Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq Only Pakistan Players Picked in The Hundred 2026 Auction
London: Pakistan spinners Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq were the only players from the country to secure deals in the men’s player auction for The Hundred 2026, held at Piccadilly Lights in London, while several established Pakistan stars went unsold.
Usman Tariq was the first Pakistani player to be picked when Birmingham Phoenix signed the mystery spinner for £140,000 (around PKR 5.32 crore). The 27-year-old has recently emerged as a promising option in Pakistan’s white-ball setup, drawing attention for his unconventional action and ability to generate sharp turn.
Later in the auction, Sunrisers Leeds, a franchise backed by the owners of the IPL’s Sunrisers Hyderabad, secured the services of Abrar Ahmed for £190,000 (about PKR 7.12 crore) after showing strong interest in the Pakistan leg-spinner. Abrar, known for his “mystery spin”, has established himself as one of Pakistan’s most effective wicket-taking bowlers in recent years across formats.
However, several prominent Pakistan players failed to attract bids during their respective rounds. Fast bowler Haris Rauf, all-rounder Shadab Khan and young batter Saim Ayub were among the notable names that went unsold.
The limited selection meant that only two Pakistani cricketers will feature in the upcoming edition of The Hundred, England’s franchise-based 100-ball tournament organised by the England and Wales Cricket Board, scheduled to take place later this summer.
