London: Zimbabwean cricket legend and London Spirit head coach Andy Flower has welcomed the selection of Pakistan spinners Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq in The Hundred Draft, describing their acquisition as a significant boost to the competition’s credibility.
Birmingham Phoenix leg-spinner Usman Tariq was secured for £140,000 in the 2026 Player Draft held at the iconic Piccadilly Lights in London on Thursday, making him the first Pakistani player to be selected.
He was soon followed by Abrar Ahmed, who was snapped up by IPL-backed franchise Sunrisers Leeds for a substantial £190,000 after a bidding war with Trent Rockets.
Speaking on the British Sports Forum, Flower praised the transparent recruitment process that facilitated their inclusion.
He asserted that the presence of Pakistani cricketers not only adds quality and balance to the competition but also serves as a testament to its content.
“The signing of Usman Tariq was a very good thing, followed by the signing of Abrar Ahmed by Sunrisers Leeds,” said the 57-year-old coach.
“It’s a very good thing for the tournament. Pakistani players are very talented and we want a fair and equitable process and this is a good testament to that. I enjoyed watching the process,” he added.
A particularly notable moment was the acquisition of Abrar Ahmed by Leeds, a franchise owned by Kavya Maran and affiliated to the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The franchise’s significant investment in a Pakistan international has shifted away from traditional commercial rivalries and focused solely on cricketing talent.
However, the draft proved to be a mixed day for other Pakistani stars. Fast bowler Haris Rauf, all-rounder Shadab Khan and batsman Saim Ayub remained unsold in their respective rounds.
All three remained without a team after the final round of the draft, which allowed owners to select from the remaining pool of players.
None of the eight teams chose to secure their services, despite the opportunity for the parties to stake a claim.
In a late blow to the tournament, Pakistan’s ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi was among the five top foreign players to opt out of the draft.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Thursday confirmed Afridi’s exit along with Quinton de Kock, Sunil Narine, AM Ghazanfar and Peter Siddle just hours before the auction began.
The 2026 edition of The Hundred is scheduled to run from July 21 to August 16.
The competition kicks off with a high-profile London derby as MI London (formerly Oval Invincibles) take on Sunrisers Leeds (formerly Northern Superchargers) at The Oval.