Abrar Ahmed was one of the notable picks at the The Hundred 2026 player auction, with the Pakistan spinner being signed by SunRisers Leeds for £190,000 (approximately INR 2.34 crore) on Thursday.
The signing comes despite earlier speculation that franchises connected to the Indian Premier League might avoid selecting Pakistani players.
According to a report by the BBC, it had been suggested that teams with IPL ownership links could refrain from picking Pakistan cricketers. Four of the eight franchises in The Hundred — MI London, SunRisers Leeds, Southern Brave, and Manchester Super Giants — are owned by groups that also operate IPL franchises.
SunRisers Leeds, which is co-owned by Kavya Maran, eventually secured Abrar Ahmed’s services after a bidding contest with Trent Rockets, putting to rest the speculation surrounding Pakistani participation.
Reports of an “Unwritten Rule”
The BBC report also suggested that a senior official from the England and Wales Cricket Board had informed an agent that Pakistani players might struggle to find buyers during the auction. Another agent described the situation as “an unwritten rule” in several T20 leagues involving Indian investment.
However, an ECB spokesperson reiterated that the competition remains open to players from around the world.
“The Hundred welcomes men’s and women’s players from all over the world and we would expect the eight teams to reflect that,” the spokesperson said.
“Almost 1,000 cricketers from 18 nations have registered for The Hundred auction, with more than 50 players each from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan and the West Indies included on the longlist.”
Usman Tariq Also Picked in Auction
Another Pakistan spinner, Usman Tariq, was signed by Birmingham Phoenix for £140,000 (approximately INR 1.72 crore). Tariq became the first Pakistani player to be sold during the auction.
Big Money Deals in The Hundred Auction
Uncapped English all-rounder James Coles emerged as the most expensive player in the auction, earning a massive £390,000 (around US$522,000) contract with London Spirit.
Several other players also secured lucrative deals:
- Jordan Cox – £300,000 with Welsh Fire
- Tom Curran – £260,000 with MI London
- Adil Rashid – £250,000 with Southern Brave
- Joe Root – £240,000 with Welsh Fire
- Dan Lawrence – £210,000 with SunRisers Leeds
Among overseas players, Aiden Markram attracted the highest bid, signing a £200,000 deal with Manchester Super Giants.
Pakistan Players in The Auction
A total of 14 Pakistani players had been shortlisted for The Hundred 2026 auction. However, on the eve of the auction, Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi withdrew his name.
Meanwhile, fast bowler Haris Rauf — who was not part of Pakistan’s squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 — went unsold. Young all-rounder Saim Ayub also failed to attract a bid.
Abrar Ahmed’s signing by SunRisers Leeds ultimately ensured that Pakistan players were represented in the upcoming season of The Hundred, easing concerns about their participation in leagues connected with IPL ownership groups.
