The Hundred 2026: Over 50 Pakistan Players Join Auction as IPL Owners Reshape Tournament
LONDON – More than 50 Pakistani cricketers have officially registered for The Hundred 2026 auction, scheduled to take place at Piccadilly Lights in London on March 11 and 12. The surge in registration comes despite a significant scheduling conflict with Pakistan’s international commitments, specifically an away Test series against the West Indies slated for August.
The auction marks a pivotal shift in the tournament’s structure, with the majority of franchises now operating under new ownership groups, including several prominent Indian Premier League (IPL) conglomerates.
Pakistan Contingent and Scheduling Conflicts
According to sources monitoring the developments, the list of registered players includes over 50 men and women from Pakistan. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) Future Tours Programme (FTP) confirm that the national men’s team is scheduled for a Test series in the Caribbean during the traditional August window of The Hundred.
This overlap presents availability challenges similar to previous seasons. In the last edition, participation was limited, with only Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Wasim featuring for the Northern Superchargers, while Pakistan-born Zafar Gohar played for the Oval Invincibles. Fast bowler Haris Rauf is among the high-profile names expected to attract bids this cycle, provided No Objection Certificates (NOCs) are granted.
IPL Owners Dominate The Hundred 2026
The 2026 edition reflects the substantial privatization of the competition. Six of the eight franchises now boast Indian ownership, aligning the English league closer to the global franchise network established by IPL teams. Notably, four teams are directly owned by IPL franchise groups.
Franchise Ownership Breakdown
| The Hundred Franchise | New Owner/Group | Affiliated IPL Team |
|---|---|---|
| MI Oval | Reliance Industries | Mumbai Indians |
| Sunrisers Leeds | Sun TV Network | Sunrisers Hyderabad |
| Manchester SuperGiants | RPSG Group | Lucknow Super Giants |
| Southern Brave | GMR Group | Delhi Capitals |
| London Spirit | US-based Tech Investors | N/A |
| Welsh Fire | Sanjay Govil (US-based) | N/A |
Auction Mechanics and Financials
The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that over 200 players will go under the hammer to fill the remaining slots for the 16 men’s and women’s squads. Auctioneer Richard Madley will conduct the proceedings.
Teams will compete for players across three defined phases: Hero Players, Ranked Players, and Nominated Players. Recruitment rules for the 2026 cycle include:
- Squad Size: 14 players per team.
- Pre-Auction Signings: Teams were permitted up to four signings between mid-November and January (maximum three direct signings).
- Retentions: Minimum one retention required per team.
Salary Caps
- Men’s Competition: £2.05 million per team.
- Women’s Competition: £880,000 per team.
Key Players to Watch
The auction list features top-tier international talent. The women’s register is headlined by India’s aggressive opener Shafali Verma, alongside Australian wicketkeeper-batter Beth Mooney and England’s Amy Jones.
On the men’s side, franchises will vie for marquee names potentially including:
- Joe Root (England)
- Quinton de Kock (South Africa)
- Jason Holder (West Indies)
- Haris Rauf (Pakistan)
- Adil Rashid (England)
The full list of registered players will be released officially on Friday at 1:00 PM UK time (6:30 PM IST).
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