The Hundred 2026 auction, held today, March 12, 2026, brought significant developments for Pakistani cricketers. Heading into the draft, there was intense speculation regarding whether franchises, especially those newly acquired by IPL owners, would shadow ban Pakistani players.

While big names like Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, and Saim Ayub surprisingly went unsold and Shaheen Shah Afridi made a late withdrawal, two of Pakistan's premier spin talents successfully shattered the glass ceiling and secured lucrative contracts.

Only two Pakistani players managed to attract bids during this year's draft, both being highly specialized spinners:

• Abrar Ahmed (Leg-spinner) - Bought by Sunrisers Leeds for £190,000 (approx. Rs 2.34 crore).
• Usman Tariq (Mystery spinner) - Bought by Birmingham Phoenix for £140,000.

(Note: None of the Pakistani women's cricketers, including national captain Fatima Sana, were picked up in the draft).

Detailed Team-Wise Analysis

Sunrisers Leeds: Banking on Abrar Ahmed

In one of the most talked-about moves of the draft, Sunrisers Leeds (the rebranded Northern Superchargers, now owned by the IPL's SunRisers Hyderabad franchise) decisively put an end to the "IPL shadow-ban" rumors. They aggressively bid for Abrar Ahmed, securing him for £190,000.

The Strategy: Leeds let go of hometown favorites like Adil Rashid during the retention window, meaning they desperately needed a world-class frontline spinner. Abrar brings mystery, sharp turns, and wicket-taking ability in the middle sets.

Making him one of the most expensive overseas spinners in the competition highlights how highly the SRH management rates his variations.

Birmingham Phoenix entered a bidding war with Trent Rockets to acquire the unorthodox mystery spinner Usman Tariq for £140,000.

The Strategy: Phoenix has historically relied on versatile, hard-to-read bowlers (having drafted Shadab Khan in previous seasons). Tariq's bowling action has been a massive talking point globally, and his ability to deceive batters in the shorter format makes him a massive asset for Edgbaston's turning tracks.

T20 World Cup 2026 Performance: The Auctioned Players

The recent T20 World Cup 2026, held in February and March, heavily influenced franchise scouting.

Usman Tariq

Tariq proved his mettle on the global stage. His standout performance was a brilliant spell of 4/16, which ranked among the top 10 best bowling figures of the entire World Cup. His economy rate and ability to stifle power-hitters during the middle overs directly translated to his £140,000 payday today.

Abrar Ahmed

Included in Pakistan's T20 World Cup squad, Abrar served as a vital part of the spin arsenal. While his specific match-by-match stats were overshadowed by the pacers, his overall utility in franchise leagues and his high ceiling as a strike bowler convinced Leeds to empty a significant portion of their purse for him.