“The Hundred 2026: Pakistan Stars Join Indian-Owned Teams”

New Delhi, March 14, 2026: In a landmark shift for the cricketing world, the 2026 player auction for The Hundred has finally shattered a long-standing “unwritten rule.” For years, franchises across global T20 leagues with Indian ownership—typically linked to the Indian Premier League (IPL)—had steered clear of signing Pakistani talent due to geopolitical sensitivities.

However, the latest draft in London has seen a significant breakthrough. As The Hundred enters its new era of private investment, here is the definitive list of Pakistan players selected by teams with Indian stakeholders, along with the context of this historic moment.

1. Abrar Ahmed (Sunrisers Leeds)

The headline-maker of the 2026 auction is undoubtedly the “mystery spinner” Abrar Ahmed. In a move that sent shockwaves through social media, Sunrisers Leeds—owned by the Sun Group (the same entity behind IPL’s Sunrisers Hyderabad)—secured Abrar for a staggering £190,000 (approximately $255,000).

• The Bidding War: Sunrisers Leeds, led at the auction table by owner Kavya Maran and head coach Daniel Vettori, outbid the Trent Rockets to land the 27-year-old spinner.
• Significance: This marks the first time a franchise with direct Indian ownership has signed an active Pakistan international in a major league since the early years of the IPL.
• Performance: Abrar has been in sensational form, boasting an economy rate of just 6.67 in T20Is, making him one of the most clinical white-ball bowlers in the world today.

2. Usman Tariq (Birmingham Phoenix)

While Abrar took the headlines, Usman Tariq was actually the first Pakistani player to be off the board during the 2026 draft. He was snapped up by Birmingham Phoenix for £140,000.

• Ownership Note: While Birmingham Phoenix is not fully “Indian-owned” in the same sense as the Sunrisers, it is part of the league’s new investment structure where global capital (including Knighthead Capital) is involved. However, Tariq’s selection further validated the ECB’s stance that merit—not nationality—would dictate the 2026 rosters.

The “Shadow Ban” Controversy

The inclusion of Pakistani players in these teams was anything but guaranteed. Leading up to the auction, multiple reports suggested a “shadow ban” might be in place, where the four teams with major Indian investment (MI London, Sunrisers Leeds, Manchester Super Giants, and Southern Brave) would bypass Pakistanis.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) responded by issuing a directive to all franchises, emphasizing that selection must be based strictly on cricketing performance and availability. The signing of Abrar Ahmed by Sunrisers Leeds is seen by many as the definitive end to this narrative in the UK-based competition.

Why Only Two Players?

Despite 63 Pakistani cricketers entering the draft—the highest from any overseas nation—only Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq secured deals. High-profile stars like Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, and Saim Ayub went unsold.

Analysts suggest this wasn’t necessarily due to ownership politics, but rather a combination of high reserve prices and availability issues. With the Pakistan national team often having conflicting schedules during the August window, many franchises opted for players who could commit to the entire four-week tournament.

Looking Ahead

The 2026 season of The Hundred is scheduled to run from July 21 to August 16. All eyes will be on Leeds to see how Abrar Ahmed performs under the spotlight of a franchise that has made a bold, merit-based statement by bringing him on board.