Haris Rauf headlines the Hundred auction as 14 Pakistani players make it to the final longlist

Haris Rauf is one of 10 top players set to headline The Hundred’s first men’s auction next week, with 14 Pakistani players on the final longlist for bidding. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the tournament’s eight franchises recently issued a joint statement confirming that selections would be based purely on performance, availability and team requirements.

The clarification followed a BBC report suggesting that the four teams linked to IPL ownership groups could impose an unofficial ban on Pakistani players for geopolitical reasons. Initially, 63 Pakistani cricketers were part of the men’s longlist with 710 players registered for the auction. Franchises were then asked to shortlist 75 to 100 preferred players, after which the list was narrowed down to 243 names. According to ESPNcricinfo, fourteen Pakistani players are still in the fray.

Besides Rauf, the Pakistani component includes Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Tariq, Saim Ayub, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Zaman Khan, Usama Mir, Imad Wasim, Akif Javed and Salman Mirza.

Rauf, who was recently left out of Pakistan’s World Cup squad, is one of 10 major players whose names will open the men’s auction on March 12. The five domestic big names are Jonny Bairstow, Adil Rashid, James Vince, Jordan Cox and Joe Root. The overseas major group consists of Aiden Markram, David Miller, Sunil Narine, Daryl Mitchell and Rauf.

Rauf previously represented Welsh Fire in The Hundred, claiming 16 wickets over two seasons. He also emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the recent Big Bash League while playing for Melbourne Stars under coach Peter Moores.

Pakistan are scheduled to tour the West Indies for a Test series during The Hundred window next summer, but white-ball specialists are expected to be available, subject to no-objection certificates from the PCB. The tournament runs from July 21 to August 16 and marks the first season of private investment following the sale of franchise shares last year. Three teams have been renamed due to IPL ties: MI London (formerly Oval Invincibles), Sunrisers Leeds (Northern Superchargers) and Manchester Super Giants (Manchester Originals).

In the women’s competition, two Pakistani players, Fatima Sana and Sadia Iqbal, have been longlisted. The names of the women’s auctioneers include Dani Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Tammy Beaumont, Davina Perrin, Nadine de Klerk, Sophie Devine, Beth Mooney, Sophie Molineux and Deepti Sharma.

The women’s auction will take place on March 11, followed by the men’s auction on March 12 in Piccadilly, London.

Men’s hundred longlist – first 30 players

Marquee domestic: Jonny Bairstow, Adil Rashid, James Vince, Jordan Cox, Joe Root
Marquee international: Aiden Markram, David Miller, Sunil Narine, Haris Rauf, Daryl Mitchell
Level 1 hitters: Finn Allen, Quinton De Kock, Ryan Rickelton, Tim Seifert, Zak Crawley
Level 1 fast bowlers: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood, Sonny Baker, Saqib Mahmood
Level 1 all-rounders: Tom Curran, Shadab Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, David Willey, Gus Atkinson
Level 1 spin bowlers: Akeal Hosein, AM Ghazanfar, Rishad Hossain, Usman Tariq, Jafer Chohan