The Hundred: Pakistan batter Sahibzada Farhan says outcome of Hundred auction 'out of our hands'

Leading batter Sahibzada Farhan says he knows T20 franchises are interested in Pakistan players but admitted whether they are picked in the Hundred auction is "not in our hands".

Farhan, 29, is one of more than 60 Pakistan players to have signed up for next month's inaugural Hundred auction.

Last week BBC Sport reported Pakistan cricketers are not being considered by the four Indian-owned sides.

"This is not in our hands who picks us or who doesn't," Farhan, 29, said.

"Whoever is interested in picking us can and we are ready to play in that league.

"It's not like people are not interested in us."

Pakistan players do not play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) amid ongoing political tensions between the two countries, and that trend is reflected at IPL-owned franchises around the world.

MI London, Manchester Super Giants, Sunrisers Leeds and Southern Brave are all now part or fully-owned by IPL sides after the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) sold stakes in the teams last year.

Trent Rockets, London Spirit, Birmingham Phoenix and Welsh Fire are the non IPL-owned teams.

Farhan is currently the leading run-scorer at the T20 World Cup and scored a century against Namibia in the group stage.

He has registered for the auction at a base price of £50,000 – half the amount of some players.

"I'm very hopeful," he said.

"Because every player wants to play every league, play in the good leagues.

"The Hundred is one of the best leagues. So I hope for the best."

Pakistan play England in the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

Thirteen of their 15-strong squad registered for the auction with batter Fakhar Zaman and former captain Babar Azam, who is likely to be with the Test squad during the Hundred, the only absentees.

Left-arm seamer Shaheen Afridi and fellow quick Haris Rauf, who have played in the Hundred previously, and all-rounder Saim Ayub are among those to have signed up with the highest base price of £100,000.

England captain Harry Brook said last week it would be "a shame" if Pakistan players were not involved.

The ECB wrote to the eight franchises on Sunday reminding them of their responsibilities around discrimination.

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