Over 50 Pakistan Cricketers Register for The Hundred Auction in London
MUMBAI: In a significant development for international cricket, more than 50 players from Pakistan, encompassing both men and women, have officially registered for the upcoming auction of The Hundred. The prestigious event is scheduled to take place at the iconic Piccadilly Lights in London, with the women's competition auction on March 11 and the men's on March 12.
Substantial Pakistani Participation
A reliable source closely monitoring the developments confirmed to TOI that the auction list includes over 50 players from Pakistan. This marks a notable increase compared to last season, where only two Pakistan players, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Wasim, participated in the tournament for Northern Superchargers, alongside Pakistan-born Zafar Gohar who was part of the Oval Invincibles squad.
The full roster of players registered for The Hundred auction will be officially released at 1 PM UK time, which corresponds to 6:30 PM India time, this Friday.
Indian Ownership and Tournament Structure
The Hundred features a strong Indian connection, with six out of the eight franchises owned by Indian entities. These include:
- London Spirit (owned by US-based tech investors)
- MI Oval (Reliance Industries)
- Manchester SuperGiants (RPSG Group)
- Southern Brave (GMR Group)
- Sunrisers Leeds (Sun TV)
- Welsh Fire (US-based Sanjay Govil)
Notably, four of these teams are owned by Indian Premier League franchises: Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, Lucknow SuperGiants, and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Auction Details and Player Dynamics
The England & Wales Cricket Board announced in a media release that The Hundred Auction will see over 200 players go under the hammer. The sixteen men's and women's teams will each pick up to 14 players as they prepare for the sixth edition of the tournament this summer.
The women's auction register includes prominent names such as India's swashbuckling opener Shafali Verma, along with international stars like Beth Mooney, Nadine de Klerk, Amy Jones, and Davina Perrin. On the men's side, teams will bid for players including Joe Root, Quinton de Kock, Jason Holder, Haris Rauf, and Adil Rashid, who are expected to be among the early contenders.
Renowned auctioneer Richard Madley will oversee the proceedings across both days.
Financial Framework and Team Strategies
The men's teams have a substantial salary pot of £2.05 million, while the women's teams operate with a pot of £880,000. Each team has already allocated a portion of their budget to pre-auction direct signings and retentions.
Teams are permitted up to four pre-auction signings from mid-November to the end of January. A maximum of three can be direct signings, which must be overseas or England centrally contracted players. At least one must be a retention, which can include any player—England centrally contracted, overseas, or domestic.
Auction Phases and Player Interest
The auction will be conducted across three distinct phases: Hero Players, Ranked Players, and Nominated Players. Teams will submit a long-list of players they are most interested in signing prior to the auction, with the phases reflecting the aggregated interest in each player.
This structured approach ensures a competitive and strategic bidding process, allowing franchises to build balanced and formidable squads for the upcoming season.
Broader Cricket Context
According to the ICC Future Tours Programme, Pakistan is scheduled to have an away Test series against West Indies in August. This adds another layer to the players' commitments and availability considerations for The Hundred.
The increased participation of Pakistani cricketers in The Hundred highlights the growing global appeal of the tournament and the opportunities it provides for international players to showcase their talent on a prominent stage.
