ECB declines retrospective addition to The Hundred longlist
Moeen Ali will not be added to The Hundred 2026 auction longlist after the England and Wales Cricket Board declined a request to include him retrospectively.
The development follows the publication of the tournament’s trimmed longlist ahead of the upcoming player auction. Despite registering for the auction, Moeen’s name did not appear among the eligible players because none of the eight franchises nominated him during the initial selection phase.
According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, questions were raised after the longlist was published about whether Moeen could be inserted into the pool after the deadline. However, the ECB maintained that teams had already been given the opportunity to submit their preferred players before the list was finalized. Allowing additions afterward, the board determined, would undermine the structure of the selection process and risk setting an undesirable precedent for future auctions.
Former Phoenix Captain overlooked despite tournament history
Moeen’s omission comes as a surprise given his strong association with The Hundred since its launch. The England all-rounder captained Birmingham Phoenix during the tournament’s first four seasons and was among its most recognizable figures in the early editions.
Across 30 appearances in the competition, Moeen has scored 635 runs at an average of 22.67 with a strike rate of 138.64. His contributions with the ball include 12 wickets with an economy rate of 8.25.
Despite that record, franchises did not include him in their submitted lists of preferred players. Teams were asked to nominate between 75 and 100 potential signings prior to the auction, and players who did not receive any nominations were excluded from the official longlist.
Privately, some franchise officials have suggested practical considerations influenced the decision. One staff member indicated that Moeen’s reserve price — set at GBP 75,000 (approx. US$ 101K) — may have limited his attractiveness in a competitive marketplace, while another pointed to his age, with the all-rounder set to turn 39 before the 2026 season begins in July.
Domestic return after overseas commitments
Moeen’s eligibility for The Hundred auction came after reversing an earlier decision to step away from English domestic cricket.
Last year he opted out of the competition to prioritize overseas commitments, including playing for Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League and participating in the Global Super League. In order to secure the necessary No-Objection Certificates for those tournaments, he temporarily retired from domestic cricket.
Since then, Moeen has returned to the English circuit and signed for Yorkshire ahead of the upcoming T20 Blast, signalling renewed involvement in the domestic game.
Wildcard route still offers possible return
Although he has missed the primary auction pool, Moeen could still feature in The Hundred through the tournament’s wildcard system.
Each franchise is permitted to sign two additional players later in the season based on performances in the T20 Blast. Those wildcard contracts carry a value of GBP 31,000 (approx. US$ 42K) and are typically used to reward standout domestic performers during the early stages of the English summer.
If Moeen performs strongly for Yorkshire, that pathway could still open the door to a return to the competition.
Another possibility is a coaching or mentoring role within one of the franchises, particularly given his recent involvement with England Lions during their training camp in Abu Dhabi.
Moeen addresses wider debate around Pakistan players
Moeen has also been part of a wider conversation surrounding player participation in the tournament, particularly speculation that Pakistan players could face resistance from franchises linked to Indian Premier League ownership groups, as previously reported by cricexec.
In a recent interview discussing those concerns, the England all-rounder acknowledged communication with the governing body and welcomed the ECB’s stance on inclusivity. “I’ve been talking a bit to the ECB about it. The teams came out a few days ago and made a statement, and I think that is a great start,” Moeen Ali said in a Sunday Times interview.
While that broader debate continues around The Hundred’s evolving franchise landscape, Moeen’s immediate future in the competition remains uncertain — with his most realistic route now likely to come through strong performances in domestic cricket rather than the auction itself.
