The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the eight franchises that make up The Hundred have issued a joint statement insisting players must not be excluded on grounds of nationality, amid concerns that Pakistani cricketers could be overlooked at next month’s player auction.
Four of the tournament’s eight teams are linked to owners of Indian Premier League franchises and, according to reports in British media, those sides would avoid signing Pakistani players. However, even without Indian ownership, Pakistani representation in the competition has been limited.
Only two players from Pakistan featured in last year’s edition and, across the first five seasons, just nine have taken part.
New owners are set to assume operational control of the teams from this season.
“The Hundred was established to reach new audiences, grow the game of cricket and ensure that everyone – regardless of their ethnicity, gender, faith, nationality or other – can feel they belong in our sport. Players must not be excluded on the grounds of their nationality,” the joint statement said.
“As the governing body responsible for running the tournament, the ECB is committed to ensuring there is no place for discrimination, and has regulations in place to take robust action to tackle any such conduct. All eight teams commit to selection being based solely on cricketing performance, availability, and the needs of each team,” it added.
On Monday, Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan said he hoped to play in The Hundred, with 67 male and female players from the country – including almost the entire men’s T20 World Cup squad – having registered for the auction.
Pakistani players have not featured in the IPL since being barred in the aftermath of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which were carried out by militants from Pakistan.
No Pakistan cricketer has appeared in SA20 since its launch in 2023, with all six teams owned by IPL-linked franchise groups.
