Pakistan Stars Register for The Hundred 2026 Auction Despite Indian-Owned Franchise Concerns
In a significant development, nearly all members of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad including captain Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Afridi, Saim Ayub, and Usman Tariq—have registered for The Hundred 2026 auction, scheduled for March 11-12 in London.
The auction list features 711 players from across the cricketing world, with the notable exception of Indian players. However, widespread reports in the English media suggest that six of the eight franchises, which have Indian connections, may refrain from bidding on Pakistani players due to diplomatic sensitivities between India and Pakistan.
The franchises with Indian links include London Spirit (US-based tech investors), MI Oval (Reliance Industries), Manchester SuperGiants (RPSG Group), Southern Brave (GMR Group), SunRisers Leeds (Sun TV), and Welsh Fire (US-based Sanjay Govil). Four of these have direct IPL ownership Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, Lucknow SuperGiants, and SunRisers Hyderabad and have historically avoided signing Pakistani players in overseas leagues like SA20 and ILT20.
The BBC reported, citing sources, that “Pakistan cricketers are not being considered by Indian-owned sides for next month’s Hundred auction.” However, some franchises remained non-committal, stating their priority is assembling the strongest possible squads.
| Player | Base Price (GBP) | Approx. INR |
| Shaheen Afridi, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Muhammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah | £100,000 | ₹1.05 Crore |
| Salman Ali Agha, Abrar Ahmed, Muhammad Amir, Zaman Khan, Usman Tariq | £75,000 | ₹79 Lakhs |
| Faheem Ashraf, Sahibzada Farhan, Usama Mir, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Afaq Afridi, Asif Afridi | £50,000 | ₹52.5 Lakhs |
Auction Rules & Salary Cap-
- Men’s squads: 16-18 players per team
- Salary pot: £2.05 million per team (approx. ₹21.5 Crore)
- Women’s squads: 15 players per team; salary pot increased to £880,000 (approx. ₹9.2 Crore)
- Pre-auction signings: Teams allowed up to 4 signings before auction, with deductions from salary cap
The upcoming auction will reveal whether Pakistan’s top talent finds buyers in The Hundred, or if geopolitical considerations overshadow cricketing merit.
Relevant news
14 Former Captains Appeal to Pakistan Government for Imran Khan’s Welfare
In an unprecedented show of solidarity, 14 former international cricket captains including legends Sunil Gavaskar,…
Another Legend Bows Out: Brendan Taylor Ruled of T20 World Cup, Ben Curran Named Replacement
In a heart-breaking turn of events, Zimbabwe veteran Brendan Taylor has been officially ruled out…
Ireland Captain Paul Stirling Ruled Out of T20 World Cup with Knee Injury, Sam Topping Named Replacement
Ireland's T20 World Cup campaign has suffered a devastating blow with captain Paul Stirling ruled…
Afghanistan’s T20 World Cup Hopes Hanging by a Thread After Double Super Over Heartbreak
Afghanistan's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, once filled with promise, is now on the brink…
Mohammad Nabi Fined for Umpire Dispute During Afghanistan-South Africa Thriller
Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi has been fined 15 percent of his match fees and handed…
Australia’s T20 World Cup Blow: Josh Hazlewood Ruled Out, No Immediate Replacement
Australia's T20 World Cup campaign has been dealt another significant injury setback with confirmation that…