Abrar Ahmed Makes History in The Hundred Auction; James Coles Emerges as Highest-Paid Player

Pakistan mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed created history at the inaugural men’s The Hundred auction in London after being signed by Sunrisers Leeds for £190,000 (US$255,000). With this move, Abrar became the first Pakistan player to be bought by a franchise owned by an Indian company in the tournament.

Sunrisers Leeds, owned by Indian media conglomerate Sun TV, secured Abrar following a bidding battle with Trent Rockets. The franchise was formerly known as Northern Superchargers before Sun TV acquired a 49% stake from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the remaining 51% from Yorkshire for approximately £100 million last year.

The signing drew attention amid speculation about whether franchises with links to Indian Premier League (IPL) teams would bid for Pakistan players. Despite concerns about a potential “shadow ban,” franchises had earlier committed to selecting players based only on performance, availability, and team requirements.

Abrar was the second Pakistan player sold during the morning session of the auction. Allrounder Usman Tariq was picked up by Birmingham Phoenix for £140,000 (US$187,000). Both Phoenix and Trent Rockets are jointly owned by their host counties and American investment groups.

No active Pakistan international has played in the IPL since 2008 due to long-standing political tensions between India and Pakistan. However, several Pakistan cricketers have appeared in global T20 leagues operated by companies linked to IPL franchises.

Meanwhile, uncapped Sussex allrounder James Coles emerged as the most expensive player of the morning, earning a massive £390,000 (US$522,000) contract with London Spirit after an intense five-way bidding war.

The 21-year-old Coles had previously earned £31,000 while playing for Southern Brave in last year’s edition of The Hundred. Since then, he has enjoyed a breakthrough period in franchise cricket, including winning the SA20 with Sunrisers Eastern Cape and impressing during the England Lions series against Pakistan Shaheens.

Starting from a base price of £75,000, Coles initially attracted bids from Manchester Super Giants, Birmingham Phoenix, and Trent Rockets. Sunrisers Leeds joined the race at £220,000 before London Spirit ultimately secured the young allrounder.

Coles will be the fourth-highest paid player in this year’s tournament, behind Harry Brook (£465,000 at Sunrisers Leeds), Phil Salt (£450,000 at Welsh Fire), and Jofra Archer (£400,000 at Southern Brave), all of whom were pre-signed ahead of the auction.

The auction also saw several other major deals. Jordan Cox was bought by Welsh Fire for £300,000, Tom Curran joined MI London for £260,000, and Adil Rashid signed with Southern Brave for £250,000. Joe Root became the first player sold at the auction, joining Welsh Fire for £240,000, while Dan Lawrence secured a £210,000 deal with Sunrisers Leeds.

Among overseas players, South Africa’s Aiden Markram attracted the highest bid, earning a £200,000 contract with Manchester Super Giants. Markram already represents other Super Giants franchises, including Lucknow in the IPL and Durban in the SA20.

The auction marked a significant moment in the evolution of The Hundred, with record bids, historic signings, and increased global interest shaping the upcoming season.