Player Auction to be a part of the Hundred from 2026 with salary pots increased significantly across men’s and women’s competitions.
Following this year’s equity sale, which raised more than £550 million for the ECB, the Hundred will move from a draft system to a player auction for the 2026 season, emulating the IPL’s long-standing squad-building method. Additionally, the overall salary pot for the men’s and women’s competitions will be significantly increased, by 45% and 100%, respectively.
The Hundred’s Board approved a number of important adjustments on Thursday as part of the “reset” process to begin the first season in which the eight teams will be either wholly or co-owned by private investors. The first auction is scheduled to occur in March 2026.
The total amount that men’s teams can spend each season will increase from the current level of £1.2 million to £2.05 million, while the amount for women’s teams will increase to £880,000 in an effort to draw the top athletes available for the competition. The lowest-paid female athletes will see a 50% boost in base pay, from £10,000 to £15,000.
The ECB claims that in addition to pay restrictions, salary collars—a minimum expenditure per team each season—and the possibility of multi-year contracts will also be implemented. Subject to Home Office approval, the number of foreign players per team will increase from three to four, with a total of 16–18 players allowed per squad, as was noted last year.
Direct signings—up to two foreign players and two centrally contracted England players—will be allowed, but there won’t be a right to match. The Hundred Board has also authorised the continuation of the wildcard mechanism, which permits two players per team to be chosen from the T20 Blast through a player draft in June 2026. The window for such signings will run from mid-November to mid-January.