In a development that has grabbed global attention, fourteen Pakistan men’s cricketers have been named in the 247-player longlist for this year’s The Hundred, amid the speculation that they might be overlooked due to geopolitical tensions.
Reports had suggested that the four Indian-owned franchises — MI London, Sunrisers Leeds, Manchester Super Giants and Southern Brave — could avoid selecting Pakistan players. However, the longlist announcement has somehow countered those claims, with Pakistan boasting the highest number of overseas representatives in the top 50 ‘hero’ players — one more than South Africa.
Adding another layer of intrigue, this year’s tournament will overlap with a Pakistan Test series, potentially creating selection and availability challenges for the players involved.
Haris Rauf among marquee international names
Leading the charge is express pacer Haris Rauf, who has been included in the prestigious ‘Marquee Players International’ category. Rauf carries the maximum reserve price of £100,000, placing him alongside some of world cricket’s biggest T20 stars.
The marquee international list also features Aiden Markram, David Miller, Daryl Mitchell and Sunil Narine. Rauf’s inclusion underlines his growing reputation as a high-impact T20 bowler capable of shifting momentum in a matter of overs.
Players had to submit themselves for auction consideration, after which the eight franchises provided 75–100 nominations each. The final longlist was then curated from those submissions.
Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan lead tier one category
Among the elite ‘hero’ categories, Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, all-rounder Shadab Khan and spinner Usman Tariq have been placed in Tier One — a reflection of their T20 pedigree and international experience.
Tier Two includes dynamic all-rounder Saim Ayub and mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed. Interestingly, Ayub has opted for the top reserve price bracket despite being listed in Tier Two, signalling confidence in his market value.
The first 30 names on the men’s longlist also feature prominent English stars such as Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root and Adil Rashid, along with international T20 specialists like Quinton de Kock and Finn Allen.
The men’s auction is scheduled to take place on March 12 in Piccadilly, London, where franchises will strategically assemble their squads. With political undercurrents, scheduling clashes and high reserve prices in play, this year’s auction promises drama even before a ball is bowled.
Men’s Hundred longlist – first 30 players
- Marquee domestic: Jonny Bairstow, Adil Rashid, James Vince, Jordan Cox, Joe Root
- Marquee international: Aiden Markram, David Miller, Sunil Narine, Haris Rauf, Daryl Mitchell
- Tier 1 batters: Finn Allen, Quinton De Kock, Ryan Rickelton, Tim Seifert, Zak Crawley
- Tier 1 fast bowlers: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood, Sonny Baker, Saqib Mahmood
- Tier 1 allrounders: Tom Curran, Shadab Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, David Willey, Gus Atkinson
- Tier 1 spin bowlers: Akeal Hosein, AM Ghazanfar, Rishad Hossain, Usman Tariq, Jafer Chohan
