Overview
- The Hundred board approved the competition’s first player auction for March 2026, replacing the draft and shifting to market‑driven bidding.
- Fixed salary bands have been removed, minimum team spend and a cap will apply, and multi‑year contracts are being introduced for the first time.
- Team salary pots increase to £2.05m for men (+45%) and £880,000 for women (doubling), with top women projected near £130,000 and a higher base contract level.
- Squads expand to 16–18 with up to four overseas players, teams can include up to two centrally contracted England players, and the right‑to‑match option is off the table for 2026.
- Clubs may make up to four pre‑auction signings from mid‑November to January with tiered salary‑pot deductions (men: £350k/£650k/£850k/£950k; women: £130k/£240k/£310k/£360k), and separate reporting indicates multiple team rebrands are in development.