Pakistan Stars Enter The Hundred Auction, Haris Rauf Among Marquee Picks

Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf has been named among the marquee international players registered for the inaugural auction of The Men’s Hundred, scheduled to take place in London on March 12. According to ESPNCricinfo, the initial longlist of 63 Pakistan players has been trimmed down to 14 cricketers who will go under the hammer in the tournament’s player draft.

Apart from Rauf, the Pakistan contingent includes Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Imad Wasim, Usama Mir, Salman Mirza, Mohammad Amir, Zaman Khan, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, and Usman Tariq. However, Sahibzada Farhan, who has impressed in the ongoing T20 World Cup with 383 runs, has not been included in the auction list. The marquee categories feature several prominent names, including England players Adil Rashid, Jordan Cox, James Vince, Joe Root, and Jonny Bairstow, while international stars such as David Miller, Aiden Markram, Sunil Narine, Haris Rauf, and Daryl Mitchell are also part of the top tier.

Participation of Pakistan players had earlier been uncertain following reports of a possible “shadow ban.” However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the tournament’s franchises clarified that selections would remain nationality-neutral, reaffirming that Pakistan cricketers will not be excluded. Meanwhile, four of the eight franchises in The Hundred are now owned by Indian groups, including MI London, Southern Brave, Sunrisers Leeds, and Manchester Super Giants, adding another layer of global interest ahead of the tournament scheduled from July 21 to August 16.

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