Pakistan cricketers are reportedly not being considered by Indian-owned teams for next month’s The Hundred auction, according to sources cited by BBC Sport. The move mirrors long-standing trends in T20 leagues with Indian investment, where players from Pakistan have been absent from the Indian Premier League (IPL) since 2009 due to diplomatic tensions.
Four of The Hundred’s eight franchises, Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave, and Sunrisers Leeds, are now at least partially owned by companies controlling IPL teams. A senior official from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) indicated that interest in Pakistan players would likely be limited to sides not linked to the IPL. One agent described this as “an unwritten rule” in franchise cricket.
ECB chief executive Richard Gould emphasized that players from all nations should be eligible for selection and warned that clear anti-discrimination policies are in place. The ECB confirmed that almost 1,000 cricketers from 18 nations, including Pakistan, have registered for the auction. Despite this, Indian-owned teams appear unlikely to pick Pakistan players.
Historically, Pakistan internationals such as Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim appeared in last year’s tournament, while earlier seasons also featured players like Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan, and Haris Rauf. No Pakistan players have participated in the women’s Hundred. Pakistan’s men’s team is ranked sixth in ICC T20 rankings, with the women’s team eighth, though scheduling conflicts with overseas tours could affect player availability.
The trend extends beyond England. Pakistan players have not featured in South Africa’s SA20 or the UAE’s ILT20 when franchises are owned by IPL-linked groups. By contrast, American-owned ILT20 sides, such as the Desert Vipers, have signed multiple Pakistan players. Analysts note that political tensions and board influence often shape recruitment decisions in these leagues.
Industry voices, including Tom Moffat, chief executive of the World Cricketers’ Association, stressed that “every player should have the right to fair and equal opportunity,” urging franchises to align recruitment decisions with principles of fairness, equality, and respect.
The ECB recently sold 49% stakes in each Hundred franchise to private investors, raising £500 million while retaining overall control of the competition. New governance and an independent regulator aim to ensure equity and prevent discriminatory practices following the 2023 Equity in Cricket report.
Despite efforts to engage South Asian communities in core cities, fans in Manchester, Leeds, and London are at risk of seeing no Pakistan representation in their local teams, raising concerns about diversity in the league.
One agent summed up the situation:
“Our players do not seek favours; they seek a fair field. I hope The Hundred does not mirror patterns seen in other franchise ecosystems.”
