No Pak player picked in The Hundred 2025 draft

In a surprising development, none of the Pakistani cricketers were selected in The Hundred 2025 player draft held on Wednesday, March 12.

A total of 50 Pakistan players had registered for the draft – five for the women’s competition and 45 for the men’s. Despite a competitive selection process and limited overseas slots, it was expected that the women’s players, including Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana, Yusra Amir, Iram Javed, and Jaweria Rauf, would go unsold.

However, it was a bit surprising that none of the male Pakistani cricketers were picked, even though several overseas spots were still available across teams.

Among the men, Naseem Shah was the most expensive Pakistani player with a reserve price of £120,000, while experienced all-rounder Imad Wasim and promising young opener Saim Ayub set their reserve price at £78,500. Other players like Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, and Mohammad Hasnain had a reserve price of £63,000. Some players, including Mohammad Abbas, Haider Ali, and Ammad Butt, did not set any reserve price.

This year’s draft saw changes in the tournament’s landscape as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) allowed external investments in the franchises. All eight franchises have now received backing, with four being owned by Indian Premier League (IPL) investors.

Apart from Pakistani players, England’s veteran bowler James Anderson was also overlooked in the men’s draft. The 42-year-old, who retired from international cricket in early 2024, had entered the draft after signing a contract with Lancashire for the upcoming season. Anderson, who has not played T20 cricket in over a decade, will compete in the T20 Blast but missed out on a spot in The Hundred, although he could still be picked as a wildcard player.

Afghanistan’s Noor Ahmad and New Zealand’s Michael Bracewell were the highest-paid overseas signings. Both secured £200,000 contracts, with Ahmad joining Manchester Originals and Bracewell heading to Southern Brave. Bracewell’s selection reflects his impressive performances for New Zealand in recent international tournaments.