Haris Rauf Among 14 Pakistanis Listed for The Hundred Auction

Fast bowler Haris Rauf has been named as a marquee player among 14 Pakistani cricketers included in the final list for this year's men's Hundred auction, according to reports from London. Haris, 32, is among six Pakistan internationals who have made it to the top 50 'hero' list for the upcoming tournament.

Haris Rauf joins international players such as South Africa's Aiden Markram and David Miller, New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell, and West Indies spinner Sunil Narine in the 'Marquee Players International' category. This group carries the maximum reserve price of £100,000 for the auction.

Sources indicate that a total of 14 Pakistani male cricketers are on the long list of 247 players for the auction. This comes despite reports suggesting that players from Pakistan may not be considered by the four franchises owned by Indian entities, amid ongoing geopolitical tensions between the two countries.

The selection process required players to submit themselves for entry into the auction. Each of the eight franchises then nominated between 75 and 100 players, from which the long list was compiled. The top 50 'hero' players were further categorized, with Pakistani cricketers represented among them.

This year's edition of The Hundred is set to overlap with a Pakistan Test series, which could affect player availability. However, the inclusion of Pakistani players in the final auction list highlights their continued recognition in international franchise cricket.