Pakistan Players Left Unsold in Women’s Auction for The Hundred
On March 11, during the women’s auction for The Hundred, none of the Pakistani players found buyers. Four players from Pakistan, including left-handed batter Muneeba Ali, fast bowler Diana Baig, spinner Sadia Iqbal, and captain Fatima Sana, had entered the auction with a base price of £15,000 each.
While Fatima Sana and Sadia Iqbal made it to the final auction stage, neither player was selected during the bidding. As a result, all four of them ended up unsold, missing the chance to play in the upcoming season of the 100-ball competition.
Earlier reports had suggested that teams owned by the IPL might skip signing Pakistani players, leading to some controversy. England captain Harry Brook, among others, criticized this approach. In response, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and The Hundred teams assured that player nationality would not influence their choices, emphasizing that selections would be based on performance and team needs.
Attention Turns to Men’s Auction
Looking ahead, several Pakistani players are expected to participate in the men’s auction for The Hundred, scheduled for March 12. A significant number, 63 Pakistani cricketers, registered for this event, but only 14 were shortlisted for the final bidding.
Highlighted players include the fast bowling trio of Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah, alongside all-rounders Shadab Khan and Saim Ayub, each with a base price of £100,000.
Other notable players in the auction include Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Amir, and Zaman Khan, each with a base price of £75,000. Imad Wasim and Usama Mir are set at £50,000, while Akif Javed and Salman Mirza have a base price of £31,000.
Several players from Pakistan have prior experience in The Hundred. Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi have played for the Welsh Fire in past seasons, while Imad Wasim represented the Trent Rockets. Mohammad Amir has previously been with MI London, and Shadab Khan played for Birmingham Phoenix. On the other hand, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, and Salman Mirza are yet to debut in this exciting format.
