The Hundred 2026 auction produced a mixed evening for Pakistani cricketers. While a couple of spinners attracted strong interest, several established names surprisingly went unsold as franchises finalised their squads in London.
By the end of the event at Piccadilly Lights, only Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq had secured deals from the pool of Pakistani players available in the draft.
Usman Tariq Draws First Attention
The first breakthrough for Pakistan came when Birmingham Phoenix snapped up spinner Usman Tariq for £140,000, which translates to roughly PKR 5.32 crore.
Tariq became the first Pakistani name called during the auction. Interestingly, his selection came while some bigger names were still waiting for interest from franchises.
For the Phoenix, the move suggests they see potential in Tariq’s ability to control the middle overs and trouble batters with his variations.
Abrar Ahmed Lands the Biggest Deal
If Tariq’s pick created early momentum, Abrar Ahmed’s selection became the standout moment for Pakistan.
The mystery spinner was signed by Sunrisers Leeds for £190,000, approximately PKR 7.12 crore. The franchise, which has links with the Indian Premier League (IPL), faced competition from Trent Rockets before securing the deal.
The signing also grabbed attention for another reason. Sunrisers Leeds is owned by Kavya Maran, making it notable that an Indian owned franchise invested heavily in a Pakistani cricketer.
For Abrar, the deal represents a significant opportunity to showcase his skills in one of England’s most popular short-format competitions.
Daniel Vettori Explains the Decision
Sunrisers Leeds head coach Daniel Vettori later explained why the team prioritised Abrar Ahmed during the auction.
Speaking to a British sports platform, the former New Zealand captain highlighted the spinner’s unique style and the difficulty batters face when encountering him for the first time.
According to Vettori, Abrar’s wide range of variations made him stand out among several international spinners available in the draft.
He pointed out that many domestic players in England may not have faced Abrar before, which could give the bowler a significant advantage during the tournament.
Vettori also revealed that once Abrar’s name appeared among the available options, the franchise immediately made him a priority target.
Big Names Surprisingly Go Unsold
While Abrar and Tariq secured contracts, the auction proved disappointing for several other Pakistani stars. Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan and Saim Ayub all went unsold in their respective rounds.
The trio was later included in the unsold players pool, which allowed franchises to revisit available names during the final round.
However, despite that opportunity, none of the eight teams decided to pick them before the auction concluded.
It was a surprising outcome, particularly considering the experience and reputation these players carry in global T20 leagues.
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