No Pakistan players secured deals in the women’s auction for The Hundred held on Wednesday, March 11. Left-handed batter Muneeba Ali, right-arm pacer Diana Baig, left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal and Pakistan captain Fatima Sana had registered for the auction with a base price of £15,000 each.
However, only Fatima Sana and Sadia Iqbal — the top-ranked bowler in Women’s T20Is — were shortlisted for the final auction stage. Despite making the shortlist, neither player was picked during the bidding process, meaning all four Pakistan cricketers went unsold and will miss out on contracts for the upcoming season of the 100-ball tournament.
Earlier, reports had suggested that IPL-owned Hundred franchises might avoid signing Pakistani players, sparking debate and criticism, including from Harry Brook. In response, the England and Wales Cricket Board and The Hundred franchises clarified that nationality would not play a role in selections, stressing that decisions would be based purely on performance, availability and team requirements.
Eyes Now on Men’s Auction
Attention now turns to the men’s auction for The Hundred, scheduled for Thursday, March 12. A total of 63 Pakistani players had initially registered, though only 14 made the final shortlist.
Among the biggest names are fast bowlers Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, along with all-rounders Shadab Khan and Saim Ayub, each entering the auction with a base price of £100,000.
Others in the shortlist include Abrar Ahmed (£75,000), Mohammad Amir and Zaman Khan (both £75,000). Imad Wasim and Usama Mir have listed a base price of £50,000, while Akif Javed and Salman Mirza registered at £31,000.
Several of the shortlisted players have previously featured in the tournament. Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi have both represented Welsh Fire, while Imad Wasim played for Trent Rockets. Mohammad Amir previously turned out for MI London, and Shadab Khan represented Birmingham Phoenix. Leg-spinner Usama Mir also featured for Manchester Super Giants in an earlier edition.
Meanwhile, players such as Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed and Salman Mirza are yet to make their debut in the 100-ball competition.
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