Haris Rauf (photo agency) Several Pakistani cricketers have had disappointing results around the 2026 Hundred auction across the men’s and women’s categories, with fast bowler Haris Rauf unsold and ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi stepping down just before the bidding began. Teams were already expected to be careful with their overseas slots, which limited opportunities for international players during the auction.Pakistan’s Afridi was originally listed as a Tier 1 fast bowler and previously represented the 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 have also resigned.
EXCLUSIVE: Rahul Dravid’s iconic Eden Gardens win against Australia in 2001
Possible reasons included clashes with the Caribbean Premier League and other international commitments. After Afridi’s withdrawal, 13 Pakistani players remained available in the men’s auction pool.The withdrawal came at a time when Pakistan’s participation in the tournament was being scrutinized. In response, the ECB and the eight franchises issued a joint statement stressing that all selections will be based on the “performance, availability and needs of each team”.
Vote
What do you think is the main reason behind the recent disappointments of Pakistani players in the Hundreds auction?
Meanwhile, the going was already tough for Pakistan in the women’s auction held a day earlier. None of the Pakistani players managed to secure a contract. Left-arm batsman Muneeba Ali, fast bowler Diana Baig, left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal and national captain Fatima Sana entered the auction with a base price of £15,000, but none received a bid.With few selections and unsold players, Pakistan’s presence in this year’s Hundred has been noticeably reduced, showing how scheduling conflicts and limited overseas spots can heavily influence franchises’ selections in the competition.
