The Hundred: Tariq, Abrar only Pakistan players picked as teams set for 2026 season
India Today
The first-ever men's and women's Hundred auctions came to an end with all the attention on the Pakistan players. Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq were the only Pakistani players picked during the auction.
The first-ever men's and women's Hundred auctions are done and dusted with the attention being on the Pakistan players. Before the auction took place, it was reported that the teams with IPL links won't be bidding for any Pakistani player, causing a massive uproar among fans and pundits. Ultimately, the England and Wales cricket board (ECB) stepped in and ensured that such a thing wouldn't happen and players will be picked on merit.
The Women’s Hundred auction took place on March 11 at Piccadilly Lights in central London, where Beth Mooney and Sophie Devine emerged as the joint most expensive signings after both were picked up for 210,000 pounds.
India's Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh were picked for 27,500 and 50,000 pounds by Sunrisers Leeds and the Manchester Super Giants respectively.
In the men’s auction, young Sussex all-rounder James Coles commanded the highest opening-round fee, with London Spirit splashing 390,000 pounds to bring the 21-year-old into their squad. Welsh Fire invested heavily in their batting by signing England star Joe Root for 240,000 pounds and last season’s tournament MVP Jordan Cox for 300,000 pounds, committing more than half of their total budget to the pair.
Elsewhere, England’s premier white-ball spinner Adil Rashid was snapped up by Southern Brave for 250,000 pounds. James Vince made a move to MI London for £190,000, while Jonny Bairstow was secured by London Spirit for 160,000 pounds as their first new addition of the auction.
The highlight of the day was seeing Abrar Ahmed getting picked by Sunrisers Leeds, meaning that it was the first time a team with IPL links bid for a Pakistan player since the shadow-ban took effect. This has caused a lot of chatter on social media, with the Sunrisers Leeds even getting their X account suspended.
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