Haris Rauf Headlines Men’s Hundred Auction as 14 Pakistan Players Make Final Longlist

Haris Rauf is among the 10 marquee players whose names will be called first when the men’s auction takes place on March 12 in London. The overseas marquee group also includes Aiden Markram, David Miller, Sunil Narine and Daryl Mitchell, while the domestic list features Jonny Bairstow, Adil Rashid, James Vince, Jordan Cox and Joe Root.

The ECB and the eight franchises recently issued a joint statement stressing that selection would be based on "performance, availability, and the needs of each team". The clarification followed a BBC report suggesting that IPL-linked franchises might enforce a "shadow ban" on Pakistani cricketers for geopolitical reasons.

Pakistan Presence Trimmed to 14

Initially, 63 Pakistan players were part of the 710-man registration pool. After franchises shortlisted around 75 to 100 preferred names each, the list was reduced to 243 players. Fourteen Pakistan players remain, including 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 alongside Rauf.

Rauf brings valuable Hundred experience into the Men’s Hundred auction, having taken 16 wickets across two seasons with Welsh Fire. He also finished as the leading wicket-taker in the recent Big Bash League while playing under Peter Moores at Melbourne Stars, boosting his credentials ahead of the bidding.

Notable Absences and Schedule Watch

Sahibzada Farhan, currently the leading run-scorer at the ongoing T20 World Cup with centuries against Namibia and Sri Lanka, is missing from the final list. Farhan had earlier said he was "hopeful" of being picked up at the auction.

Pakistan’s Test tour of the Caribbean overlaps with the Hundred window from July 21 to August 16, though white-ball players are expected to be available subject to No-Objection Certificates.

The involvement of IPL-linked teams such as MI London, Sunrisers Leeds and Manchester Super Giants, along with Southern Brave, will remain under scrutiny during the bidding process.