Article #246978

• Sahibzada Farhan ‘very hopeful’ of securing a deal

• Pakistan players make up 63 of 710-man auction longlist

Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan has said he remains hopeful of securing a contract to play in the Hundred this year, despite reports that the tournament’s four Indian-owned teams will not consider signing players from the country, but he admitted that selection decisions are “not in our hands”.

Farhan, who is the leading run-scorer at the T20 World Cup, is one of 63 Pakistani players on the 710-name longlist put forward for the men’s auction on 12 March. Despite the rumours, more Pakistani players have made themselves available than those from any other foreign country with all but two of the country’s 15-man World Cup squad hoping for a deal.