Kamal Ghorui
Several Pakistani cricketers experienced a disappointing outcome around the 2026 Hundred auction across men and women’s categories, with fast bowler Haris Rauf going unsold and ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi withdrawing just before the bidding began. Teams were already expected to be cautious with their overseas slots, which limited opportunities for international players during the auction.Pakistan’s Afridi was originally listed in the Tier 1 fast bowlers category and had previously represented Welsh Fire in the tournament. However, he was among five overseas players who pulled out shortly before the auction. The ECB confirmed that Quinton de Kock, Sunil Narine, AM Ghazanfar, and Peter Siddle also withdrew.
The likely reasons included clashes with the Caribbean Premier League and other international commitments. Afridi’s withdrawal still left 13 Pakistani players available in the men’s auction pool.The withdrawals came at a time when there had been scrutiny about Pakistani participation in the tournament. In response, the ECB and the eight franchises released a joint clarification, stressing that all selections would be based on “performance, availability, and the needs of each team.”Meanwhile, the situation had already been difficult for Pakistan in the women’s auction held a day earlier. None of the Pakistani women’s players managed to secure a contract. Left-handed batter Muneeba Ali, fast bowler Diana Baig, left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal, and national captain Fatima Sana had all entered the auction with a base price of £15,000, but none received bids.With several withdrawals and unsold players, Pakistan’s presence in this year’s Hundred has been noticeably reduced, highlighting how scheduling conflicts and limited overseas spots can strongly influence franchise selections in the competition.
