Pakistani Players Excluded from The Hundred

- A total of 50 Pakistani cricketers, including five women, were registered for The Hundred draft, and none were selected by any of the eight teams. This marks the first time in the competition's history that no male players from Pakistan were chosen. - Among the unselected players were high-profile names such as Naseem Shah, who had the highest reserve price among Pakistani players at £120,000, and Shadab Khan. Other notable players who did not get picked include Saim Ayub, Imad Wasim, and Hasan Ali. - Speculation about the exclusion has centered on the recent investment by Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise owners in four of The Hundred's eight teams. Pakistani players have not been part of the IPL since 2008 due to political tensions between India and Pakistan. - Scheduling conflicts have also been cited as a potential reason for the snob. Pakistan has international series scheduled against the West Indies and potentially Afghanistan, which may overlap with The Hundred's window from August 5 to 31. - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been known to be stringent with issuing No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) for players to participate in overseas leagues. Last-minute withdrawals and NOC issues with players like Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah in previous seasons may have made franchises hesitant. - In the previous season of The Hundred, several Pakistani players featured, including Naseem Shah for Birmingham Phoenix, Mohammad Amir for Oval Invincibles, Haris Rauf for Welsh Fire, and Usama Mir for Manchester Originals. - The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had previously given assurances that the new private investments, including those from IPL-linked entities, would not affect the selection of Pakistani players. - Former England captain Michael Vaughan has publicly called on the ECB to investigate the matter, stating that an "unwritten rule" preventing the selection of Pakistani players by Indian-owned teams should not be allowed.