Pakistan Secures Representation in The Hundred After Exclusion Fears
Pakistan will be represented at this summer's Hundred tournament after unorthodox spinner Usman Tariq was signed by Birmingham Phoenix for £140,000 at the inaugural men's auction. The deal followed concerns about potential exclusion of Pakistani players by franchises with Indian investment.
ECB Denies 'Shadow Ban' Allegations
The England and Wales Cricket Board was compelled to issue formal denials of an effective 'shadow ban' being employed by some sides with Indian backers. All eight franchises released a joint statement affirming players would not be excluded based on nationality. Notably, both Birmingham Phoenix and Trent Rockets – who briefly tussled for Tariq – have American co-owners, with none of the Indian-affiliated groups joining the bidding.
Mixed Fortunes for Pakistani Players
While Tariq secured representation, other Pakistani players faced disappointment. The country's only female representatives – Fatima Sana and Sadia Iqbal – went unsold in the women's auction. Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi withdrew from the men's sale, and fellow quick Haris Rauf failed to attract an offer at his £100,000 reserve price.
English Stars Command Premium Prices
Earlier in the auction, last year's tournament MVP Jordan Cox landed the biggest deal among the marquee English contingent, picking up £300,000 from Welsh Fire. The Cardiff-based outfit then spent a further £240,000 on Test star Joe Root, allocating more than half their budget to just two of the first three players.
All eight franchises entered the bidding with just over £1 million to build their squads, having already locked in four direct signings each. Other notable English deals included all-rounder Tom Curran's £260,000 move to join brother Sam at MI London, Adil Rashid's £250,000 signing with Southern Brave, James Vince's £190,000 switch to MI London, and Jonny Bairstow's £160,000 arrival at London Spirit.
Rising Stars and Surprising Omissions
Paceman Josh Tongue, whose stock rose during the Ashes tour, earned £200,000 from Manchester Super Giants, while England Test opener Zak Crawley went for £180,000 to Sunrisers Leeds. The latter franchise – rebranded from Northern Superchargers – surprisingly allowed hometown favorites Root, Rashid, and Bairstow to sign elsewhere.
The top men's salaries under the previous draft system peaked at £200,000 last season. England white-ball captain Harry Brook remains the tournament's highest-paid player at £465,000 through a direct pre-auction agreement with Sunrisers.
