Hundred’s first-ever player auction, all eyes will be on whether Pakistani stars like Haris Rauf will headline the tournament and how franchise dynamics shape the competition’s global appeal. The auctions promise to bring fresh intrigue and international flavor to one of cricket’s most innovative formats.