In a surprising turn, no Pakistani cricketers were picked in The Hundred 2025 player draft held on March 12.
Out of 50 registered Pakistani players—five women and 45 men—not a single one secured a contract. While it was expected that the women’s players, including Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana, Yusra Amir, Iram Javed, and Jaweria Rauf, might go unsold due to limited overseas slots, the exclusion of male players was unexpected.
Naseem Shah, with a reserve price of £120,000, was the most expensive Pakistani player in The Hundred draft. Meanwhile, experienced all-rounder Imad Wasim and young opener Saim Ayub set their reserve price at £78,500. Players like Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, and Mohammad Hasnain had a reserve price of £63,000. Others, including Mohammad Abbas, Haider Ali, and Ammad Butt, entered without a base price. Despite multiple overseas slots remaining, none were selected.
This year’s draft introduced a major change. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) allowed external investments for the first time. As a result, all eight franchises now have investors, with four teams backed by Indian Premier League (IPL) stakeholders.
Pakistani players were not the only ones ignored. England’s veteran bowler James Anderson also went unsold in the men’s draft. The 42-year-old, who retired from international cricket in early 2024, had entered the draft after signing with Lancashire. Despite not playing T20 cricket for over a decade, he will feature in the T20 Blast and remains eligible for a wildcard selection.
Among the highest-paid overseas signings, Afghanistan’s Noor Ahmad and New Zealand’s Michael Bracewell secured £200,000 contracts. Ahmad joined Manchester Originals, while Bracewell was picked by Southern Brave after impressive performances for New Zealand.
