Haris Rauf, the Pakistan fast bowler, is among a group of 14 Pakistani cricketers shortlisted for the inaugural men’s auction of The Hundred, scheduled to take place in London on March 12, according to multiple reports. The auction follows a period of uncertainty regarding the participation of Pakistani players in the competition.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the tournament’s eight franchises recently issued a joint statement, affirming that player selections would be based on performance, availability, and team requirements. This clarification came in response to a BBC report suggesting that teams with links to Indian Premier League (IPL) ownership groups might unofficially restrict the inclusion of Pakistani players due to geopolitical considerations.
Alongside Rauf, the Pakistani players remaining in contention for a place in The Hundred include 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, and Salman Mirza. Initially, 63 Pakistani cricketers were part of a larger longlist of 710 players, which was subsequently reduced to 243 names before arriving at the final 14.
Rauf is one of ten marquee players whose names will lead the men’s auction. The domestic marquee players include Jonny Bairstow, Adil Rashid, James Vince, Jordan Cox, and Joe Root. Other international marquee players confirmed are David Miller, Aiden Markram, Sunil Narine, and Daryl Mitchell.
The women’s auction for The Hundred is scheduled to take place on March 11, one day before the men’s auction, both in Piccadilly, London. The inclusion of Pakistani players follows a period of discussion regarding franchise ownership and potential conflicts of interest, with four of the eight Hundred franchises now owned by Indian entities.
Sahibzada Farhan, who recently scored 383 runs in the ongoing T20 World Cup, was notably absent from the final list of Pakistani players selected for the auction.
