Mustafizur Rahman lands deal as two Pakistan players also picked: The Hundred Auction 2026 Mustafizur Rahman, the experienced left-arm spinner, has secured a deal in The Hundred Auction 2026, joining Birmingham Phoenix. His signing has drawn attention, as the auction also saw the inclusion of two Pakistan players. Mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed was acquired by Sunrisers Leeds for GBP 190,000 (approximately Rs 2.34 crore) following a competitive bidding process with Trent Rockets. This move is notable because Sunrisers Leeds is owned by the Chennai-based Sun Group, making Abrar the first Pakistan player to join an Indian-owned franchise in the competition. Another Pakistan spinner, Usman Tariq, was signed by Birmingham Phoenix for GBP 140,000 (around Rs 1.72 crore). However, Birmingham Phoenix does not have a direct connection to any IPL franchise. Several other prominent Pakistan players failed to attract bids during the auction. Fast bowler Haris Rauf, all-rounder Saim Ayub, and spinner Shadab Khan remained unsold, while seasoned pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi had previously withdrawn from the auction. Among the notable deals of the day, Sussex all-rounder James Coles secured the highest bid, joining London Spirit for GBP 390,000 (approximately Rs 4.8 crore). The upcoming edition of The Hundred is set to run from July 21 to August 16. For detailed match schedules, venues, and timings, fans can refer to the full IPL 2026 fixtures and team-wise match dates. The auction highlights the growing interest in international talent as teams aim to strengthen their squads for the upcoming season. The inclusion of Pakistan players like Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq underscores the competition’s appeal to global stars, despite challenges in securing bids for some high-profile names.#mustafizur_rahman #sunrisers_leeds #birmingham_phoenix #abrar_ahmed #sun_group
The Hundred auction 2026 - Beth Mooney, Sophie Devine earn paydays Sophie Devine and Beth Mooney emerged as the top earners in the inaugural Women’s Hundred auction, each securing a £210,000 salary, surpassing the previous record for the tournament. The duo narrowly outbid England allrounder Dani Gibson, who was signed by Sunrisers Leeds for £190,000. South Africa’s Nadine de Klerk, a standout performer in the 50-over World Cup and WPL, joined London Spirit for £170,000. India’s Deepti Sharma, however, received a sole bid at her base price of £27,500 from Sunrisers Leeds, while wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh was acquired by Manchester Super Giants for £50,000. Devine, 36, will play for Welsh Fire as she transitions into the latter stages of her career. She stepped down as New Zealand T20 captain after winning the 2024 World Cup and retired from ODIs late last year. Australian Mooney, a consistent batter and wicketkeeper, was the subject of a bidding war between Trent Rockets and Manchester Super Giants, with the Rockets securing her services. Their salaries, £210,000 each, far exceed the previous record of £65,000 in the Women’s Hundred and are 14 times higher than the 2021 tournament’s top wage of £15,000. These figures also surpass the highest salaries in the Women’s Big Bash League and match the pay scales of the WPL. The salary cap for teams in the Women’s Hundred has doubled to £880,000 per franchise, driven by new private investment in the tournament. This marks a significant shift from the first edition in 2021, which saw a much lower cap. Davina Perrin, the 19-year-old who scored a 43-ball century in last year’s Eliminator, became the first player sold at auction, joining Birmingham Phoenix for £50,000.#sophie_devine #sunrisers_leeds #the_hundred #welsh_fire #beth_mooney
Smriti Mandhana leads Indian presence as Richa, Deepti land deals in women's draft for The Hundred India’s Smriti Mandhana dominated the women’s player draft for The Hundred, securing a direct signing with Manchester Super Giants alongside Australia’s Meg Lanning and England’s Sophie Ecclestone. Compatriot Richa Ghosh also made headlines after being acquired by Manchester Super Giants for £50,000 (approximately ₹61 lakh), while all-rounder Deepti Sharma joined SunRisers Leeds at a reported £27,500 (around ₹34 lakh). The auction, held on March 11, 2026, saw 178 players compete for contracts, with 28 already retained or signed by franchises prior to the event. The Hundred, set to begin on July 21 and conclude on August 16, allocated a total purse of £880,000 per women’s franchise. After direct signings and retentions, Birmingham Phoenix, London Spirit, Southern Brave, and Trent Rockets retained £520,000 each for the draft. Manchester Super Giants, MI London, SunRisers Leeds, and Welsh Fire had slightly larger budgets, with £570,000 remaining before bidding commenced. Richa Ghosh’s £50,000 deal marked a significant milestone for her career, as the Indian wicketkeeper-batter became the first player from her country to secure a contract in the league. Manchester Super Giants’ strategic move to sign both Mandhana and Ghosh strengthened their squad, while SunRisers Leeds’ acquisition of Deepti Sharma highlighted the team’s focus on experienced all-rounders. Notably, India’s Yastika Bhatia and Sree Charani were left out of the draft, failing to attract bids. The auction underscored the competitive nature of the league, with franchises vying for talent amid limited financial resources.#smriti_mandhana #sunrisers_leeds #richa_ghosh #deepti_sharma #manchester_super_giants
The Hundred auction 2026 - Women's Hundred auction signals new dawn in English cricket A historic six-hour auction under the iconic LED screens of London’s Piccadilly Circus marked the dawn of a new era for women’s cricket in England. Newly formed franchises, backed by private investors, spent around £4 million to secure top talent, transforming players into some of the highest-paid female athletes in the UK. The event, part of The Hundred’s 2026 season, saw teams bid aggressively for star players, with several young athletes earning six-figure contracts for a tournament that spans just four weeks. The auction followed a major restructuring of the tournament, which transitioned from a draft system to a franchise model. Eight teams, now owned by external investors, have doubled their salary caps for the women’s competition to £880,000, surpassing the WBBL in pay and approaching the levels of the WPL. The influx of private capital has already helped clear debts for several county cricket clubs, with players now reaping the rewards of this financial shift. Among the standout deals was Dani Gibson’s £190,000 contract with Sunrisers Leeds, a record for an English player. Gibson, a 24-year-old batter, had been sidelined for a year due to a back injury but was seen as a high-value asset due to her potential. “I’m still in shock,” she said after the auction, describing the experience as overwhelming. Her coach, Adi Birrell, emphasized that Gibson’s deal was a top priority, highlighting her importance to the team’s strategy. The auction also brought significant attention to young, untested talent. Tilly Corteen-Coleman, an 18-year-old left-arm spinner without an international cap, was sold to Southern Brave for £105,000—a sevenfold increase from the £15,000 deals signed in 2019.#sophie_devine #the_hundred #piccadilly_circus #sunrisers_leeds #trent_rockets
